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

Sails for model expo Uss constitution bought sails from them and they don’t seem to small. Has any one have this problem or is it just me.

B

Brickline

Joined
Jan 26, 2023
Messages
6
Points
10

Sails for model expo Uss constitution bought sails from them and they don’t seem to small. Has any one have this problem or is it just me.
 
they look ok to me. The description on the Model Expo site says that they are 1:76 scale, which is what the ship is.
But I would check how big the sales compare to those on the plans. I will do the same as I have the set as well.
 
Last edited:
Jack Sparrow said:
they look ok to me. The description on the Model Expo site says that they are 1:76 scale, which is what the ship is.
But I would check how big the sails compare to those on the plans. I will do the same as I have the set as well.
Click to expand...
the only thing i am not sure about is whether the Constitution has studding sails or not? Maybe you know?
 
Last edited:
I have yet to see any pre-made sails which properly fit the yards on a kit model. Making sails is a decent amount of work, but the results will always appear better than pre-made sails, which have wide zig-zag stitching all around the edges and no bolt ropes or cringles. If you need help figuring out to make sails, ask the members here. Also, there are lots of videos showing a variety of ways to make them. Set the yards on your ship, measure the yard to see what the length of the sail's head should be, then measure the distance from that yard to the one below it (as appropriate), and there you have your basic dimensions.
 
Last edited:
It may not wok for American ships but for English ships of that era, assuming the outside edge of the sails at the yards reached to the yard arm, it is easy to calculate the width of the sail at the yard. The yard arm was 1/24th the length of the yard. For example, if the main lower yard was 110 feet long, the sail would be 100 feet 10 inches. If the scale is 1:76, the yard would be 17 3/8" long and the sail would be 16 15/16" wide at the yard or just under 3/4" in from the end of the yard. (Best to check my math though :) ) If in doubt, send a note to the curators at the Connie Museum and ask Kate Monea, (curatorial@ussconstitutionmuseum.org) who was manager of curatorial affairs as late as last month.
Allan

​

 
DARIVS ARCHITECTVS said:
I have yet to see any pre-made sails which properly fit the yards on a kit model. Making sails is a decent amount of work, but the results will always appear better than pre-made sails, which have with zig-zag all around the edges and no bolt ropes. If you need help figuring out to make sails, ask the members here. Also, there are lots of videos showing a variety of ways to make them. Set the yards on your ship, measure the yard to see what the length of the sail's head should be, then measure the distance from that yard to the one below it (as appropriate), and there you have your basic dimensions.
Click to expand...
Thank you
 
So looks like the Constitution does have studding sails. I don't think the sail kit has those, which is unfortunate.
 
Jack Sparrow said:
why?
Click to expand...
What I believe he's saying is that any sails you can sew and cut from cloth would be better than kit sails. This is essentially true, especially if you follow one of the many sail making tutorial videos out there. Here is an example from Ohla's workshop:


I had zero sail making experience, but knew the basics in using a sewing machine, and was able to make decent sails. Try your hand at it!
1379 Completed Photo.jpg
 
Last edited:
In general, no cloth or sewing method exists that will be to scale if smaller than about 1:24. Silkspan sails are a great alternative. There are videos on line by Tom Lauria
and a detailed pamphlet by David Antscherl from Seawatch Books for $US5 on how to make them. They are similar in nature and I wound up using descriptions from each of these gentlemen's methods to suit my own needs.
Allan
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top