USS Constitution by Der Alte Rentner - Model Shipways - 1/76

[kmart]

Der Alte Rentner,  You went and finished you heardrails before i responded to you question.  Yours turned out looking great. 

[Der Alte Rentner]

4 hours ago, kmart said:

Der Alte Rentner,  You went and finished you heardrails before i responded to you question.  Yours turned out looking great. 

Thank you, kind sir..

[Der Alte Rentner]

I've asked this before, but not having received a reply, I'll ask again.  Does anyone know what triggers a new page here at the MSW site?  Is it the number of posts?  Some specific period of time?  Some number of bytes per page?  Just curious,  I seem to be cranking out quite a few pages, which begs the question, who holds the record for most pages in a build log?  0

 

At the rate I'm going, I might hit 100 well before I finish this build.  😁

[GGibson]

33 minutes ago, Der Alte Rentner said:

I've asked this before, but not having received a reply, I'll ask again.  Does anyone know what triggers a new page here at the MSW site?

 

If you want a new page, I think all you need to do is ask one of the moderators... they are happy to send you one... 🤷‍♂️🤣🤣

 

Seriously, I have no clue, but as a non-IT/website guy, I'm guessing it has something to do with the "bytes per page" with a combination of text and pictures and the size of pictures that folks post.

 

As far as most pages in a build log, you might think that the more difficult or challenging the ship, perhaps the more posts and ultimately more pages.  But, if the Constitution falls under that category, some of the best completed build logs I have been researching are barely even 50 total pages.  There is a USF Confederacy build log that hit 74 pages.  When I was building my HM Schooner Ballahoo, there was another builder who seemed to post an update after every eyebolt and nail he attached, but in looking back at it now, his was only 35 pages, albeit a smaller ship and a much less complex build.

 

If you hit 100 pages, Peter, we'll throw a party... probably just a "virtual" party, but a party, nonetheless... 👍🏆🥳🎉

[mtbediz]

6 hours ago, Der Alte Rentner said:

The only way I can get the knot to work was to adopt Hunt's technique of keeping the hook on the left of the block, for which I made a little rigging rig. (I won't bother showing pictures of the two other methods that were only semi-successful.)

I knew you would find a way to make this. Doing it without clamps is almost impossible.

[mtbediz]

Just a suggestion. If you can make the hook and the hole 90 degrees perpendicular to each other, it will look nicer and you will do it accurate.

Edited June 9 by mtbediz

[Der Alte Rentner]

That is an excellent observation, Mustafa, and it's something that I thought about myself.

 

Arguments for sticking with my method?

1. The Marquardt book.

 

1. And Syren Ship Model Company catalog itself.

 

3. At least one other builder is doing it the way that I am.

 

 

4. I don't know if I can bend the hooks at this point without breaking them. And I certainly don't want to remake the 20 that I've already done, which, by the way, are already a mixed bag of the two methods I've been employing.

 

I made another four this morning and ran a stopwatch. I'm averaging one in about 10 minutes now.  Wo hoo! On a roll.  How do you do this in 2 minutes, Mustafa?

 

 

 

Since I still have work to do on the hull, I can't install the coronades or cannons until I've, at the very least, installed the rudder and most likely the gun deck cannons and ports covers.  Therefore, I needed a place to store the tackle, which I intend to complete first.  I'm happy that the drills that came with the Craft911 pin vise have shafts that will fit in one of the Proxxon mill collets. 

 

I'm not entirely pleased with this first pair, but as has been observed many times at this website, at a distance no one's going to notice the flaws. That would also include whether or not the hooks are perpendicular to the eyes.

 

 

 

 

 

Edited June 9 by Der Alte Rentner
Changed commentary, added photo, and.. corrected typos.

