• LUCZORAMA SHIPWRECK SCAVENGER HUNT GIVEAWAY. 4 Weeks of Fun • 1 Legendary Prize ((OcCre’s Fram Ship)) • Global Crew Welcome!
    **VIEW THREAD HERE**

USS Constitution MS2040

Well, I was wondering why things were going along so smoothly - I screwed up MAJOR big time - but I am not so far ahead that it can not be corrected. I deleted all my post showing the installations of the port sill framing. I was supposed to use 1/8" spacing from the lower edge of the planksheer to the bottom edge of the upper sill. I did not use this spacing. I used 3/32 --- arggggg. So, what that means is that all the gun port frames will have to be moved DOWN some.
by some, I mean at least about 1/4" or more.

So, I had just finished all the planking around the gun ports, when I realized that something was not adding up. On the frikken plans, they only give the THICKNESS of 3/64 and not the WIDTH of the planks - this is a major error as far as I am concerned.

Time to get out the water (to soften glue) and start moving gun port frames downward. Crap !!!! Well, I guess it is a good thing I caught it now.
I have had my share of misshaps too on this build and perhaps the worst was that I had to replank the entire deck. I made a mess with the stain and it looked like crap. So now I am undecided about whether I should stain the deck or not, even though I found a way to do it so that it looks good.
 
So, here is a final of the upper sides of the ship that shows the different size planks (of which I made a mess of earlier and had to rip everything out (even the cannon ports had to be relocated). So, I think I am where I should be now.


bulwarks09.jpg
 
I have not watched any of your build logs before, but find this one excellent. Question though, do you start any sub assembly building while you are working on
the hull?
 
Hi Clipper,
No, I just follow through with the task at hand. (and thank you for your compliments).


This is the latest:

Rivets:
Bought from Hobbylinc
.035 Rivets (200) -- HO Scale Model Train Part #8020 Note: the .035 is the Rivet "head" diameter and not the shaft part of it. DO NOT use a .035 Drill Bit.
Use at least a #77 bit as shown in last photo. Lastly, if you decide to do this, cut the Rivets off the sprue using an exacto knife and cut them off at an ANGLE - this will produce a sharp edge to help go into the holes.

Drill Bits:
Bought from Amazon

Pin Vise:
Bought from MicroMark


bulwarks10.jpg

bulwarks11.jpg

bulwarks12.jpg

 
Hi Clipper,
No, I just follow through with the task at hand. (and thank you for your compliments).


This is the latest:

Rivets:
Bought from Hobbylinc
.035 Rivets (200) -- HO Scale Model Train Part #8020 Note: the .035 is the Rivet "head" diameter and not the shaft part of it. DO NOT use a .035 Drill Bit.
Use at least a #77 bit as shown in last photo. Lastly, if you decide to do this, cut the Rivets off the sprue using an exacto knife and cut them off at an ANGLE - this will produce a sharp edge to help go into the holes.

Drill Bits:
Bought from Amazon

Pin Vise:
Bought from MicroMark

Very nice to see this kind of rivets and to show how you install them, Donnie.
Thanks from another ‘riveter’, Peter
 
I decided to change over to MicroMark's Battery Operated powered screwdriver with added chuck. The main problem with the chuck is that the opening of the chuck is slightly larger than the shaft of the driver, therefore the chuck wobbles slightly. To overcome this, I wrapped the shaft of the driver with one lap of tin foil which filled in the gap. Now, the drill bit and chuck runs true (well, lets say a lot better). Ideally, the tip of the electric screwdriver really needs to have a "screw on thread type" that will keep ALL attachments true. The motor and shaft do run quite very true (no run-out - i.e. wobbling). However, in MM's defense, I would say that after-all, the driver is really intended to drive screws and not drill bits. But, with a little modification, it gets the job done well.

So, this process is not really that bad. What you see here is about 5 hours of work. No glue has been used, just the pressure of the holes are keeping the rivets in place. They should not come out unless you or someone takes the time to pull them out.





bulwarks13.jpg

bulwarks14.jpg
 
I decided to change over to MicroMark's Battery Operated powered screwdriver with added chuck. The main problem with the chuck is that the opening of the chuck is slightly larger than the shaft of the driver, therefore the chuck wobbles slightly. To overcome this, I wrapped the shaft of the driver with one lap of tin foil which filled in the gap. Now, the drill bit and chuck runs true (well, lets say a lot better). Ideally, the tip of the electric screwdriver really needs to have a "screw on thread type" that will keep ALL attachments true. The motor and shaft do run quite very true (no run-out - i.e. wobbling). However, in MM's defense, I would say that after-all, the driver is really intended to drive screws and not drill bits. But, with a little modification, it gets the job done well.

So, this process is not really that bad. What you see here is about 5 hours of work. No glue has been used, just the pressure of the holes are keeping the rivets in place. They should not come out unless you or someone takes the time to pull them out.




looks good. I decided not to include rivets but I may change my mind.
 
This is a closeup of how I managed to install the rivets in an orderly fashion keeping the flow of alternating even through the Planksheer under the Cannon ports. This is important to keep a consistency.
Unfortunately, I did not catch this early and at least I only have one area that I did not follow this rule. But, I doubt very seriously after all is said and done, I will be able to find it. Much less anyone else.
I am not sure if I mentioned this, but the Rivets are spaced at 1/16 inch (imperial measurements).


bulwarks15.jpg
 
Shifting my work to the Stern now.

