Constitution by dcbriski - Model Shipways - 1812 configuration

[cpt. Tom]

Incredible work, absolut fantastic

[dcbriski]

FInally! I have restarted. The picture is only proof, I will post more in the future. The missing bulkhead is warped so I am resetting it.  Also, the bulkheads are cut to the top of the gun deck, I am contemplating either A. cutting them to lay decent planks on the gun deck or B. leave as is and just use really thin planks. thoughts?

[dcbriski]

Connie 2.0 is underway. I have gotten close to the point I was at prior. I changed the cabin configuration a bit, now that I have plenty of extra wood to use! Id like to take a poll on peoples opinions of the windows. They are only slightly taller than square and I have dry fitted them in at this point. My question is should I leave as is, make them perfectly squared, or add a second or third pane in the windows. The hull model is squared as shown for info.

[CaptainSteve]

^{Love your work to date !!!}

 

^{I, too, am building Connie, and am also hoping to do an 1812 version. As the kit I chose is designed around Connie's current make-up, I put out a call asking for input on the very question of what her stern window configuration would have been back in 1812.}

 

^{One contributor put me in touch with an MSW member who is actually a member of the USS Constitution historical re-enactment group ...}

^{I include part of his response here and hope it helps you:}

 

^{'She was pierced for and carried 30 guns on the gun deck and carried 14 carronades on the quarter deck (rated as a 44).  The carronades on the fore deck were added later bringing her war of 1812 armament to 50 - 54 guns (including bow chasers).  The transom was ornately decorated and had 5 windows'}

 

^{The full response is included in my own build-log. As well, I dug up some of the Corne paintings and put them in my log.}

^{Hope you find this info useful.}

Edited January 23, 2014 by CaptainSteve

[cookster]

Dc, I'm also attempting and 1812 Conny, but I'm calling mine "in the spirit of 1812" as I'm sure i'll get some details wrong.   Love what you're doing with yours, scratching the windows out of wood is a challenge I did not want to take on, you're doing a great job!  I hope all of us that are attempting 1812 Connies can pull it off successfully!

 

Great work, looking forward to more!

[dcbriski]

Hey Everybody,

 

I have gotten a little bit of work done on my connie, and here is how it stands. I have placed the main waterway around the spar deck. I then used the profile of the waterway to set my gun ports. I used a 5/32 box piece to set the upper and the lower was set with a 14/32 90`. As you can see it ended up working out pretty well. The next step will be to set the floor of the gun deck from the lower lid of the gun port. I have attached a mock picture to let you guys see where the cannon will sit. Once the floor is set, I will likely build the walls to paint them white. I will also need to make the ports flush with the hull line.

 

I have looked at my connie book and the diagrams, can anyone tell me their spacing for the main gun ports? I do not trust directions completely, and will be able to set them properly, but was just trying to save time. Also, the vertical aspect of the gun ports should remain vertical with respect to the ships baseline I think it was called, or are they supposed to be perfectly squared? I believe the former is true just wanted to make sure. 

 

Anyways here are the pictures and as always advice is welcome.

 

[dcbriski]

Sorry here they are flipped up

 

[glider304guider]

Wow!  Good for you.  I was enjoying your log but was shocked when I got to post #22.  Glad to see you were able to resume the building.  Can't imagine something like that happen especially later into the build.  I like your solid building board.  I've just started my Connie and will keep an eye on your progress.  Thanks for the log.

Duane  

[cookster]

DC, use the plans to get the gunport locations, that's how I did mine.  Bob Hunt gives the dimensions in his practicum, but they are the same as the plans.  I checked...  I set all my posts vertical.

Good luck!

[dcbriski]

Thx Cookster, good to know.

[dcbriski]

u set ur post vertical to the baseline correct? r vertical to the keel?

[dcbriski]

Progress Continues, I have set the starboard gun ports and blocked sanded them to a rough finish, will set later. I will soon be setting the port side then afterwards constructing the gun deck. I had to remove two bulkhead uprights to set the ports. Wasn't an issue, used a hand saw then just filed it flush.

[dcbriski]

Port side gun ports have been placed and rough sanded. I also sanded the inner side of the ports. There is a picture showing the block sander made to accomplish the task. Wasnt too tough but naturally would have been easier if the ship was designed to have a true gun deck.

 

Also, any thoughts on painting the main gun deck. Naturally the captains quarters would be painted, and as of today the connies gun deck is painted, but i would think that in her fighting days they very likely natural would, both to save money and the advantage of raw wood shrapnel versus painted. so, anyone done some research into the topic?

 

[dcbriski]

Gun deck is roughed in. I have to decide if I want to add the diagonal knees. If I can see them when the spar deck is planked I will otherwise I wont. The gun will sit just a bit lower than actually shown. I set the level of the floor using the pieces shown. The base of the gun port is set roughly 2.5 ft from the floor or so. Enjoy.

[HIPEXEC]

Looks great!

[dcbriski]

Here are pictures showing the tentative design of the diagonal knees. I have seen them staggered with the end of one above the other, but it doesn't make structural sense to me for them not to be joined. Currently the conny also has a vertical knee that the two diagonals are joined to, however the original plans do not show any vertical knees so my hunch is they were added s/p to reinforce the hull. SO what are your guys thoughts? I think this is what I am going to do but input is always nice. 

[CaptainSteve]

... so my hunch is they were added s/p to reinforce the hull. SO what are your guys thoughts? I think this is what I am going to do but input is always nice. 

 

Fantastic !!

I seriously wouldn't have contemplated doing that, Dave.

[dcbriski]

Here we go, port side diagonal knees are done. I decided since the only way to see the knees fore and aft would be to look through the gun ports, I ran the diagonal knees a bit longer then the main gratings of the deck then jointed the diagonal knees to a vertical riser. I was not originally going to do the vertical risers, but given my OCD i had to clean it up because at the end of the day I would know it wasn't done cleanly. Ill get to the starboard side by the end of this week. Enjoy!