[Der Alte Rentner]

13 hours ago, GGibson said:

If you hit 100 pages, Peter, we'll throw a party... probably just a "virtual" party, but a party, nonetheless... 👍🏆🥳🎉

My goal is not to hit 100 pages. I'm just embarrassed to be using up so much space  and I'm wondering how I can tighten up my work. Regardless, whether I hit 100 Pages or not, I'm always up for a party. 🥳

[JSGerson]

Quote

Does anyone know what triggers a new page here at the MSW site?

Short answer: I haven't a clue.

To be honest, I don't care how long the blog or a book is, if the the reading/information is enjoyable, it's not too long.

 

Quote

If you can make the hook and the hole 90 degrees perpendicular to each other, it will look nicer and you will do it accurate.

I agree with Mustafa. From the Marquardt book picture you posted, that looks to me like a 90 degree twist. I believe I twisted mine although there may be some I didn't. I try with in reason to be as faithful to the actual item as I can make it. I don't remember breaking any hooks getting it to twist. Brass is quite malleable. Of course if you work it too much, it will break from metal fatigue. I did however, break a few from poor drilling or lost a few in my hungry rug.

 

Jon

[Der Alte Rentner]

On 6/9/2025 at 12:51 PM, JSGerson said:

From the Marquardt book picture you posted, that looks to me like a 90 degree twist.

Really?  I don't see that at all. To me the hook looks flat.  But that just could be my aging eyes.  

 

One more argument in favor of my point of view is Bob Hunt's practicum, which, despite its flaws, is still the resource I check first. In the photo below, notice that for the double block, he uses the drill-baby-drill technique that I started with. As mentioned before, had I used the model shipways blocks, this would have been the easiest way to go. As good looking as the Syren blocks are, they are somewhat problematic.

 

 

Shall I keep score of respondent's votes

 

OMG!  Taking that break to check the site, I returned to the task at hand with a sudden flash of insight - new way to hold hook and block to easily tie the two together. Now I'm down to 5 minutes per unit. Hooray!

 

Edited June 21 by Der Alte Rentner
Content and typos

[JSGerson]

Doesn't matter the score. You are the Captain of your ship. What you say, goes! Aye Aye Sir!

 

Jon

[GGibson]

38 minutes ago, JSGerson said:

To be honest, I don't care how long the blog or a book is, if the the reading/information is enjoyable, it's not too long.

 

Bingo...

 

38 minutes ago, JSGerson said:

...or lost a few in my hungry rug.

 

After I finished my Santa Maria and before I start the Constitution, I gave my shipyard a deep clean... took everything off of shelves and tables and wiped everything down, vacuumed, dusted, etc.  Can't tell you how many times I said to myself "So that's where that ended up...!"  🤷‍♂️😅

 

OK, Peter, on this issue I am going to side with Mustafa and Jon on the twist.  I just received another addition to my Constitution library, Olaf A. Eriksen's "Constitution - All Sails Up and Flying", which appears to be an awesome study of how the Constitution was rigged in 1815.  Here's a page from his "Strapping of Blocks" section.  Sorry for the poor attempt at taking a picture.

 

 

In these diagrams, the hook appears to be turned 90 degrees from the eyebolt.

[mtbediz]

I think the photo I shared in my previous post, taken on the real ship, is being overlooked. In the photo, it is clearly seen that the hook is perpendicular to the eye. However, I apologize if I caused confusion on this matter. Of course, the model is Peter's and he is free to make it however he wants. Mine was just a suggestion.

Edited June 10 by mtbediz

[Der Alte Rentner]

28 minutes ago, mtbediz said:

I think the photo I shared in my previous post, taken on the real ship, is being overlooked. In the photo, it is clearly seen that the hook is perpendicular to the eyes.