This picture (actual drawing of measurements) shows the result of getting things lined up for the 3 openings below the 'upper gun ports'. The center port is the only one that will be in a vertical alignment with the upper gun port. Here is a drawing of my results. There should be enough measurements to deduct reasoning. The remaining images show the build up.

stern47.jpg



So, this is the beginning:
The scrap piece is used as an ALIGNMENT - the scrap piece is secured at the BOTTOM of the Transom Extension pieces. As I recall, all the measurements will be taken from this reference point. I also found out that the HEIGHT of the Extension pieces needed to have about a 1/32 to 1/16 scrap added to each side (eventually). for now, just use the bottom of the extension as they come from the kit as is.

stern46.jpg




Here are the TICK MARKS laying out the position of the openings. You will notice that I have already added the scrap pieces to extend the HEIGHT of the Transom extension pieces.

stern48.jpg




Start adding 1/8 x 1/4 pieces to "frame" the openings.

stern49.jpg




I found later on that I had to make some slight adjustments to the port framing (as we all know that wood is not exactly a perfect science). Adjustments as much as + / - 1/32" was needed on some framing to line up with the planking. This is all due to the nature that the stern has CURVATURE and is NOT a flat surface.

stern50.jpg



As I noted, you might have to make some slight adjustments to the frame versus the planking due to curvature. The OBJECTIVE is to make sure you have at least 1/32 inches as a recess for the LIDS to lay into.

stern51.jpg




And this is the final result of your achievements.

stern52.jpg
 
Shifting my work to the Stern now.

This picture (actual drawing of measurements) shows the result of getting things lined up for the 3 openings below the 'upper gun ports'. The center port is the only one that will be in a vertical alignment with the upper gun port. Here is a drawing of my results. There should be enough measurements to deduct reasoning. The remaining images show the build up.

View attachment 502800



So, this is the beginning:
The scrap piece is used as an ALIGNMENT - the scrap piece is secured at the BOTTOM of the Transom Extension pieces. As I recall, all the measurements will be taken from this reference point. I also found out that the HEIGHT of the Extension pieces needed to have about a 1/32 to 1/16 scrap added to each side (eventually). for now, just use the bottom of the extension as they come from the kit as is.

View attachment 502806




Here are the TICK MARKS laying out the position of the openings. You will notice that I have already added the scrap pieces to extend the HEIGHT of the Transom extension pieces.

View attachment 502807




Start adding 1/8 x 1/4 pieces to "frame" the openings.

View attachment 502808




I found later on that I had to make some slight adjustments to the port framing (as we all know that wood is not exactly a perfect science). Adjustments as much as + / - 1/32" was needed on some framing to line up with the planking. This is all due to the nature that the stern has CURVATURE and is NOT a flat surface.

View attachment 502809



As I noted, you might have to make some slight adjustments to the frame versus the planking due to curvature. The OBJECTIVE is to make sure you have at least 1/32 inches as a recess for the LIDS to lay into.

View attachment 502810




And this is the final result of your achievements.

View attachment 502811
that's what mine looks like. I had originally lined up all three ports but then realized that it was incorrect so I had to redo. I have been doing a lot of redo on this model. At times it is quite discouraging, but I want to finish it so I do what is required...
 
Well, I have done a lot of re-doing too. Putting down wrong-size planks. Re-doing port framing, etc.
 
Just discovered your build log. You have a wealth of other builders to learn from or teach as the case may be out there, so I look forward to your updates.

Jon
Nice, detailed work on the stern, Donnie. As Jon knows, I have been extensively following Jon's Constitution build on Model Ship World, as I have my own Model Shipways Constitution kit on the shelf waiting for my current ship's completion. And I, too, recently saw both your build log here, Donnie, as well as @Jack Sparrow 's build log, so have been taking notes on both of yours, as well. Excellent work, fellas!
 
Mixing up my own paint. Combo of green and white. I can give the details later on the mix.

So, I am almost finished with the rivets, but I could not resist doing some painting. Ok, so the black inboard sides of the Gun Ports are "simulated" black using a graphic program only to show the "contrast' that will be present when painting those Gun Port inside walls with Black. The Hull Black actually wraps around INTO the sides of the Gun Ports. The Green is ONLY for the Bulwark facing inside.

In case you are wondering, the Deck Planking Strips that lay right beside the Waterways will be painted "before" they are glued down. Then the remaining Deck Planking can be laid down without painting until later. I am trying to decide if I want to do nibbing or not. Never done it before. I do not want to mess that up.

Also, to me personally, I did not sand the Bulwarks glass smooth as this is not reality as we all know that over the years and time, planks have been replaced and if you look at the real ship, it is not going to be glass smooth, but you will see imperfections. If it were sanded glass smooth, then you would loose alot of the texture of each plank butted up against the other.


bulwarks16.jpg

bulwarks17.jpg

 
Last edited:
As far as I know, the deck planking was not nibbed but tapered. I have not seen any builder nib their planks. Most of the builders didn't even realize they were supposed to be tapered slightly the bow and stern, not that you could see it on the model.

Jon
 
Back
Top