Kitbashing The Model Shipways USS Constitution Cross-Section Model

[Pat H]

Instructions ?
They're more like guidelines.

31 October 2025​

Prebuild Thoughts​

Before beginning the build of a preserved ship model, such as the USS Constitution cross section, it helps to consider what era of the ship's life you want to present.
In this case, I decided to use the 1812 verson as my goal, since the USS Constitution museum is in the on-going process of restoring the ship to that configuration. Trouble is, many of the lower deck areas seem to be inconsistant, especially the hold and orlap deck areas.
One of the great things about modeling the USS Constitution is that you can use Google Earth street view to walk any of the deck levels. ( Though the orlap deck access is limited to the midship area.)
I find the orlap deck area of the present day ship to be confusing, since part of the deck around the main mast area seems to be cut away, exposing the hold area.

Two Fer One​

Something to keep in mind with this Model Shipways kit is that it is actually two models in one –– the hull is one kit, the main mast and rigging is another.
I decided to build them seperately.
One version would use the 7" allignment mast base in the hull. The chain plates would be rigged with lower deadeyes. ( Possibly I may use a piece of plexiglass fitted to the short mast to support the lower end of the mainmast shroudlines.)
Another possibility would be to use the lower section of the main mast so the shroudlines could run up to the fightig top. The fighting top would be duplicated to serve as a base for the rest of the upper mast.

Roll Out The Barrels . . .​

I'm dissatisfied with the kit's presentation of the hold area and barrels.
I plan to line each side of the keelson with blackened pig iron, then put stone ballast above that.
I've bought extra barrels to fill up the hold.
I plan to have figures breaking down empty barrels in the hold.
Something that bothers me is that kit represents the barrels as just being stacked on the stone ballast in the hold with no restraint.
Seems to me that would just be asking for trouble in rough seas. Moving barrels could wear holes in their staves that are resting on stones. Loose barrels could shift, setting the ship on her beam ends.
I've been researching how barrels were actually stored in holds. Did they rest on planks with chocks to hold them in position ? Were lines or nets used to secure them from movement ?

 

[Jim Fortnam]

Good question.

Huge stacks of barrels are seen in distillery country up in Scotland, where they build mountains of empties by simple horizontal stacking, a barrel sitting in the valley between the two on the lower layer.
Stacking end on would seem more sensible, as the ends are solid construction, and can sit across 2 or 3 on the lower layer. Presumably old rope run around several barrels would serve to prevent them shifting.

Partly depends on the contents too - dry or wet goods?

I suspect (no proof) that rows on end may have been separated by lines on their sides. Air circulation would be a thing, and I think it unlikely that they would put wooden barrels haphazard onto stone because of the potential for point contact becoming abrasive, as you say. Maybe some planks loose laid first?

At any rate, you can be sure it was neat and tidy. Shipshape in both senses, as they would use every bit of space.

J