also from my side a warm welcome here on board.
We all will try to help and assist you withyour project.
Best would be to start a building log, so we are able to assist you with comments and tipps, or answering questions etc.
BTW: Is it the Model Shipways version or the older Mamoli kit?
Anyhow, building a three-master is a lot of work (and will bring also a lot of fun)
BTW:
The amrican privateer Rattlesnake was captured by the british in 1781, renamed to HMS Cormorant and once more renamed to HMS Rattlesnake in 1783 (the british needed the name Cormorant for a new class)
American Privateer frigate 'Rattlesnake' (1780). Dates of service, name changes, previous and next incarnations, dimensions, armament, commanders, officers and crewmen, actions, battles, sources
threedecks.org
After the capture the british made some surveying of the ship and there is a contemporary drawing existing showing the ship - maybe interesting for you
Cormorant (captured 1781)
Scale: 1:48. Plan showing the body plan, stern board outline with decoration detail, sheer lines with inboard detail and figurehead, and longitudinal half-breadth for Cormorant (captured 1781), a captured American privateer, as fitted at Plymouth dockyard as a 12-gun Ship Sloop.
Signed by John Henslow [Master Shipwright, Plymouth Dockyard, 1775-1784]
Reverse: Quarterdeck, forecastle, upper deck and fore & aft plaforms with table of Mast and Yard dimenions for Cormorant (captured 1781).
www.rmg.co.uk