Constitution by patrickmil - Model Shipways - 1/76th

[patrickmil]

Tim, thanks a bunch for looking in and the scale converter. I will absolutely be using that. I'm not completely sold on purchasing different cannons just yet. If I can figure out how to make them I might give it a go.

[texxn5]

I'll sip a little Single Malt Whiskey and bend an elbow with ya! plus a nice cigar...

[patrickmil]

I will be having a cigar later today after work in fact; most likely with a little bourbon as well. And then we'll see about getting to that keel.

[texxn5]

I still have some good Cuban's from when I lived in Costa Rica.....ahhh...the aroma of Habana...

[popeye the sailor]

frame work looks good Patrick

[alde]

Patrick, I finally got the book "Ship Models - Museum of Fine Arts Boston". It has photos of one model of Constitution and it shows the figure on the bow and split gunports. The model is not dated or atributed but it looks quite old. Maybe the museum could provide more information on it. I am very curious and may inquire myself. If I get any information I will let you know.

[patrickmil]

Popeye, thanks for the good word. I've got some real sanding work in front of me; those blocks are Poplar. Al, I'd like to see the figurehead on that. I've got some pictures of it from online, but most aren't good enough for a real good interpretation. 

[alde]

Here you go.

 

[alde]

A little different view.

 

[patrickmil]

Nice figurehead Al. Thanks for the picture.

[patrickmil]

I notice that this model has gunport lids. Interesting...

[alde]

I notice that this model has gunport lids. Interesting...

Yes, and they are split.

[patrickmil]

I'm still waiting on my book from Tyrone Martin. Apparently this is one of the more credible accounts of the history of the ship. I'm anxious to compare what he has written to what I have already researched.

[texxn5]

Good pictures, I haven't seen those before.

[rfolsom]

Patrick;  Sitting back, watching and learning!  You're going to have a stupendous build!

 

~Bob

[patrickmil]

I agree with you John, they are good pictures. I'm comparing them to the other sources and this bow looks nothing like any of the others with the gold, the figurehead itself and the white stripe going all the way forward. I did finally receive Commander Martin's book. I have some reading to do in between sanding the poplar blocks. Bob, thanks a ton for stopping by. I think I'm the one who's going to be doing the majority of learning here.

[patrickmil]

It's been two weeks since I've posted on this log. If you're wondering "What the h**l has that guy been doing?" I'm here to explain. When I started on the Niagara I had some suspicions that the bulkheads weren't matching from the left side to the right side. I started to get that feeling with Connie too. I checked the plans and even the plans didn't have perfectly matching contours when comparing the left and right sides (I'll use proper sea-going terms when this starts to look like a ship). The sides of my ship are not matching up to one another despite carefully aligning the center lines of them to the center line of my false keel. This is going to make life difficult when trying to plank given my slight case of OCD with this build. To try and correct this I cut apart plan sheet one into the separate bulkheads and then made copies of them all. This will also help with future builds of sister ships   . The pictures I've included today are of my plans, the Connie skeleton with the poplar blocks sanded down, and my start to adding wood to the bulkheads so I can get them to the proper shape and mirror imaged from left to right. I've also included a picture of another project that has stolen from my ship building time and the lazy shipyard overseer. Thanks for looking in.

[patrickmil]

Oh, what I didn't mention is that I will be using the copies to cut out some gauges from thin aspen that I can use to make sure the sides match up properly on each bulkhead.

[Guest Tim I.]

Patrick,

 

It is looking good. I have to admit when I begin my Niagara I will be looking at your build log to avoid pitfalls and get some tips. 

How do you like using Poplar / Aspen as frames and blocks?

 

Thanks,

 

Tim

[patrickmil]

Thanks for looking in Tim. I used the poplar as blocks because it's pretty hard and I had a bunch laying around. I'm only using the aspen to cut out some gauges for making sure the left and right sides of my bulkheads are identical. It's too soft in my opinion for this hobby as far as being an actual part of the model.

[Guest Tim I.]

I like using aspen for jigs, but I have not used it much aside from jigs because it not take stain well.

 

Looking forward to seeing your gauges.

 

- Tim

[popeye the sailor]

you got a baby??????! SOOOOOOO cute! love 'em as puppies....so much fun!

 

 

you got me with that other picture.......don't tell me....I'm keen to guess! a deck with a heli-pad! :D

looks very cool!

 

that's not an isolated though.....I've gotten that feeling with a couple of my builds. through faring though, sanding will take care of that......I tend to eye ball it as I go along. my biggest concern, is the tapering of the hull......although with proper faring, this usually isn't an issue either. it is good though that your covering all your angles.....should be a sweet looking hull when fully planked.

[augie]

Wow.... asymmetrical bulkheads?  That to me is inexcusable on the plans.  While fairing will certainly have an impact, an inconsistency before you even start can be formidable to overcome.  Your time is being well spent.

[patrickmil]

Tim, I'll be cutting the gauges out in my garage today if I'm granted enough time before wife, kids and life in general get home. Popeye, Her name is Sadie and she's feeling under the weather lately so she's sitting comfortably next to me. I'll let you keep guessing on the one picture (it's got absolutely nothing to do with ships or modeling). And as Augie followed up with a comment, I'm not really happy with the fact that the plans are like that. I'm going to be going off of the starboard side of the plans of the bulkheads because they have cleaner lines and don't include the bevels. I'd just like to say, I love everything else about Model Shipways kits, but I got me thinking and I drug out the old Niagara plans and same thing happened there too with asymmetrical bulkhead plans. Just a hurdle to jump and then I'll be on my way. The one benefit of this has been that I am planning better and now have an idea for using everything I'll be doing for a future scratch of the United States, but I don't want to get ahead of myself.

[riverboat]

That's a bummer, like Augie said,inexcusable. But I'm sure you'll take care this. Man that's a BIG!! ship., do you plan on taking her to sea!! 

Frank         

[patrickmil]

Frank, I think the dog might be able to safely embark upon her        ! I'm finding little nuances here and there that are disturbing given the normal retail cost of this kit, but they are all easily overcome with some time and patience. Like I said, I love Model Shipways kits. Their instructions are near the top of the list when comparing kits and they don't skimp on materials either (I usually have enough wood strips left over to almost construct another smaller ship). You'd assume that the plans wouldn't even be an issue and the other sheets showing detail certainly are ample.

[alde]

In this day and age of computer generated drawing there is no excuse for these errors on the drawings or the laser cut parts for that matter. They should be accurate. Even if the scale is off very slightly they should be symetrical.

[Trussben]

Hi Patrick,

 

Sorry to hear about the bad plans, but now you know the problem I have full confidence you will quickly be over the issue.

It's become one of my Mantras " check the bloody plans " but " don't assume the plans are accurate ".

 

Ben

[NMBROOK]

Your skeleton is an excellent foundation for the build Patrick It is a shame regarding the lack of symmetry but I am sure you will overcomb this little hurdle.

 

Kind Regards

 

Nigel

[patrickmil]

Al, Ben and Nigel, thanks for looking in and the words of encouragement. I have been steadily getting these bulkheads up to standard. It's a slow process though. I'm cutting out the starboard side of the copies of the plans, tracing the profiles onto 1/8" thick basswood sheets and cutting these out. Once I've got the proper shape on the starboard side then I take that same template or gauge and use it on the port side and then I'm assured symmetry.