USS Constitution by lambsbk – Revell – 1/96 - PLASTIC – With Fiber Optics

[texxn5]

By the way, still haven't heard from Henry. I called today, but only got voicemail....did you have any problems with contacting him...I've done emails and now phone calls. Hopefully I'll hear from him tomorrow, I'll be in Boston area tomorrow evening for 3-4 days.

[lambsbk]

Yes John as I recall it did take a little bit for him to get back to me. I believe he called just as I arrived into the Boston area. I hope you guys can get together for the Connie tour. Enjoy Boston.

[KimatHm]

Really Nice work there, Dave...!!! Excellent...

[texxn5]

Hi Dave, I just got in touch with Henry this morning as I was driving to Boston.  He just returned from Italy, and I am meeting him tomorrow evening for a private after hours tour.  Can't wait.  What an excellent opportunity.  Did you need any specific pictures?  Let me know before about 11:00 AM tomorrow, and I'll try to get them for you.  Same goes for anyone else following this forum.

[lambsbk]

Actually any of the topside deck furniture (wheel, bell, camboose stack, etc. ) would be great. They were covered due to rain when I was aboard. Thanks John. Have fun.

[lambsbk]

The prototype tackle gun is complete. I am not happy completely but am uncertain as to why. I could not get the lines to 'droop' with a gravity effect because the line just loosened up and looked ridiculous. So here it is tightened up but before the lines are coiled at their ends. Thoughts or suggestions anyone?

 

[lambsbk]

I also took some 'night' shots. These were difficult to print but hopefully you can see some of the lighting effects.

 

 

 

Hey Verne - check out the chart

 

[texxn5]

Hi Dave, I'll see what I can do. It rained here yesterday, but is supposed to be nice all day today. The temp was 45 F last night.....brrrrr for us Texans. I'll be taking a lot of pictures of the ship and inside the museum as well.

[Force9]

Careful John... The museum generally has a strict no photos policy in most of the exhibits. Upstairs, be sure to flip open the lid on the little wooden box hanging on one of the walls. Inside is a hand drawn diagram of the Java battle done by one of Constitution's officers. Very neat... It shows how much maneuvering went on - lots of twists and turns. In fact, Old Ironsides absorbed two stern rakes from Java. Also not to be missed, the original George Ropes paintings of the Guerriere fight are exquisite jewels to admire. Ropes was the deaf mute protege of the famous painter Michele Felice Corne.

 

Enjoy the great ship.

 

EG

[texxn5]

Thanks for the warning EG, I didn't realize that. So far in the museums I haven't had a problem, but I'll be aware of potential problems here.

[lambsbk]

Shhh...I got museum photos...

[KimatHm]

The Illuminated Photos are great...!!! Gives a really authentic look, and a really good sense of the 'Particular, Patient, Conscientious and Serious Modeler'...Well Done, my friend ...!!!  Kim 

[texxn5]

Hi Dave, well the tour was everything you said it would be.  Henry was most gracious and it was really incredible to have this national monument completely to ourselves with no one aboard but the watch and totally at our discretion with a personal guided tour.  We got to see things the public does not.  The OD is a friend of Henry's, so when it came time for colors, he alerted us, and allowed us to go out to the adjacent pier deck to photograph the cannon being fired at dusk.  Really cool, and to be able to participate in the ceremony on deck of this ship was a lifetime event.  Actually the whole experience was a lifetime event.  Nothing was covered so i have some pictures of the areas you asked for, as well as many more.  I'll post these as soon as I have a free minute, probably sometime today. 

[texxn5]

Oh, and I got pictures inside the museum. At one point someone asked me to turn off my flash (they said it made it easieer on the art), but I already had the photos I wanted, other than that I had no problems, with the exception of the gift shop. They had a model built on the Blue Jacket kit, and they told me the builder did not want any photo's taken of his model.....how wierd....you would think he would be proud that someone even wanted to take a picture of it. Some incredible models, but the big one was in bad disrepair that no one has bothered to fix, which I don't understand.

