USS Constitution by Hipexec - FINISHED - Constructo - 1:82

[augie]

You've come a long way during this voyage.  At this rate you'll be tying knots in 3/16" square stock soon!

[HIPEXEC]

Thinking about the rigging is making me nervous. Compared to my first build, this is big!

[HIPEXEC]

My davit factory is still humming. Here I've cut the davits to size and filled in the bonding lines between the two laminated bent planks. I've also lessened the curvature to better match the davits on the USS Constitution in Boston. Constructo wanted them bend almost 90 degrees, the Davits in Boston are not as extreme. 

[mtdoramike]

What a wonderful job you are doing on the Constructo version of the Constitution. I'm itching to build one of these myself. I have built the Mamoli version as well as the Model Shipways version of the Connie.

[HIPEXEC]

mtdoramike

I'd like to see your build forums of your Connies.

[HIPEXEC]

Davit factory still going strong. My fat, shaky fingers had to bend these tiny brass trim pieces that will adorn the side davits. I managed to drop everyone of them at least once on the floor and have to get on my hands & knees to find them. You think I'd have learned by now to set up in the center of a big table to avoid these frustrations. I guess I'm un-trainable!

[lambsbk]

Are those hammock cranes with the davits or is that some of the davit hardware? Very nice symmetry in all those pieces.

[HIPEXEC]

These are not hammock cranes, they are trim just for the davits. I haven't figured out exactly how I'm approaching those hammock cranes.

[HIPEXEC]

Davit trim installed. Next will be to glue on davits.

[HIPEXEC]

I've decided to install a pin in each davit since they stick up so far and can easily be bumped.

[HIPEXEC]

Here's the davits glued and pinned.

[dgbot]

Smart move this way it will be harder to have them accidently knocked off.  I hate when that happens.

David B

[lambsbk]

Very nice. I like the way they look mounted on board.

[HIPEXEC]

Well, the nose of the camel is now under my tent when it comes to rigging. I've had to fit the bowsprit into the hole I had drilled months ago in order to finish all the deck trim. I'm still a ways from rigging,, but it's the first step.

[HIPEXEC]

Since the bowsprit doesn't penetrate the deck for support, the way it is, it will only have glue where it meets the deck and glue where it passes  through the hull. That seems fragile to me. Any ideas as to how to lock the bowsprit so it  will be held robustly? 

[src]

Rich, 

Been following quietly lately, She is looking great. For your bowsprit, if there is enough play you could pin it like your davits. Or through "bolt" it by drilling all the way through and inserting some treenails or brass pins.

And epoxy rather than wood blue glue (stupid I Phone)i would think.

Sam

Edited June 1, 2014 by src

[dgbot]

Another thing is to add several inches to the bowsprit and just drill a through hole in the deck.  Just rememember to start out small and widen it for a snug fit.

David B

[HIPEXEC]

I thought of drilling the deck, but I get cold feet thinking about drilling in the deck. Pinning might be good. I also thought about doweling it so the dowel would match the bowsprit wood. What do you all think of that?

[augie]

I'd probably pin it.

[HIPEXEC]

I simulated the bowsprit dowel process by using a very small dowel and drilling a like size hole through the bowsprit into the simulated deck and using PVA, glued it. Wow! Pretty strong bond. and even through I did a sloppy job, you can hardly see the dowel.

[HIPEXEC]

I made the last of the deck grates. Next, I'll make the frames and glue them all to the deck.

[HIPEXEC]

Made the bowsprit grate, but didn't glue it on yet. I'm still playing with what to do with the bowsprit mounting.

[HIPEXEC]

My version of miniature carpentry continues. You can't see my thumbs...but they both have bandaids on them since I discovered my miter box and micro-sander both had a sharp edge and cut each thumb. I kept wondering where the blood was coming from?

 

[HIPEXEC]

I made the chimney from a 6mm dowel and painted it. I drilled out some material in the end to make it look like the chimney opening. I'll pin and glue it tomorrow.

 

I  glued all grates except the bowsprit grate. I also glued a shim in the bowsprit hole so the bowsprit slides in perfectly exactly at the correct angle. Next, I'll make the dowel hole through the bowsprit and deck, so when it comes time to mount it, it should just slip into place. 

[HIPEXEC]

The paint dried very quickly, so I pinned and glued on the chimney.

[HIPEXEC]

Help!

I need tricks and tips to build and install seven sets of stairs from the main deck to the gun deck. Constructo just says, make and install the stairs? No instructions?

[src]

Rich,

They are kinda thin on direction arent they? I hope the parts supplied with your kit are better milled than mine were. As far as assembling them, you need a way to cut many parts the same length, the way you did your gun ports looks like it worked for you. That might be a start.

 

I am at the same point with my build at the moment. To clamp everything together I was considering a nice straight pice of wood glued/ screwed down and a small wedge glued far enough away that you can get your ladders in place. A second wedge would be used as the clamping force, you will have to make sure everything is nice and parallel when you clamp up. A much easier way would be a set of machinist parallel clamps - I just dont own any myself. The wedges will work if you dont want to wait/spend the money on tools. Dont spend money on tools?!?!?! who am I kidding? We are all tool junkies here. 

 

Have fun, your past tells me will find your solution and work through it. 

Sam

[HIPEXEC]

Sam,

I like the idea of a wedge or block down below. I dropped a piece in and had to fish it out of the hull....no fun.

 

You're right....I continue to buy new tools. My Admiral marvels at how my work area has grown and grown and grown!

Thanks,

Rich

[Littlebob]

Did they give you the steps pre cut, if not you can make a small jig out of scrap so they all come out the same size. I built an old Constructo kit years ago, their instruction aren't great.

[HIPEXEC]

Yes, Constucto gave me pre-cut step sides, but they are so thick, they leave only a little room for the actual step? I'm still pondering how to attack this problem.