- Joined
- Oct 9, 2020
- Messages
- 2,590
- Points
- 538
you know what would be interesting? RIgging a pendant showing how it was used to haul up a mast. Very dynamic look wouldn`t you think? hmm...
-
SUBSCRIBE TO SHIPS IN SCALE TODAY!
The beloved Ships in Scale Magazine is back and charting a new course for 2026!
Discover new skills, new techniques, and new inspirations in every issue.
NOTE THAT OUR NEXT ISSUE WILL BE July/August 2026 -
Win a Free Custom Engraved Brass Coin!!!
As a way to introduce our brass coins to the community, we will raffle off a free coin during the month of August. Follow link ABOVE for instructions for entering.
USS Constitution - Model Shipways
- Thread starter Der Alte Rentner
- Start date
- Watchers 26
Great view.
Wish I had done the same!
Looking good, Peter. Not sure why I am not getting alert notifications on your log, so had a little catch-up to do.
Sorry to hear about some bad family news. Safe travels, sir!
- Joined
- Aug 31, 2025
- Messages
- 34
- Points
- 48
Me too, I did order some wood from Europe but it was pricey!!
Yes, I have been very lucky in life. However my brother was luckier. He's the one with the good fortune to have found this property. I'm happy that he hosts the club meetings periodically, give me the opportunity to enjoy the view.
Before I launch into my "Output" over the last day or two, I was reminded that I haven't posted a photo of Connie herself in a while. Here's one with the lower masts dry-fitted:
"Rigging" is officially underway. First up, pendants for the main.
I opted to do them differently than both the plans and Mustafa. I think the concept explains itself - more or less.
Well, this might require some explanation. After calculating the total length of both the long and the short pendants and eye-spliceing (is that even a verb?) the thimbles, I had to serve the center sections of each pendant. I know this sounds crazy, but I actually found it easier to do these relatively short lengths by hand, given that the thimbled (is that even an adjective?) ends were problematic to set up with the Serv-o-matic from Syren. The tension on the pendants between vices was nice an taut. Now that I have a better idea of how much rope to allow for the thimbles, for future pendants I'll do the serving first.
Here's the departure from the plans. I figured that I didn't need the loops, since the part that wraps around the mast will be hidden by the shrouds that will come later.
"Rigging" is officially underway. First up, pendants for the main.
I opted to do them differently than both the plans and Mustafa. I think the concept explains itself - more or less.
Well, this might require some explanation. After calculating the total length of both the long and the short pendants and eye-spliceing (is that even a verb?) the thimbles, I had to serve the center sections of each pendant. I know this sounds crazy, but I actually found it easier to do these relatively short lengths by hand, given that the thimbled (is that even an adjective?) ends were problematic to set up with the Serv-o-matic from Syren. The tension on the pendants between vices was nice an taut. Now that I have a better idea of how much rope to allow for the thimbles, for future pendants I'll do the serving first.
Here's the departure from the plans. I figured that I didn't need the loops, since the part that wraps around the mast will be hidden by the shrouds that will come later.
Last edited:
- Joined
- Oct 9, 2020
- Messages
- 2,590
- Points
- 538
looking great!
Glad to see the overall view of the boat too.
Glad to see the overall view of the boat too.
Hey Peter, your Constitution is looking awesome! Here's hoping all your rigging goes well. I know you have done a ton of prep for it. We'll be watching! 
- Joined
- Jan 26, 2017
- Messages
- 1,388
- Points
- 493
Same here!
Everything is looking great as usual. Gret job!
Seeing the entire ship like this, you can really appreciate the unpainted look with all natural wood and brass. She's beautiful Peter
Next up, main bobstay collars, and their chocks.
Before I glue the main mast in to the hull, I needed to deal with a couple of small housekeeping items.
First, I had to put pins underneath the stanchions of the fife rail and mark where on the spar deck the fife rail needed to be mounted.
Then I had to locate the positions for the nine eye bolts that surround the mast at its base.
While the mast was still off the boat, I thought it best to fit the ship's bell, which of course I need to fabricate. I managed to get pretty far along on that the way before I had to call it quits at the shop today. It being Manhattan Club night.
BTW, we broke open two bottles of that South African pinotage. It was excellent, Haiko...
I'm not gluing the Fife rail in until after I rig the mizzen stays. I just dry fitted it the purpose of the photo app.
Unless I decide to also add the pike rail, after the bell is mounted, I'll start on the shrouds.
Whoo boy! Ratlines to follow shortly thereafter, can't wait.
First, I had to put pins underneath the stanchions of the fife rail and mark where on the spar deck the fife rail needed to be mounted.
Then I had to locate the positions for the nine eye bolts that surround the mast at its base.
While the mast was still off the boat, I thought it best to fit the ship's bell, which of course I need to fabricate. I managed to get pretty far along on that the way before I had to call it quits at the shop today. It being Manhattan Club night.
BTW, we broke open two bottles of that South African pinotage. It was excellent, Haiko...
I'm not gluing the Fife rail in until after I rig the mizzen stays. I just dry fitted it the purpose of the photo app.
Unless I decide to also add the pike rail, after the bell is mounted, I'll start on the shrouds.
Whoo boy! Ratlines to follow shortly thereafter, can't wait.
My good friend Mark and his son Phillip, who are working on a father/son project of the Occre Flying Dutchman, swung by my shipyard for a visit yesterday. I encouraged them to sign on here to post a build log, and hope to find a third listing in the Index at SoS, sometime soon.
To commemorate the visit, Mark later presented me with this photo of yours truly explaining some detail of planking to Phillip.
And then Mark sent me this link to digitalcommenwealth.org. for beaucoupe links to photos of the USS Constitution.
https://www.digitalcommonwealth.org/search/commonwealth:3r0764305
To pique my interest, he supplied this photo. It shocked me to learn that behind the closed gunport lids, there were windows!
Jon, perhaps there are some pix here that even you don't already have, but somehow, I suspect you already know of this site.
To commemorate the visit, Mark later presented me with this photo of yours truly explaining some detail of planking to Phillip.
And then Mark sent me this link to digitalcommenwealth.org. for beaucoupe links to photos of the USS Constitution.
https://www.digitalcommonwealth.org/search/commonwealth:3r0764305
To pique my interest, he supplied this photo. It shocked me to learn that behind the closed gunport lids, there were windows!
Jon, perhaps there are some pix here that even you don't already have, but somehow, I suspect you already know of this site.
Looking good, Peter! And I may soon need some detailed planking explanation, as well!
Nice link! Thanks for sharing! Don't recall if I'd seen this before. My wager is that Jon was already aware and has them in his collection. <shrug>
Well, now that I finished the bell, I have to figure out how I'm going to mount it on the mast.
I don't have any bar stock of brass, but I think I just thought of something I can do out of wood that might work.
Plan B is to omit this pesky detail and start with the shrouds.
I don't have any bar stock of brass, but I think I just thought of something I can do out of wood that might work.
Plan B is to omit this pesky detail and start with the shrouds.
Last edited: