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


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No pix today, just a status update.  I've been staring at the hull for days now, and still can't bring myself to prime and paint it black. 

 

Marcus was one of the contributors to the discussion chiming in on the side for the switch to black.  I confused him with Pfälzer in the commentary below and have edited the post to correct my error.

 

Pfälzer's build of the San Martin is part of the reason I'm still on the fence.  Even though he used oak for his planking, he stained it and, to my eyes at least, the result is not so different from my Conny.  And I like the look..

 

I just went back to have another look at San Martin' Pfälzer build, and realize that my hull is a shade or two darker than I would have liked.  

 

 

Having said all that, I started adding the molding beneath the port side gallery and stained the transom.  Yes, I still wish I'd used better wood, and I keep telling myself I can switch at any time, yet I keep inching forward with the stained basswood.   

Edited by Der Alte Rentner
corrected a glaring error! Thank you Marcus..
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1 hour ago, Der Alte Rentner said:

... Marcus was one of the contributors to the discussion chiming in on the side for the switch to black.  Ironically, his build is part of the reason I'm still on the fence.  Even though he used oak for his planking, he stained it and, to my eyes at least, the result is not so different from my Conny.  And I like the look..

 

I just went back to have another look at Marcus' Pfälzer build, and realize that my hull is a shade or two darker than I would have liked.  

I am pretty sure I do not deserve these praises.. as my build is a Revell plastic kit and far, far from being an example for anyone, I fear. Could you pls. add a link to the mentioned "Marcus' Pfälzer build"?

 

But anyhow: my opinion is just that. An opinion. Your build, and your decision! And I am sure either way: it will be a beauty!

Edited by Marcus.K.
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6 hours ago, Marcus.K. said:

I am pretty sure I do not deserve these praises.. as my build is a Revell plastic kit and far, far from being an example for anyone, I fear. Could you pls. add a link to the mentioned "Marcus' Pfälzer build"?

 

But anyhow: my opinion is just that. An opinion. Your build, and your decision! And I am sure either way: it will be a beauty!

My mistake,  The build I mistakenly attributed to you is the San Martin by Pfälzer.  I apologize for confusing you with him Marcus.  Looking back over a number of my posts, I can't understand where or how I became aware of Pfälzer's build log, let alone how I got the two of you mixed up in my mind,  but his is the build I was referring to.  Thank you for bringing this to my attention.

 

As an aside, I have family very near Karlsruhe (Ettlingen) and I visited Karlsruhe some years ago on a visit to my uncle and cousins in the Black Forest.  I have very fond memories of my time there.  

 

 

Here is a link to the San Martin build log I was referencing.  

 

Edited by Der Alte Rentner
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Funny!

 

1st: I am a born "Pfälzer" (the name of the area on the other side of the river Rhein, were our teammate Pfälzer obviously is from too, Palatina - not Palestine) ..  maybe comparable mistakes in English lead to that mistake as we would do comparable ones having the exact same mothertongue. 

 

2nd: in fact I live now a bit "behind" Ettlingen, if looked from Karlsruhe. So next time, you are in Germany you are invited to visit me with great pleasure! 

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2 hours ago, Marcus.K. said:

Funny!

 

1st: I am a born "Pfälzer" (the name of the area on the other side of the river Rhein, were our teammate Pfälzer obviously is from too

 

2nd: in fact I live now a bit "behind" Ettlingen, if looked from Karlsruhe. So next time, you are in Germany you are invited to visit me with great pleasure! 

 

 

image.thumb.png.d58bf0b48abaca7770e8b3ba947ed0e5.png

 


 

 

Sollte ich jemals wieder in ein Flugzeug steigen, werde ich Ihr Angebot auf jeden Fall annehmen!

 

Da mir heute bewusst wird, dass mein letzter Besuch in Ettlingen schon 32 Jahre her ist, muss ich meinen Boykott der TSA vielleicht noch einmal überdenken. Bis dann, muss ich stellvertretend durch die damals aufgenommenen Fotos leben.  Die meisten von dieser Reise zeigen meine Familie, aber ich habe eines gefunden, dass ein Wahrzeichen enthält, das Ihnen sicherlich bekannt vorkommen dürfte.

 

Edited by Der Alte Rentner
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1 hour ago, woodartist said:

i concur!!

Wow, Woodartist,  long time no see?  I check in periodically to see if you've gotten any further with Lady Isabella and Fifie, or if you resumed work on Conny.  Unless I missed a shift to another project, you seem to be sidelined these days. 

 

Thanks for chiming in with your vote to stay with the stained finish.  I guess I'm still headed in that direction, having I spent a couple of hours staining and applying clear poly to the port side today. 

 

Hope to see you back in action soon.

 

Best 

Edited by Der Alte Rentner
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7 hours ago, woodartist said:

i concur!!

I’m going to have to chime in too!
I also agree with leaving the beautiful stain job you did! I couldn’t do that because my build has too many spots where the stain wouldn’t take! 
 

I like the look of just wood enough that I put a wooden steering wheel in my pickup!

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Looks beautiful!!!

 

Jon

Current Build: Model Shipways USS Frigate Constitution
 
Past Builds:    Bob Hunt's kitbash of the Mamoli Rattlesnake

                         Model Shipways Typical Ship’s Boat for the Rattlesnake

                         Mini-Mamoli solid hull British Schooner Evergreen
                         Model Airways Albatros D.Va - 1917, The Red Baron's Forgotten Fighter

 
​Member: Nautical Research Guild

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On 11/8/2024 at 9:04 PM, Unegawahya said:

I’m going to have to chime in too!
I also agree with leaving the beautiful stain job you did! I couldn’t do that because my build has too many spots where the stain wouldn’t take! 
 