Absolutely!  I understand that the orientation is as you say - the hook being perpendicular to the eye.  I take your suggestions to heart, and am grateful you think my build worthy of your time and input.  I was only making excuses(?) for my not "strapping" a hook to a block as suggested in the photo from All Sails Up and Flying posted by Gregg above.  Almost no builder here is doing that.  Most are tying the hook to the block in the manner you and I are doing.  Were I a stickler for that level of detail, (and you all know I'm not.  Is my hull black?  I don't think so! 😁), I would be reeving a strap over the eye of the hook and the groove of the thimble, then clapping seizing between the thimble and block.  Maybe on my second build?  In 2030?  For now, I'll take selected shortcuts so that I'll be able to START a second build by 2030..🤣

Edited June 9 by Der Alte Rentner

[Der Alte Rentner]

On 6/5/2025 at 8:40 AM, GGibson said:

I need to find some slightly "weaker" hemostats, as many of the smaller blocks on my Santa Maria rigging were getting crushed by the hemostat I have, so I was just using the clips on my helping hand to hold the blocks while stropping.

 

 

 

 

For what it's worth, weaker hemostats don't seem to exist.  I was on the hunt for these when I saw how much better they were for holding on to hooks and blocks.  Your solution to use clips is brilliant, and I've employed that method myself to prevent crushing the blocks.

Edited June 10 by Der Alte Rentner

[Der Alte Rentner]

Remember my comment that there wouldn't be much to post for a while (20 or so posts ago 😁)?

 

Yesterday, I spent the entire day publishing volume 2 of my build log (meaning, I printed two copies and shared the pdf with a few close friends).  That marked two years under my belt at this! 

 

With some travel plans upcoming, and a lot of repetitive block construction in the works, I will likely be less "visible" here until July.  Though, like most builders on summer sabbaticals, I will be checking in to see what's up elsewhere.  So, with this:

I bid you all auf wiedersehen 

 

P.S. In case you're wondering, the cover shots are the state of the project at the beginning of the year in question.

 

 

Edited June 12 by Der Alte Rentner

[Der Alte Rentner]

My road trip begins on Thursday. So, I'm preparing a little travel kit to keep me occupied in the off hours on that excursion.

 

By hook or by crook, I will be productive 😁.

 

I spent a couple of hours at the shipyard today making more hooks than I'll need for the double blocks I plan to strap them to.

 

[Der Alte Rentner]

End of June update:

 

Work continues on making hooks and rigging them to single and double blocks for the gun tackles.

 

I'm almost done with the double hooks, but just having received some rope from Ropes of Scale, I thought I'd divert to a little comparison exercise.

 

Tan ropes came with the model shipways kit - WP1241 and WP1242.  The larger of the two, the WP1242, looks pretty good, but won't fit through the holes in the blocks. At the other end of the scale we have the WP1241, which frankly just doesn't cut it.  Too small.

 

The plans call for .45 mm for the tackles. I did get some .45 mm rope from Ropes of Scale, but it's beige. I'm not exactly loving the color, but if memory serves, that's the only color other than black that I could get from them.

 

I just ordered some from Syren Model Ships Company which looks to be more tan than beige in the photos. So, it's too early to make the final decision of which to use. However I need to make the decision soon because this is what gets rigged to the single blocks.

 

Edited Monday at 04:12 PM by Der Alte Rentner

[GGibson]

Nice comparison exercise, Peter!  I hope you like Ropes of Scale.  They do have a light beige, as well.  

[Der Alte Rentner]

I like what I got, but I'm not sure how I got the beige cotton confused with tan polyester when ordering the .45mm.  Maybe I wanted to see the color difference between the two and didn't notice the difference in materials?  Oh well..

 

Because I have more cents than sense, and I like the tan polyester, I just ordered the .45mm and am spending the premium to get it in one day.  

 

Thanks for the nudge..

 

 

 

 

Edited Monday at 06:25 PM by Der Alte Rentner

[Der Alte Rentner]

Today I finished all the double blocks for the spar deck tackles, and made more hooks for the single blocks, which I'll rig after the .45 mm tan rope arrives from either Ropes of Scale or Syren, whichever gets here first.

 

 

 

So, my attention turned to things undone. One thing I can do in the meantime is start work on the gun deck's false cannons and gunport lids. At first I thought putting the hinges on the gunport lids would be too much effort, but it turned out to be manageable after all.

