USS Constitution by mtbediz - 1:76

[mtbediz]

The chain plates and deadeyes have been mounted to the main channel on the starboard side.

Edited September 11 by mtbediz

[Marcus.K.]

Those Close Ups look amazing !! One really struggle: "... is this the ship? ..oh, it´s a model!"

[Ronald-V]

2 minutes ago, Marcus.K. said:

Those Close Ups look amazing !! One really struggle: "... is this the ship? ..oh, it´s a model!"

Same thing I thought! The angle of those close-ups are spot on! 

[g8rfan]

I have to second that. It is amazing how crisp and clean everything looks. Every time I do something and think, wow, that looks pretty good and then take a nice closeup photo to post and see all the tiny flaws. Mustafa, your work is truly amazing.

[rturcic72]

Gregg, thanks for the valuable advice.  I definitely want better blocks and deadeyes, etc.  I feel the quality needs to be there if you want the ship to look good.  I also want hooks instead of making them from wire.  They should have included the hooks in the kit.  When you make them from wire, they tend to be larger or bulkier.  Trying to figure out how much rope you need so there isn't too much slack is the hardest part for me.  I had to install 2 eyebolts, 2 horizontal fittings with 2 drilled holes, and the 2 vertical fittings with one drilled hole for the breech and onto the planksheer. The pain with this is that there's not a enough space to work with and since 2/3s of the fittings are polystyrene, you have to make sure the CA glue secures it well, otherwise when you try to hook the rigging and it falls off, then you have to start over again and hopefully none of the holes are blocked with the CA glue.  I understand Bob Hunt's quest to make this look like the real thing, but I think good eyebolts are a much better solution.  

 

For Mustafa, I would love to come and visit.  Last time I was in Turkiye was 2009.  I was part of the US Naval Exercise for Baltic Operations 2009 and Turkiye hosted our Guided Missile Destroyer that I was on at the time as a Senior Lieutenant.  We pulled into Constantinople and going through the Turkish Straits it was the most beautiful place I've ever seen along with the Grand Mosques that are truly amazing.  I was the Officer of the Deck and drove the ship through the straights.   I've been around the world 6 times in my 30-year Navy career, and that is the number one country that sticks out that I want to visit again on my bucket list.  So, when I think I'm ready, I will definitely drop a line to plan a trip.  there is so much to see and do in what is considered a crossroads in the world because of the Ottoman Empire.  My entire family emigrated to the US from Croatia.  My last name is Turcic which is a derivative of King George Turcin during the Ottoman Empire, so there is some odd connection with my family origin and it's likely a very miniscule piece because I'm not from Turkiye.  Anyway, I'm going to try t order some of the rope, and I also think some of the rope might be a bit too small, so I'm open to size recommendations that seem to work since it appears half of the rope in the kit is nt the correct size anyway accoring to the practicum.

[rturcic72]

Does anyone recommend a specific size for the hooks used with rigging the carronades.  I Imagine a larger eyebolt size as well...

[rturcic72]

Mustafa, what size are your eyebolts?

[mtbediz]

30 minutes ago, rturcic72 said:

Mustafa, what size are your eyebolts?

Hi Turcic, I made the eyebolts myself. I used 0.6mm brass wire and the inner diameter of the eyelets is 1mm.

[rturcic72]

Wow, you really have an incredible talent to being a true scratch builder.   

[Der Alte Rentner]

23 hours ago, GGibson said:

However, back to Mustafa and his work, he's done an awesome job of making his own carronade blocks.  I'm just not that good! 

I feel exactly the same way.  

 

As for the two sources for ropes..  Orders from Ropes of Scale, which is in Canada, take a while to receive.  Having said that, an order of belaying pins I purchased from Syren took six weeks to arrive.  It was not Syren's fault.  Given where they're located, they only have access to the USPS, which IMHO has gone to heck in a handbasket in the last few years.  

 

But let me reiterate Gregg's sentiment about Mustafa's (and Greg Matson's) work making their own rope.  I'm just not that good!  I too will buying vs making my own.

Edited September 11 by Der Alte Rentner

[mtbediz]

49 minutes ago, Der Alte Rentner said:

But let me reiterate Gregg's sentiment about Mustafa's (and Greg Matson's) work making their own rope.  I'm just not that good!  I too will buying vs making my own.

I've often considered sourcing small parts like blocks and deadeyes, which are used in large numbers in sailing ship models, from external suppliers. Sometimes I wonder if all the effort I put into making them myself is really worth it.

The quality of the rigging ropes truly makes a significant difference in the overall appearance of sailing ship models. Since I couldn't find a supplier in my country that offered the quality I was looking for, I started making the ropes myself. I was pleased with the results, so I’ve continued doing it ever since.

[mgatrost]

The new photos really show the quality of your work. You are building a true masterpiece Mustafa.

