USS Constitution by mtbediz - 1:76

[mtbediz]

I decided not to add the auxiliary beams along the gratings on the spar deck. I'll settle for just the main beams. Thus, the details on the gun deck will be more visible.

[JSGerson]

Glad you came to that conclusion although I love your beautiful workmanship on those beams.

 

Jon

[GGibson]

Was wondering how visible all that great detail was going to be on your finished Constitution, Mustafa!  Glad to know your plans!

 

FYI, gentlemen, you may or may not have noticed I've added the Constitution to my shipyard for "someday".  Couldn't pass up the great deal at Model Expo.  So now, I am really paying attention to all your awesome work! 👍

[mtbediz]

7 hours ago, JSGerson said:

Glad you came to that conclusion although I love your beautiful workmanship on those beams.

 

Jon

Yes Jon, you suggested this to me before. Even making the auxiliary beams thinner at the front of the ship didn't help make the gun deck as visible as I had hoped. So I decided not to put them in anymore.

Edited March 28 by mtbediz

[mtbediz]

5 hours ago, GGibson said:

Was wondering how visible all that great detail was going to be on your finished Constitution, Mustafa!  Glad to know your plans!

 

FYI, gentlemen, you may or may not have noticed I've added the Constitution to my shipyard for "someday".  Couldn't pass up the great deal at Model Expo.  So now, I am really paying attention to all your awesome work! 👍

Greg, I know it's too early to ask because you're concentrating on your Bluenose right now, but while it's mentioned, let me ask anyway. Are you considering adding a gun deck to your Constitution? As far as I know the kit does not have this.

[GGibson]

9 hours ago, mtbediz said:

Greg, I know it's too early to ask because you're concentrating on your Bluenose right now, but while it's mentioned, let me ask anyway. Are you considering adding a gun deck to your Constitution? As far as I know the kit does not have this.

 

Definitely early to think about, yes, Mustafa, but watching what you and others have done, and seeing what the gun deck addition does in improving the look of the Constitution with its detail, I can't not consider making that addition.  Would definitely need to go back and look in extreme detail at what you all have done to add it, however.  Thanks for asking!

[JSGerson]

I'm not surprised those auxiliary beams inside the ship obscure the gun deck view. This war ship, although made of wood (obviously), was built to take punishment. If you look at the photo below from the 1873-77 restoration, you can't even see inside the ship with her hull planking removed. The hull frames were so close to each other, the ship looks solid. To take a phrase from an old Timex watch advertising slogan, "it takes a 'licken' and keeps on 'ticken,'" No wonder they called her "Old Ironsides."

 

Jon

Edited March 28 by JSGerson

[mtbediz]

A quick update

Edited March 29 by mtbediz

[mtbediz]

4 hours ago, JSGerson said:

I'm not surprised those auxiliary beams inside the ship obscure the gun deck view. This war ship, although made of wood (obviously), was built to take punishment. If you look at the photo below from the 1873-77 restoration, you can't even see inside the ship with her hull planking removed. The hull frames were so close to each other, the ship looks solid. To take a phrase from an old Timex watch advertising slogan, "it takes a 'licken' and keeps on 'ticken,'" No wonder they called her "Old Ironsides."

 

Jon

I don't know when this ship was launched, but my guess is that she is at least 200 years old and is still alive and well. She deserves her name.  She's an ''Iron Lady''

[JSGerson]

She was deployed October 21 1797.

[GGibson]

Nice, Mustafa!  What was the ship's purpose for that barrel you just made?  Sharp work on the lathe, sir! 🏆

[mtbediz]

7 hours ago, GGibson said:

Nice, Mustafa!  What was the ship's purpose for that barrel you just made?  Sharp work on the lathe, sir! 🏆

Thank you Greg. I really don't know what was in the barrel. There was probably a liquid inside, such as water or alcohol. I added it because it was on the deck of today's ship. Jon is really knowledgeable on Conny. Maybe he can make a contribution.

[JSGerson]

Ok, here's what I got. The first picture is a "Harness Cask," (I don't know how "harness" is defined on a ship) the second is the "Grog (watered down rum) Tub," and the third is the "Scuttlebutt" (contains water). I do have US Navy plans of the scuttlebutt and the harness cask should anyone want them.

 

Jon

[mtbediz]

50 minutes ago, JSGerson said:

Ok, here's what I got. The first picture is a "Harness Cask," (I don't know how "harness" is defined on a ship) the second is the "Grog (watered down rum) Tub," and the third is the "Scuttlebutt" (contains water). I do have US Navy plans of the scuttlebutt and the harness cask should anyone want them.

 

Jon

Thanks for the info John. As far as I understand what I made is a Grog Tub

[GGibson]

Great info, Jon.  Thanks! I love these pictures you share! 👍

 

Mustafa, I apologize for calling your Grog Tub simply a "barrel"... 🤣

[mtbediz]

I would like to show how I made the main beams for those who are wondering how I did it. Since I have difficulty obtaining smooth beams by cutting and sanding wood, I use another method. I cut 3 pieces of the same size strip from 1,5x5 mm stock, apply glue between them, clamp them to the mold I prepared before, wait for it to dry, and remove it from the mold. Thus, I obtain standard curved beams.

Edited March 30 by mtbediz

[GGibson]

Thanks for showing your technique, Mustafa.  Makes sense how you then get consistent curves.  What brand is your table saw?  Do you like it? 

[mtbediz]

9 minutes ago, GGibson said:

Thanks for showing your technique, Mustafa.  Makes sense how you then get consistent curves.  What brand is your table saw?  Do you like it? 

Thank you Greg. My table saw is a Proxxon KS230. It's Proxxon's simplest saw and does a good job within its capabilities.  I've been using it for six years.

[mtbediz]

Added stancions and hand ropes around the main hatch while it is still accessible.

[JSGerson]

Looks great! How did you tie off the rope at the bottom of the stairs as access is quite limited. If it's doable for me, I may attempt it myself.

 

Jon

[mtbediz]

13 hours ago, JSGerson said:

Looks great! How did you tie off the rope at the bottom of the stairs as access is quite limited. If it's doable for me, I may attempt it myself.

 

Jon

I glued the ropes with CA to the frame, where I marked with a red circle in the picture. While gluing, I stretch the rope with a pair of tweezers that I extend below. So it looks like it's tied somewhere below. The end of the rope is not tied to anything, I found such a solution.

Edited April 2 by mtbediz

[mtbediz]

Half of the spar deck beams are completed. I can only complete one beam and its connected knees per day.
 

[Der Alte Rentner]

On 3/29/2024 at 8:22 AM, JSGerson said:

The first picture is a "Harness Cask," (I don't know how "harness" is defined on a ship)

 

According to the OxfordReference.com:

 

[JSGerson]

Now I know, thanks!

 

Jon

[Der Alte Rentner]

On 3/29/2024 at 9:15 AM, mtbediz said:

Thanks for the info John. As far as I understand what I made is a Grog Tub

Right you are Mustafa.

[mtbediz]

I have assembled the gun deck bilge pump parts in place for testing. The brass parts will be painted black.

Edited April 13 by mtbediz

[CiscoH]

thats a great pump Mustafa

[mtbediz]

52 minutes ago, CiscoH said:

thats a great pump Mustafa

Thank you so much my friend.

[Geoff Matson]

That pump looks great.  I appreciate all the time that went into making the pump

[JSGerson]

Those pumps are coming along real nice

 

Jon