I like the look of just wood enough that I put a wooden steering wheel in my pickup!

 

IMG_6340.jpeg.c4424b63642957434cfb89ff271bf484.jpeg

 

 

 

Your citing the steering wheel reminded me of something I asked you when you were constructing the wheel on your Conny - Could I sub contract you to make me one too?  (If I'm misremembering, apologies in advance), but in either case,  If you're up to making a few more of these canopies, you've got at least one customer.  😁 

 

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One step forward, one step back?

 

It wasn't until I made a spacer to assist in adding the second curved molding on the transom that I realized that the three gunports are not flush with the second molding.  I don't think I'm going to lose much sleep over it, I may just have the eagle perch covering part of the center gunport lid, and hope that no one outside of this August body questions it.

 

Perhaps some tweaking will make this a less obvious flaw.  

 

Tomorrow's another day.

 

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20241111_183143.thumb.jpg.2e83de8c46476c26a52e457c7063e286.jpg

 

20241111_191143.thumb.jpg.39beb9622410aff3ab61d496611a0158.jpg

 

 

 

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To help gain some space for the eagle, maybe thin the molding a bit. If you look at the plans, the molding on the plans are a bit narrower than your fabricated moldings. Sanding their inner surfaces will also eliminate any kinks left over from the pins used in forming the curves. I assume you didn't use the kit's laser cut moldings because they didn't suit your purposes or aesthetics?

 

Jon

Current Build: Model Shipways USS Frigate Constitution
 
Past Builds:    Bob Hunt's kitbash of the Mamoli Rattlesnake

                         Model Shipways Typical Ship’s Boat for the Rattlesnake

                         Mini-Mamoli solid hull British Schooner Evergreen
                         Model Airways Albatros D.Va - 1917, The Red Baron's Forgotten Fighter

 
​Member: Nautical Research Guild

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You're right on all counts.  Yes, I will attempt to narrow the moldings a bit and the laser cut moldings were too wide and too thin.  Also they were too scorched.  By the time I sanded away the scorch marks, they would be so thin they would stand out like a sore thumb. The plans do show that the moldings are thinner than the ones I made, but I was trying to keep with the same thickness of the moldings under the gallery windows.  And I will definitely sand out the kink marks. 

 

This goes to show how much attention you need to pay attention to details well down the road from the stage you're dealing with at the moment.  (Here's where the veteran's experience comes to play.)  The gunports are all on the same plane, but somehow the galleries may have been slightly misshapen?  Working off the plans, I positioned the moldings on the galleries where they should have been, but to keep them parallel to the bottom of the windows, I missed the mark where the molding met the transom. 

 

It is what it is.  Since I'm not going to be going for an exact replica (going with stain vs black and white paint, skipping the bulwark rivets, the nails on the deck, etc.) I'm not going to lose much sleep over this.   

 

Here's a thought, maybe I omit that last piece altogether?  🤔

Edited by Der Alte Rentner
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Just remember, it's a model, not a replica. It can be as detailed or simple as you want it. It is, after all, YOUR model.

 

Jon

Current Build: Model Shipways USS Frigate Constitution
 
Past Builds:    Bob Hunt's kitbash of the Mamoli Rattlesnake

                         Model Shipways Typical Ship’s Boat for the Rattlesnake

                         Mini-Mamoli solid hull British Schooner Evergreen
                         Model Airways Albatros D.Va - 1917, The Red Baron's Forgotten Fighter

 
​Member: Nautical Research Guild

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Absolutely!

 

BTW, the original isn't exactly perfect either.  There are some kinks and the odd bend in her as well.  And that second molding could be a tad thinner.. I might even be able to remove and do some surgery on the first one to make the two more symmetrical.

I feel a lot better now.  Thanks!  😁

 

 

image.png.25c20e340b9596f5b48a768b4a62a071.png

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Well worth the effort!

 

BTW, what kind of wood did you use for the molding? It took the the sharp bends very nicely.

 

Jon

Edited by JSGerson

Current Build: Model Shipways USS Frigate Constitution
 
Past Builds:    Bob Hunt's kitbash of the Mamoli Rattlesnake

                         Model Shipways Typical Ship’s Boat for the Rattlesnake

                         Mini-Mamoli solid hull British Schooner Evergreen
                         Model Airways Albatros D.Va - 1917, The Red Baron's Forgotten Fighter

 
​Member: Nautical Research Guild

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1 hour ago, Der Alte Rentner said:

I feel even better now, after 2 hours of tweaking those moldings.

 

48 minutes ago, JSGerson said:

Well worth the effort!

 

Looks really nice, Peter!  Definitely worthy of the time.  👍🏆

Gregg

 

Current Projects:                                                             Completed Projects:                                                                 Waiting for Shipyard Clearance:

 Santa Maria Caravelle 1:48 - Ships of Pavel Nikitin     Norwegian Sailing Pram 1:12 - Model Shipways                    Yacht America Schooner 1851 1:64 - Model Shipways

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                                                                                              H.M. Schooner Ballahoo 1:64 - Caldercraft                             USS Constitution  1:76 - Model Shipways

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