[woodartist]

On 9/10/2023 at 7:33 PM, mtbediz said:

The openings on the gun deck (gratings, hatchways, and ladders) were constructed but have not been glued in place yet.

The grating at the bow in blue is proud of the frame, all the rest are flush with the frame? Is that intentional?

[mtbediz]

45 minutes ago, woodartist said:

The grating at the bow in blue is proud of the frame, all the rest are flush with the frame? Is that intentional?

Sorry my friend, I didn't understand the question. 

[woodartist]

22 hours ago, mtbediz said:

Sorry my friend, I didn't understand the question. 

I was referring to a post you made on 9/23 #26 that shows a photo of the gun deck hatches. I got the Proxxon mill you recommended and was starting to make hatches with it so I was looking at your early posts when you described the process.

[Der Alte Rentner]

27 minutes ago, woodartist said:

I was referring to a post you made on 9/23 #26 that shows a photo of the gun deck hatches. I got the Proxxon mill you recommended and was starting to make hatches with it so I was looking at your early posts when you described the process.

While taking a lunch break, I took a few minutes to go back and look at Mustafa's post number 26. You are correct, in that post, there's a photo of a grating with a blue frame around it. If you fast forward to more recent posts, you'll see that that blue frame is long gone. I think Mustafa only used that as decoration for the picture. Knowing Mustafa workmanship, I'm pretty sure the grating was the correct thickness.

Edited September 15 by Der Alte Rentner

[woodartist]

Thanks, I am sure you are correct 

[mtbediz]

9 hours ago, woodartist said:

I was referring to a post you made on 9/23 #26 that shows a photo of the gun deck hatches. I got the Proxxon mill you recommended and was starting to make hatches with it so I was looking at your early posts when you described the process.

Peter is right, if you look at post #34 you will see that the grate on the bow has changed in size and shape.

Actually, I am making a lot of things by looking at the images of the ship on the internet.

Edited September 16 by mtbediz

[mtbediz]

The fabrication and installation of the chain plates is complete. The entire job took 15 days. Unless I'm mistaken, a total of 64 chain plates were installed on the ship. It was a repetitive and somewhat tedious task, but it's finally finished.

[JSGerson]

Excellent workmanship. I would expect nothing less from you! Mine should look half as good as your by the time I get that point.

 

Jon

[GGibson]

I am in Boston and will be on the ship tomorrow if anyone needs any updated pics. Plan on taking a bunch, obviously, anyways! I am excited! 

[mtbediz]

33 minutes ago, GGibson said:

I am in Boston and will be on the ship tomorrow if anyone needs any updated pics. Plan on taking a bunch, obviously, anyways! I am excited! 

Hi Greg, I would be very grateful if you could share photos of the details on the channels. Thank you.

[mtbediz]

4 hours ago, JSGerson said:

Excellent workmanship. I would expect nothing less from you! Mine should look half as good as your by the time I get that point.

 

Jon

Thank you Jon.

[JSGerson]

One of the hardest areas to photograph is the seat-of-ease location because the public is not allowed to go through the bow access ports. I have just 4 or 5 images with just partial glimpses of the bowsprit and the seats in that area. An ideal shot would be from one of steps on the bowsprit looking aft, downward into the bow. If you can get one of the museum employees or Navy men/women posted on the ship to use your camera to go into that area and photograph anything and everything, from all angles they can, that may help a lot of future model builders. When I was there back in November 2014, I thought of that too late and my available time was running out. And now, since the 2015-17 restoration, the bow topgallant rail has been removed, so there are even less current images available.

 

Enjoy your trip.

 

Jon

[JSGerson]

Mustafa, I saw your request for channel images. While we wait for Gregg's photos, here are some of the images I have that may help you.

 

Jon

[g8rfan]

Hey Gregg,

As I am just getting started on my gun deck, I'm obviously interested in any photos you get there, especially the guns and their rigging. 

[mtbediz]

8 hours ago, JSGerson said:

Mustafa, I saw your request for channel images. While we wait for Gregg's photos, here are some of the images I have that may help you.

Thank you so much Jon. Great photos, taken from exactly the angles I was hoping for, they will be very helpful.

Edited September 18 by mtbediz

[JSGerson]

I always like to share the photos I've collected over the years.

 

Jon

[Der Alte Rentner]

 

 

 

As always, I study your work before I tackle a new part of my build.  Two thoughts came to mind as I revisited your post above:

 

1.  Once again, my decision not to go with the black and white paint scheme will leave me at a disadvantage. I won't be able to easily touch up any glue smears or missteps when I add channels and chain plates to my Conny.  I'm really going to have to be careful..

 

2.  Man, oh man!  your galleries look fantastic!  

[mtbediz]

The wood strip caps were added to the channels and entire channels and plates were varnished.

Edited September 19 by mtbediz