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

[mtbediz]

Merry Christmas to all my friends!

 

Hi Peter, if I were you, I’d mount the cleat in line with the cathead, just as it appears on the actual ship in the reference photo, and secure the free end of the rope to that cleat. The idea of the rope passing over the top rail doesn’t seem very logical to me.

Edited December 25, 2025 by mtbediz

[Der Alte Rentner]

I thought the exact same thing, but that's the way that Bob Hunt rigged it, so I assumed there was some good reason for this. Also, I have the top gallant rails, where you do not. It makes less sense to route the anchor line just forward of the rail. I tried that first.

 

I think in a previous post, I asked myself whether I should remove the top gallant rails, since they were not  present on the current day Constitution.  For good or ill, I chose to follow (for the most part) the Hunt method. If I ever build another one, the lessons I've learned on this one will go a long way..

 

Thank you.

 

By the way, I just looked at your build log again, you continue to amaze.

Edited December 25, 2025 by Der Alte Rentner

[JSGerson]

Here is a view of the cleat with the topgallant rail, albeit not being used for the cathead, but a clear picture never the less.

 

Jon

[mtbediz]

Of course, it's your model, and you have the right to build it however you feel happiest; I do the same.

 

Looking at Mr. Hunt's model, his topgalant rail seems to go further than yours, blocking the cathead, so he must have passed the rope over it.

 

I'd also like to point out that, although you didn't add it, there's normally hammock net on the topgalant rail, and it's impossible for the rope to pass over that. Again, I apologize, my intention isn't to bother you, I'm just trying to contribute to your model.

Edited December 26, 2025 by mtbediz

[Der Alte Rentner]

Jon, and Mustafa,

Thanks for your invaluable comments and feedback.  I went back to have a second look at where the end of my topgallant rail was in relationship to the plan and compared that to where Hunt ended his.  You are 100% correct, Mustafa, to point out Hunt's extends well forward of the cathead.  Mine actually conform to the plans and coincide with the photo Jon contributed to the conversation above, as do the placement of my cleats - despite the fact that the scale is waaaaaaay off.  But they came with the kit (though, evidently not the metal one that the anchor line is supposed to be secured to), so I used what I had.

 

 

 

 

 

Looking at this photo (Photo 1) from Jon, I'm wondering how the anchor line should run from the cathead to the cleat.  Mustafa rightly points out that, in this case, the hammock net would interfere with the line coming over the top of the topgallant rail.  Even allowing that the gap just forward of the hammock net might provide a path for the line, it seems the angle from that gap to the cleat is a tad extreme.  There doesn't seem to be a plate in that gap, where one would expect the line to rest on, were the anchor line routed that way.   I won't be adding the hammock nets, so this could render the point academic.

 

The angle is even more extreme if the line were to run forward of the rail cap (end?) to the cleat.   That option simply can't be correct.

 

Notice that there's no cleat directly above the inboard part of the cathead!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In this photo (Photo 2), supplied by Mustafa, there's an extra cleat!  and a metal plate for the anchor line to rest on.  But no topgallant rail and no hammock net.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Looking back at the photo of my build (Photo 3), It appears that I do have the room to add that extra cleat, exactly where it appears in photo 2. 

 

Of course then I'd have to add a metal plate to protect the main rail.  

 

As an aside, and before anyone points out the obvious, I also have to add the end caps for the topgallant rails.  Unfortunately, when fitting them, I discovered that my main rails aren't the required 3/16" width there.  So, the laser cut caps with the engraved artwork can't be used.  To get them to fit, I'd be trimming into the engraving.  So, no art work for me, unless I get creative..

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Plenty to ponder over the remaining holidays.  

 

 

and that includes figuring out how to rig the anchor line as it appears in Photo 2.

 

 

 

Thanks again gentlemen!

 

 

 

 

 

Edited December 26, 2025 by Der Alte Rentner

[JSGerson]

I decided to dig a little further so explored the the last time the anchors were in use which was 1930s. I hoping to find how the cathead rigging was used and tied off. I had no luck from the spar deck, but I did get a clue from 1931 photos looking at the anchor hanging from the cathead. Note there is a line coming from the cathead running by the man kneeling on the cathead, rising up to somewhere in the mast rigging, bypassing the cleats on the bulwark.