[texxn5]

Dave,

Here are some pictures of the Camboose Stack, ship bell, ship's wheel and some deck pictures.

[texxn5]

I'll have to post some others a little later as I'm off to Plymouth.

[KimatHm]

Great Pics...!!! Looking Forward to Those to Follow...!!!  Kim

[texxn5]

Thanks Kim, I'll try to post more tomorrow or soon after. I took quite a few.

[lambsbk]

Thanks for the pics John.

 

Plymouth is a lot of fun. The Mayflower is still in refit however and I am not so sure their lobster is up to par with those in Maine.

Fran and I really enjoyed Plymouth Plantation.

P.S. The national Freedom Monument is really hard to find (at least it was at dusk). A GPS program should come to your rescue.

Edited September 8, 2013 by lambsbk

[texxn5]

Hi Dave,

Plymouth was beautiful yesterday. The Mayflower is still in port. They haven't started any work on her. they are trying to raise $2,000,000 to do repairs. It is beginning to show a lot of wear and in dire need of paint. I hate to see it in this condition. Makes you wonder what they are doing with the $15.00 ticket fees. I'll post a couple of pictures later. GPS got me right to where I needed to be.

[texxn5]

A few more Conny pictures

[texxn5]

Colors.....a memorable experience for an old sailor to participate and witness aboard this mighty vessel as so many noble sailors and patriots have done in the past.....

[KimatHm]

Wow...!!!  Thanks a lot for posting, John...!!! Makes me feel as though we're 'Kinda There' with You all, for some reason...!!!

That's quite the model on display, Huh ?? Nice gift for us all...!!! Kim

[texxn5]

There was a presentation movie going on where the really big model is.....it is about 10-12 feet long and about 7 or 8 feet tall.  Unfortunately most of the backstays have broken on it and some other rigging lines and they have not repaired it.  I couldn't take pictures because of the movie.

[popeye2sea]

John,

the really large model that you speak of was never completed by the builder (died, I think).

[texxn5]

Hi Henry, ok, thanks for the info. hope you got my posts on your log. Thanks again, my friend, for my opportunity of a lifetime, and sharing your time with us.

[lambsbk]

I have made a small simple device for making rope coils. I'll get the particulars up tonight. I have a question about rigging technique though. I have tried CA and dilute elmers. The dilute elmers seems more 'natural' as the CA is so stiff it does not forgive errors. The question is: does the dilute elmers hold up over time or does it tend to unravel?

[KimatHm]

I've been wondering when someone might bring this subject to the table...!!! For YEARS I've been using a cement called 'Plastruct' (Plastic Weld)...General Purpose Plastic Solvent Cement... ESPECIALLY for my rigging issues...!!!  It Doesn't get all dried up and 'cracking, or give that appearance, or get 'yellowed' after a few years, and remains clear... it evaporates almost instantly, and is just what the Doctor ordered for these type of situations... It comes in a 2 Fl. Oz. bottle, with a really nice applicator brush....I've used this, and still use it for my rope coils also...even after the rigging material has been 'waxed'   As most of you know by now...most rigging material has a fair amount of 'plastic' in it, and is one of the reasons it seems to work so well...I Swear by it...!!!   http://www.plastruct.com/  Just a suggestion for everyone...!!! Let me know what you think..( Please Note...This isn't  the same as the liquid cements from 'Testors', for regular Styrene Plastics...)... Kim

[lambsbk]

I made some coils for the Connie. I hope this link will show you how I did this step. Click on photo to view 4 minute video.

 

 

 

Edited September 11, 2013 by lambsbk

[KimatHm]

Nice Video...!!! Well Done...!!! You're now starting to remind me of my friend & 'Long Distance Mentor,' Steve Priske ( the shipwright I've mentioned previously from 'Tall Ships of San Francisco'...His Videos were GREAT !!!) Keep it up....!!  Kim