USS Constitution by bthoe – Model Shipways – Scale 1:76.8 – 1812 era

[bthoe]

Last weekend, I visited Boston for the first time ever.  Well, actually, it was just the cab ride from the airport to Charlestown and back that I went through Boston.  We spent 3 days in Charlestown, just a few blocks from Constitution, and all I did was spend time on and around the ship and in the museum.  I liken it to being a kid in a candy store, not knowing what to do first! 

Although masting and rigging are quite a long way away for me, I was disappointed that Constitution wasn't fully masted, sparred, and rigged until I noticed masts and spars on the ground between the ship and drydock.  I took many photos of them from angles that I never would have seen had they been where I was expecting them to be. 

Anyway, I'd be happy to share what I have with any of you.  It was a real thrill to see the "real thing" up close for the first time.  I hope you all have the chance to see it sometime.

 

My best,

 

[GGibson]

Oh, dang.  That would be a bit disappointing to get there and see that the masts and rigging had been removed for work!  Were you able to tour on the ship and the various decks, anyways?  Definitely need to put a Boston trip on my must-do list before I start my own Constitution build! 

[Unegawahya]

If you are wanting an excellent visual resources you can go to the Google 360 tour from 2015. I’ve been using this ever since I started my gun deck!

 

https://maps.app.goo.gl/NskVHXQRjakqPvuTA?g_st=im

[bthoe]

Thanks for the likes folks, and I promise that you will see more photos as I get to detailing those particular areas.  In the meantime, if you are interested in anything in particular, just ask - I'd be happy to share anything I have.

 

Hi Gregg,

 

It wasn't all bad about the masts and spars - I did get a LOT of details on them because they were on the ground that I could have never seen way up in the air.

 

Yes, the ship was open.  As a modeler, I was disappointed that some of the areas were roped off on the Gun Deck, like the bow area.  I had hoped to get details of the hawse holes the bitts, and the pathway of the anchor rope.  I know that I want to do things differently than as it is now, as it is set up for anchor chain rather than rope.  I'll need to rely more on drawings, and online photos/videos.

 

As for the captain's/admiral's area in the stern, it would have been nice to have access to get more details of the inner galleries, bedrooms, and stern area where I'll have windows.   Again, I'll need to rely on others' photos/videos and drawings for inspiration.  

 

On the Spar Deck, the entire main hatchway was battened down (covered by canvas),  I had hoped to see more details of joinery, etc.  I was able to see it from below, but my view area was restricted due to deck support spars.  I suppose I could have laid down on the deck and shot upwards, but the ship had other visitors as well 😉.

 

Seriously, it was a thrill to even be there, and there was a lot to see.  I likened it earlier to a kid in a candy shop - it's like you have a preset idea of things you want to detail, and it goes out the window when you see it in person! .

 

Hi Unegawahya,

Yes, I have for SURE seen that 3D site, and it's great.  However, sometimes what you are most interested in seeing is in border areas of images or wasn't detailed at all.   I don't mean to sound ungrateful for what is there, because there's a LOT.  But I find myself thinking, "gee I wish they got X from a different angle/better detail". 

Edited September 11 by bthoe

[JSGerson]

I have approximately 25,500 images of the ship from the very earliest in 1857 to the present showing all kinds of detail from multiple angles and multiple sources (public & private) that I have collected since about 2014. Should you or anyone else need a image showing particular detail, there is a good chance I may have it. Just ask.

 

Jon

[bthoe]

As someone else recently mentioned Jon, you ARE the answer man!!

 

[JSGerson]

Hey, I'm a life long 77 year old bachelor with no one to answer to except myself and the cat, so I've got time to gather stuff and organize it for easy retrieval. I try to share the wealth.

 

Jon

[Dziadeczek]

Edited September 11 by Dziadeczek

[bthoe]

Thank you Dziadeczek!  That will be helpful for later -- I have to get the hull planked first!  I'll let you all know when I get around to detailing the Gun Deck.

 

Best,

 

[bthoe]

Hi all, it's been a productive weekend.  I planked Starboard and Port sides 8 forward strakes from bulkhead N to bow, and stair-stepped forward one on each subsequent strake.

 

Now I need to figure out the stern at the counter!  

[bthoe]

So here is the tool I came up with in order to clamp planks at the counter, and also get around the sternpost.  I needed something to hold the wet planks in place while they were drying.

Anyway, you get the idea.  It worked really well.  Here it is doing the next belt.

I finished off that belt and continued up the sternpost.  Here is where things are now.  I can see that there will be a lot of sanding/filling ahead of me later, but overall I'm pleased.  Hoping to finish the planking this weekend!

 

 

[bthoe]

Thanks for the likes folks!  Well, I made it half-way on the port side, didn't even touch the starboard side last weekend.  Now that I'm getting close to finishing, I find myself re-checking measurements to make sure it all ends well.  I take comfort in knowing that the area I'm working on will be covered in copper, but still I want it to work out right.  Have a great week!

[Der Alte Rentner]

Very nice planking at the stern.  I found that to be much more difficult than the area at the stem. It seems as if your experience was the opposite of mine?

[bthoe]

Yeah, in the harsh light the bow area really looks pretty bad in the above, but it is smoothing out ok - I'm taking sandpaper to it little by little when I'm not working on the planks.  And don't be fooled - the stern also needs much loving attention with sanding.  Overall shape is looking good, and hoping for a minimum amount of filler, if any. I hope to get back to the shipyard either tonight or tomorrow to close up the hull.

[Der Alte Rentner]

On 9/11/2024 at 4:50 PM, bthoe said:

Thank you Dziadeczek!  That will be helpful for later -- I have to get the hull planked first!  I'll let you all know when I get around to detailing the Gun Deck.

 

Best,

 

 

Hey, Dziadeczek,  Got any photos of the stern as well?  Especially the galleries and transom?  That would be helpful for me now.  😁

Thanks

Peter 

[bthoe]

Hi Peter,  I can help with the stern and galleries, because when I recently visited I was particularly interested in that as well.  By the way, I think you are doing great on your galleries!  Sometimes we have to reinvent things half a dozen times to get it right.  I hope these help:

 

 

Edited October 14 by bthoe

[Geoff Matson]

Thanks for the pictures. They sure show a lot of detail

[bthoe]

Hi Geoff,

That's intentional - I wanted to detail those things that I have yet to work on, which is pretty much everything!  I'm a long way away from masting/rigging but will be watching your build for hints.

[Der Alte Rentner]

I too thank you very much for the detailed photos. I continue to work on the galleries, and I'm getting close to. I'm finding styrene very nice to work with, but I fear that if I use it, I'll be forced to paint instead of stain.  

 

Your detailed photos are a great help in fine tuning the construction of the windows.  I built the first styrene today.  Sadly, it resulted in a proof of concept rather than the finished product. I'm getting close though.

 

Thanks again.

 

 

[bthoe]

You're most welcome, Peter.