 

Jon

[Der Alte Rentner]

All of this is giving me a headache..  I suppose I could simply not dangle the anchor, securing it to the spar deck as shown elsewhere.  I had hoped to be back at the shipyard today, but to add insult to injury, I literally do have a headache, along with a bunch of other cold/flu symptoms, so I'll have a few more days of rumination before me before choosing between the options.  Absent even a hint of where in the mast rigging the anchor could be fastened, I'm going with the option Mustafa recommended at the top of the page. 

[JSGerson]

I checked a number of books I have, and this one had an explanation and diagram of what may have been going on in the two photos I previously sent you. This may relieve your headache or regrettable make it worse. I hope for the former.

 

Jon

[Der Alte Rentner]

Unfortunately, it's the latter.  I need to refer to my nautical Funk and Wagnalls to decipher the lingo.

 

Frankly, the angles involved in this solution seem as bad as what I've got now. But I still have a couple of days to ruminate over this, we'll see what the new year brings. Thank you Jon.  

 

 

[GGibson]

21 hours ago, JSGerson said:

I checked a number of books I have, and this one had an explanation and diagram...

 

I have this book, as well, Jon!  The book shows its age, as the pages are stiff and a bit brittle, but it does have good info in it.  I am looking forward to using it multiple times in my build.

 

2 hours ago, Der Alte Rentner said:

Unfortunately, it's the latter.  I need to refer to my nautical Funk and Wagnalls to decipher the lingo.

 

The terminology always causes me to pause a bit every time, too, Peter.  I am slowly recognizing and understanding some of the lingo, but I am also frequently still doing an internet search on "what does this mean?!?" 

 

Wishing both you, Peter, and Jon (since I quoted him in this post, I'll include him here, as well) a Happy and Prosperous New Year.  You have both been extremely helpful and supportive in my own Constitution build, and you are both extremely appreciated, gentlemen.  Thank you!  See y'all next year! 

[Der Alte Rentner]

Thank you Gregg and may you be blessed with a joyous and productive 2026. 

 

Today is day two of that new year and I came to the shipyard with the intention of dealing with the anchor rope issue. But as I stared at the forward end of the topgallant rail, knowing that the gangway board needed to be dealt with first, I started pulling parts from the laser cut panels and scouting out where they belonged in the plans. It was only as I was about to post this entry with a half a dozen photos asking where a particular part went, that I found my answer.  Unfortunately that answer prompted a new question.

 

Given that I will not be adding the hammock netting, do I even need the decorative gangway boards? Once I found where the "aft star" belonged, I had to ask myself, why? Absent the stanchions and hammock netting, this particular piece of decoration seems out of place - there for no particular purpose.

 

 

I can make the case that the pair of gangway boards at the waist makes sense, but I am leaning toward eliminating the aft star and the forward oak leaf, which is problematic anyway.

 

It's not easy to tell from the photo below, but the forward oak leaf gangway board is too wide for the rail. (By the way, so is the aft star above.) I can't use the decorative piece. Yet, I don't think I can simply not cover the rail ends. 

 

Boy, do I wish I had not installed the topgallant railing in the first place. Oh well..    but no, I'm not going to be removing them.

 

 

I'm debating between modifying the undecorated gangway boards, that came with the kit, and simply filling the gap in the bulwarks beetween the rails.

 

 

And, yes, I do intend to move the anchor rope by adding another cleat.

 

 

 

Edited 12 hours ago by Der Alte Rentner
Rephrasing comments

[GGibson]

Hey Peter!  Looking good!  I do like the gangway boards but understand that you've got to have them look right in the particular situation.  I'm sure you will come up with a great solution to covering the rail end if you don't use the gangway boards.

[Der Alte Rentner]

Drat! You responded before I could modify the previous post, Gregg.

 

Decisions made, construction underway.

 

I opted to use the undecorated gangway boards. But I will be skipping the AFT star.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Moving on to the port side now.

[mtbediz]

Now everything looks perfect!

[Der Alte Rentner]

Port side waiting for poly to dry on brass plate before tying off the anchor rope.  That can wait until tomorrow. I'm going home to update my personal build log. I'm about 6 weeks behind on that.