 

I did have to scrape off the paint and primer that I put on when I thought I black was the color of choice.

 

One down..

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Der Alte Rentner]

I'm rolling 7s today.

 

7 hours at the shipyard today.  7 false cannons and gunport lids added. Then 7 undersized false cannons discovered in that order from the Checoslavakian company placed ast year.  Aaaargh!

 

I drilled 11/64 inch holes to accommodate the barrels. It wasn't until today, as I was gluing them into the hull, that I saw the first one that was 5/32 inch in diameter.  That wouldn't be so bad, but the rest of the barrel is narrower than the others as well. Making the opening in the gun lids a smidge too large.  Maybe the Casual Observer won't notice. I'll try one tomorrow.

 

The good news.  Getting there..

 

You're not really going to see much difference here, but the group of seven on the right are smaller diameter than the ones on the left.

 

Maybe here?

 

 

 

Edited Wednesday at 08:12 PM by Der Alte Rentner

[JSGerson]

If you have to magnify the images this much to see the difference, the average person from a foot away, won't. The choice to fabricate new lids for to accommodate the smaller diameter guns is yours as captain. Yes, I believe it may help create the illusion that all of the guns are the same diameter, but is it worth the effort, that is is your decision. I guess that depends on how finicky you are. Overall, your model looks great!

 

Jon

[GGibson]

2 hours ago, JSGerson said:

Overall, your model looks great!

 

Agreed!  Do whatever you feel you need to as the builder, Peter, but don't think anyone is going to comment on any cannon size disparity.

 

Can't remember if I have seen pictures of your base and pedestals previously, but I am really liking the looks!  Great job!

 

I just purchased a piece of canarywood that I am going to use (eventually!) for my Constitution base.

[Der Alte Rentner]

Gregg and Jon,

 

I took my magnifying glasses off, put my regular glasses back on, and determined that I can live with the slightly smaller barrels. Thank you for your thoughtful feedback.

 

Gregg, I love canary wood and have a supply of about 8 board feet on hand.  If, for whatever reason, you strike out on the wood that you ordered, reach out to me and I can send you a piece.

 

 

To all, 

It turns out that there's a minor advantage to the smaller barrels, I don't have to trim the center hole on the gunport lids as I had to for the larger barrels. If you're wondering why it's taking me so long per gunport, it's that,  despite the fact that I used a pair of gunport lids as spacers when I did the planking and therefore in theory should have resulted in perfect fits now, in practice every single pair of gun port lids requires trimming to fit properly.  Add to that, fitting the hinges and adding three coats of clear poly..   fiddly work? -  gotta love it! 🙄

Edited 22 hours ago by Der Alte Rentner

[GGibson]

18 minutes ago, Der Alte Rentner said:

...determined that I can live with the slightly smaller barrels. Thank you for your thoughtful feedback.

 

Good to hear that's not going to be an issue for you! 

 

18 minutes ago, Der Alte Rentner said:

Gregg, I love canary wood and have a supply of about 8 board feet on hand.  If, for whatever reason, you strike out on the wood that you ordered, reach out to me and I can send you a piece.

 

Appreciate the offer, Peter, but my local Woodcraft store had some in stock.  Picked up a 1" x 9" x 3' piece.  It really does look nice and should make an awesome base.  Haven't decided yet on type of mounting hardware/configuration but really thinking about Jon's solution using brass tubes and rods for additional support, whatever is used.

 

18 minutes ago, Der Alte Rentner said:

...there's a minor advantage to the smaller barrels, I don't have to trim the center hole on the gunport lids as I had to for the larger barrels...

 

Take the wins when you can get them! 👍🏆

 

[Der Alte Rentner]

13 ports left to go.  Port side done, as well as three on the starboard side.  I just got a notification that the ropes of scale package arrived at home. So I'm out of here for today. Two more days at the shipyard to finish the starboard side, and I can return to rigging the tackles.

 

 

[mtbediz]

Your model looks great Peter. Just curious, did you ever consider leaving the gun port lids open?