USS Constitution by mtbediz - 1:76

[mtbediz]

55 minutes ago, GGibson said:

Looks like an enjoyable summer with family, Mustafa!  Enjoy, my friend!

Thank you so much my dear friend!

[Der Alte Rentner]

As I'm contemplating my next steps, I'm looking through build logs of others to see what the best order of construction is. In your case I noticed that the cleats and belaying pin rails all went in long before the carronades. In your experience, is it easier to install the carronades, bow chasers, breech lines and tackles after the belaying pin rails and cleats? My thought is, it should be easier to rig the tackles and breach lines without obstacles on the bulwarks or deck.  Am I wrong?

[GGibson]

Hello, Mustafa!  Hope you are enjoying your summer break and holiday!  I apologize for taking up space on your build log for this query, but thought others might be interested in the picture and in your knowledge of the location.

 

Saw this photo on the Internet of the Sumela Monastery in Turkey and after my first thought of it being an amazing structure with an obviously unique backdrop, my 2nd thought was wondering if you have ever visited?

 

[hamilton]

What an incredible place...Reminds me of a more extreme version of Montserrat in Catalonia....been to Turkey but not to that spot - wish I'd known about it when I was there!

hamilton

[mtbediz]

On 7/15/2025 at 8:22 PM, Der Alte Rentner said:

As I'm contemplating my next steps, I'm looking through build logs of others to see what the best order of construction is. In your case I noticed that the cleats and belaying pin rails all went in long before the carronades. In your experience, is it easier to install the carronades, bow chasers, breech lines and tackles after the belaying pin rails and cleats? My thought is, it should be easier to rig the tackles and breach lines without obstacles on the bulwarks or deck.  Am I wrong?

Sorry for the late reply, Peter. I don't actually remember why I installed the pin rails before the carronades. It would probably have been more appropriate to install them after the carronades.

Edited July 21 by mtbediz

[mtbediz]

On 7/20/2025 at 1:57 AM, GGibson said:

Hello, Mustafa!  Hope you are enjoying your summer break and holiday!  I apologize for taking up space on your build log for this query, but thought others might be interested in the picture and in your knowledge of the location.

 

Saw this photo on the Internet of the Sumela Monastery in Turkey and after my first thought of it being an amazing structure with an obviously unique backdrop, my 2nd thought was wondering if you have ever visited?

 

Yes, Greg, I visited that historic monastery. It's an incredible structure. The Sumela Monastery is a Greek Orthodox church built in 386 AD. The exact time it took to complete is unknown. It's located within the borders of Trabzon province on the Black Sea coast of northern Türkiye.

 

Detailed information about the church is in the Wikipedia link below.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sumela_Monastery

Edited July 21 by mtbediz

[Der Alte Rentner]

Sorry to interrupt your summer hiatus, Mustafa, but, can you tell me roughly the thickness of this curtain? I tried pounding 1 mm wire and ended up with something like 1.25mm.  I'm just trying to decide if my "eye brows" are oversized at 2mm.  BTW, The Britannia castings provided by Model Shipways are 1.38 mm. 

 

Yours

 

Mine

[mtbediz]

I'm back at my shipyard after a long break. At this stage, I've decided to add the berth deck portlights. I'll be making the channels and chain plates next. I've completed the installation of the starboard portlights. They will be painted black later.

[mtbediz]

On 7/25/2025 at 5:49 PM, Der Alte Rentner said:

Sorry to interrupt your summer hiatus, Mustafa, but, can you tell me roughly the thickness of this curtain?

I am sorry I just noticed your message, Peter. I know it's too late for this, but I'll answer anyway. My curtains are 0,8 mm thick.

[GGibson]

Welcome back to your shipyard, Mustafa! 

 

I assume the berth deck portlights are simply small brass tube pieces inserted and glued

[mtbediz]

Hi Greg, no I didn't cut these from brass tubing. I bought them from a hobby store.The diameter of the flange is 3.6 mm and the outer diameter of the pipe is 2.4 mm. I first drilled 2.4 mm holes in the ship's hull and placed the portholes inside.

Edited Wednesday at 03:56 AM by mtbediz

[GGibson]

29 minutes ago, mtbediz said:

Hi Greg, no I didn't cut these from brass tubing. I bought them from a hobby store.

 

Ahhh, they look great, Mustafa!  Perfect detail.  I appreciate the detailed info.  Put that in my memory for... whenever I get to this! 👍

[Der Alte Rentner]

10 hours ago, mtbediz said:

Hi Greg, no I didn't cut these from brass tubing. I bought them from a hobby store.The diameter of the flange is 3.6 mm and the outer diameter of the pipe is 2.4 mm. I first drilled 2.4 mm holes in the ship's hull and placed the portholes inside.

and they would match my color scheme!  Thanks for sharing this with Gregg.  I shall benefit, yet again, from your input.  

 

..but then again, nothing is ever easy.  Checking for "2.4mm hole brass grommets" online, the closest I could find to your specs were eyelets for 2mm and  3mm holes.  And, of course, flange diameters are not provided in the specs.  I suppose being .4mm too small beats being .6mm to large.   I suppose a $12 investment in 200 of these won't break the bank, and it beats having to file, polish and spray paint the parts that came with the kit.  

Edited Wednesday at 02:42 PM by Der Alte Rentner

[mtbediz]

5 hours ago, Der Alte Rentner said:

..but then again, nothing is ever easy.  Checking for "2.4mm hole brass grommets" online, the closest I could find to your specs were eyelets for 2mm and  3mm holes.

Hi Peter. The outer diameter of the pipe on my grommet is 2.4 mm. I believe the 2 mm measurement on the grommet you found is the inner diameter of the hole, and the outer diameter is probably equal to mine.

Edited Wednesday at 07:24 PM by mtbediz

[JSGerson]

Peter, didn't your MS kit come supplied with the grommets? Mine did. If yours didn't, you should be able to get a free replacement from Model Expo.

 

Jon

[Der Alte Rentner]

19 hours ago, JSGerson said:

Peter, didn't your MS kit come supplied with the grommets? Mine did. If yours didn't, you should be able to get a free replacement from Model Expo.

 

Jon

You mean these?

 

If, like the rest of the modeling universe, I was going to paint these black, yes, I could use these misshapen slugs. But since I'm going for brass, I'd rather spend the 12 bucks and save myself the labor of cleaning these things up and painting them gold or brass.

 

As for contacting model expo, I'm still awaiting a reply for a request I made 2 years ago. (I'll have to check my records to see what exactly that was about, but I've moved on.)

Edited yesterday at 02:37 PM by Der Alte Rentner