Stuck in the Head

[JimM]

I’m facing a dilemma with the bowhead assembly on my Bluejacket Constitution. It requires a series of supports (I think they are called cheeks) that flare out from the stem. I have been unable to find images of these pieces anywhere and I’m reluctant to glue the cheeks until I’m sure of the technique.
Anyone who has built this model knows the instructions and diagrams and plans leave a lot out, and can be confusing.
Does anyone have any experience with this model and do you have pics?
Any help is welcome.
I have attached pics of how I think the cheeks are placed, but I could use some help. They are temporarily attached. If this is the method, I’ll tidy everything up.
Thanks
Jim

 

[Corsair]

I would recommend that you get the book "Anatomy of the Ship: Constitution" You can still get it at a reasonable price and there are lots of pictures and drawings in there. It is a wonderful source for information.

 

[JimM]

Thanks Jeff,
I have the book and used the bow and head diagrams, along with the plans that came with the ship. You’re right about Marquardt being a good source.
So I think my concept of the framing is close. I’m just lacking some detail and looking for help before I squirt any glue.
Jim

 

[AllanKP69]

Have you contacted Kate Monea or Carl Herzog of the curator staff at the Constitution Museum? Maybe they can steer you to getting a copy of the Joshua Humphreys drawings. The head timbers look oversized and the wrong shape. It is easier to install the two cheeks, the eeking rail and cathead supporter, and main rail, then shape the head timbers to fit if the exact drawings are not included. The covering boards are easy as they are only thin pieces that can be bent to shape.
Allan


The below is not the Constitution, but may be helpful when the names of the various parts. The drawing below is from The Fully Framed Model, volume 2, by David Antscherl.

 

[JimM]

Great idea. I hadn’t thought of that, but I’m going to jump on it.
Thanks
Jim

 

[AllanKP69]

Great idea. I hadn’t thought of that, but I’m going to jump on it.
Thanks

You are more than welcome. It is still not in the least bit easy, and you may wind up making pieces more than one time, but it works.
Allan

 

[Roger Pellett]

I’m going to rain on everyone’s parade.

As I have posted elsewhere, the Model Shipways USS Constitution kit appears to be based on publicly available drawings of Constitution made during a 1920’s major rebuild/ repair. These DO NOT reflect her historic 1798-1812 appearance.

Notably, her head structure differs from the drawings in Allan’s post above. It is the boxed in structure used towards the end of the sailing warship era. I believe that this Victorian era head structure is shown in Marquardt’s book. Look on Jerry Todd’s excellent set of posts for his model of the 1853 Sloop of War USS Constellation for a similar head structure.

Of course, with the proper research one could take the “bones” of this kit and build an historically significant version of Constitution but it appears that you are too far along for this.

Roger

 

[AllanKP69]

I’m going to rain on everyone’s parade .......USS Constitution kit appears to be based on publicly available drawings of Constitution made during a 1920’s major rebuild/ repair

Roger, We need rain where I live, so thank you. It was my understanding that the drawing I posted was from Humphreys. I really have no knowledge about her then or today so ask, is the drawing not from Humphreys or am I misreading your post? I good read may be the following from the museum.

Humphreys' Marvel - USS Constitution Museum

From the present appearance of affairs, I believe it is time this country was possessed of a Navy…[Frigates,] I suppose, will be the first object,. . .

ussconstitutionmuseum.org

Thanks

Allan

 

[JimM]

As I have posted elsewhere, the Model Shipways USS Constitution kit appears to be based on publicly available drawings of Constitution made during a 1920’s major rebuild/ repair. These DO NOT reflect her historic 1798-1812 appearance.

Hi Roger,
Thanks for your input, but I’m not building the MS version. I’m working on the Bluejacket Constitution. It was designed to look like the early 1800’s version.
Jim

 

[Roger Pellett]

Ok, that’s what the kit sales pitch says, but the head shown in the illustration is the later one, not what Allan posted.

Roger