USS Constitution 1797 Cross Section (Model Shipways), by Strand

[Strand]

Welcome aboard! I wouldn't worry about speed. I've been building my Model Shipworld Constitution (full ship) for 8 years (and counting) and have just now planked the spar deck Of course, fabricating the gun deck from scratch, might have slowed me done a bit. For me, it's the journey, not so much the completion, that provides me the enjoyment of the hobby. However, it looks like you are off to a great flying start. I look forward to your future posts.

Jon

I know exactly what you mean, I also had a few projects that took several years to complete.
We have a saying in German that goes: “Der Weg ist das Ziel,” which roughly translates to “The journey is the destination.”

 

[Strand]

Today, the warrant officers and their berths were the focus of my work. A table, an armchair, and the hammock are still missing.

The hammock will be my biggest problem.


I built all the parts from scratch, which was quite a challenge at the junction with the knees and the hull.
Three berths on the starboard side have been completed, and the backboard side will be done tomorrow.

Since this part of the USS Constitution is no longer preserved, I got the template from HMS Victory.



When you enlarge it like that, it doesn't look so good anymore.


In the foreground, I would like to show a few hammocks (once I know how to make them) and place sailors in them.

And this is what my warrant officers' berth looks like inside.


And as previously stated: a table, an armchair, and the hammock are still missing.

 

[TimMurphy]

I proceeded deck by deck in my research and started at the very bottom, at the hold.
I found an interesting plan in the bible of USS Constitution enthusiasts, “Anatomy of the Ship” by K.H. Marquardt

View attachment 536761

Since no original plans of the USS Constitution are available, I have based my design on the existing deck plans of sister ships, in this case the USS United States. These also show a structure in the relevant place.

View attachment 536762

You’re very close to being correct. Very handsome start.

 

[Strand]

You’re very close to being correct. Very handsome start.

Thank you for your kind words.
I endeavour to find a way between historical truth and the fun of modelling with all its freedoms. So not to be a rivet counter. But still not to create a fantasy ship. You can see what I mean from the interior of the cabin. There aren't that many historical documents, but it's great fun to build, with lots of opportunities to be creative.
At the end of the day, it's a hobby that I want to enjoy.

 

[mtsandvigen]

Strand - Wie Gehts! I am very impressed that someone from Österriech has chosen a US Naval vessel. You have taken this model to a whole new level and the dashes of color really make your model stand out. If this is your first wooden model, all I can say is you must have been a terrific plastic modeler. I certainly agree with Tim Murphy, that your choice of research and your work-arounds are as accurate as you can get with no real historical evidence to the contrary. I look forward to your next post. Well done! Oh, by the way, your Englisch is fantastisch!

 

[icebiker3]

As you may have noticed, I post faster than you can actually build a ship.
The reason is simple: I thought long and hard about whether I should post at all, since there are already quite a few Constitution cross sections out there. But then I figured that everyone builds them a little differently, and that can be interesting.

All that thinking took time, and by the time I made the decision to post here, I was already building the berth deck.
That means there will now be a few posts in quick sequence about the construction progress I've already made, and from the berth deck onwards, we'll be live.

View attachment 536768
I added a few more barrels (I also improved the quality a little here) and this part of the ship was finished.

The bilge pumps are not shown in the instruction until way too late to properly install them. Torqued my gourd to no extent.

 

[Strand]

A table, an armchair, and the hammock are still missing:
There won't be room for a table, an armchair shouldn't be a problem, but the hammock is the biggest challenge.

I have a photo of one of the berths with a slightly better version of the hammock that I want to replicate.

And next to it you can see my version.

Can we leave it like this?

No, we can't. The poor sailing master is sitting in his gloomy cabin. We kindly donate him a candle.


Good night...

 

[Strand]

After I had built a nice cabin with a hammock for the sailing master, the boatswain, the carpenter and the purser also wanted their own cabins on the berth deck.

So I had to build a few more cabins.


And here from the other side with the cabin wall cut away:

 

[Strand]

Today, the berth deck was finally completed.


The only mystery to me is this wood-coloured cabin on the berth deck. I built it because it appears in all the photos, including the current ones of the USS Constitution in Boston harbour.


The only mystery to me is this cabin in wood colour on the berth deck. I built it because it appears in all photos, including those of the current USS Constitution in Boston harbour.
Mystery of the week: what could it be? I would appreciate any helpful hints.


Tomorrow, I will start with the gun deck. Many exciting things await me there. Especially the guns. I have already practised and completed a sample gun.