Build log Revell 1/96 Constitution...or, a ship that could have been around in the early 1800's.

[Farmboy]

I was thinking about the main hatchway on the spar deck. I don't want to block it off completely, and with the boats stacked the way they are, there is precious little visual access to the goings-on's downstairs, but I feel it still needs something. There is a build on-line of the 1/196 connie where he used grating to completely fill in the hatch. A good idea that looks pretty solid but blocks off more than I'd like. The other idea I'm playing with is cargo netting loosely drooped across the opening from hooks on the hatch's underside that would prevent a falling sailor from hitting the deck below. Perhaps in this case using something like onion bag or other webbed material with a slightly larger weave than the tulle I'll be using for the hammock stations. I don't recall seeing the cargo net idea before though I'm sure it's been done, and I think it would be a nice detail....

 

[Farmboy]

Here's a mockup of what I'm planning. Note the seam on the barrel and wheels still to be removed.. Funny thing about the guns and for that fact the hull halves....it appears he used rubber cement? When I split the hull and a few barrels for clean up, the adhesive was quite flexible and stretched apart. hmmm. Anyhow. Starting with the recoil rope, I'm sure it's not exactly to scale but it looks ok. It's white kite string. I used a Palomino Tan craft paint loosely applied by brush followed by a rub all over with my fingers. looks ok. The eye bolts were made from silver wire, sprayed black and given a coat of matte clear, the rope is closely bent around the eye and ca'd in place. The rope is about 3 times the length of the cannon barrel leaving me plenty to play with and hopefully can be placed to hide the barrel part of the swivel. Hooks and eyebolts will be black. The black primer showing thru adds a nice touch of shadow detail. I'm trying to add some color diversity in the ropes to keep the eye busy. Not shown is the double block and rope for resetting the gun to firing position.

Comments and observations welcome.

 

[Farmboy]

This is the first gun deck install done at the bow where no one will see. A little rough but working out the order of assembly and technique like putting the rope around the cannon end before cementing the cannon in place, and perhaps giving myself a little extra rope. Good practice for when I do the upper deck. Note the hooks are still Palomino Brown.

Comments and observations welcome.

 

[Farmboy]

A couple of shots of the jig used to make the holes for gundeck upper eyebolt positions for the recoil ropes, left empty as they will be installed as a unit, and lower eyebolt holes for the training/aiming rope hooks. No vacuuming or cleanup here lol! Fear not, all will be spic and span before the spar deck permanently seals this bit from view for the life of the model. This is all cumulative practice for the spar deck.

The jig (shown earlier) in position in a gun port on the left. The positioning of the drilled eyebolt holes is shown in the gunport on the right

Below is the jig showing proper jig orientation.

Comments and observations welcome