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

[Strand]

Intro:
I have been a model builder for 50 years, but for some reason I never got into wooden ship modeling.
I built the USS Constitution from Revell 40 years ago, many dioramas, Pocher 1:8 car models with an absurd level of detail, countless military models, but funnily enough, I never came across any wooden ship models.
Then this summer, I saw an ad on Facebook from Model Shipways with a great offer for a USS Constitution cross section.
I ordered it on a whim and was immediately hooked.
At the time, I was on my annual work vacation in Greece for several weeks, and the model I ordered was delivered to my office in Vienna, so I had six weeks to gather all the information I could find on the internet about wooden shipbuilding in general and the USS Constitution in particular.
I also started researching model-making tools for wood and placed countless orders on Amazon, Ali Express, and Temu over the course of several weeks.
The packages were already piling up in my office, just waiting for me to finally come home and get started.
In the meantime, I read all the build logs for the USS Constitution on Model Ship World and other forums and came up with a detailed plan for how I wanted to build my model.

• No laser-engraved decks because the grain runs the same across the entire deck and you can see that when you stain it. Therefore, all decks are planked in the correct dimensions.
• The rigging material will be replaced with higher quality material (Ropes of Scale, Dry Dock Blocks).
• No empty decks. All decks will have fittings, as far as they can be historically proven.
• Model-building liberties will be taken where there is no information, but there are clues (e.g., shoot lockers and a surround for the pump sump).
• All decks will be filled with life. Shelves with contents, anchor ropes and hawsers in the hold, and everything else you would find on a ship like this
• And there will be LED lighting with flickering candlelight. And, of course, a crew, including sailors, marines, and officers.

And one last note: please be forgiving, my native language is German.
So, let the games begin...

I won't bother showing you the contents, that has already been done sufficiently by my predecessors. A picture of the box will have to suffice.

 

[Strand]

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



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.

 

[Strand]

And then I just started building it. Probably unprofessionally, since I have no training in ship model building whatsoever.
But my many other models have given me a certain skill.


First, the standard procedure: the frame.
I assume that this and the individual deck structures are all I will be using from the wood material. I will either build the rest myself or upgrade it.

And here is the first ship part I designed myself. Shoot Locker. I looked at plans and existing ships such as HMS Victory to get an idea. And then I added some model-building freedom.



Once installed, it looks like this:

Now I notice in the photo how large the rivets on the diagonal bracing look. On the model itself, they don't look so dominant.

This is a pic how it's really is looking:

 

[Strand]

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.

Next came the ballast in the keel. I struggled for a long time over whether to use iron ballast, as I didn't really like the look of the stones. But after finding no evidence that the Constitution did not use stones as ballast, I had no choice but to use them.

And then came the first exciting step for me as a greenhorn. Laying the deck planks between the hold and the lower deck.
I had several types of wood sent to me and then decided on smoked oak. This came closest to my ideas of color and structure, as I wanted to leave the wood natural.

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

 

[Strand]

Once again, the barrels, because they are so beautiful...


And then it was time to start on the Orlop deck.

I looked at various fittings from different periods and finally decided on the 1849 version with the slope room, which was a space dedicated to storing and distributing clothing and personal items, often referred to as "slope" to the crew.
These rooms were usually managed by the ship's purser and functioned as a kind of on-board store for the crew's necessities.
Then we had the dispensary, a place where something was dispensed, especially medicines, so it was a kind of drugstore.
And last but not least the captain's storage space.


The room with the pump suction pipes and the mast was regarding to this plan surrounded by a structure, with another large storage, the cable tier.

In this picture, the cables have just been treated with wood glue and have not yet been painted, which I have since done.

 

[Strand]

The next step will be the berth deck. I will once again go my own way and design the deck according to old plans. I will use a plan for the restoration of the ship from the USS Constitution Museum in Boston as a template.
They have wonderful plans on the museum's website under “Modeler Resources.” A treasure trove for model builders.


And here again as an image detail.


I would also like to show some hammocks to document the humble life of the sailors.
I assume that these will pose quite a challenge for me in 1:76 scale. Perhaps one of the readers of this building log has already done something like this or has an idea how it could be done...

 

[Jimsky]

You are off to a good start...

 

[Strand]

I started as one always does. With the deck and its planks. Now a little more experienced, it was easier for me.

And I really enjoy the color and texture of the wood I'm using, smoked oak.

I moved on to the next challenge: neatly finishing the support structure of the base deck with its standard knees, diagonal knees, and hanging knees. All these support elements are part of the berth deck.

I adjusted and secured the various knees with the side walls outside the ship. This was easier, but transporting them back into the ship was all the more tricky.
I came close to breaking one or more of the wall structures several times, but in the end it was installed and fit really well.

And I also came up with a little something extra: the sailors' duffel bags, stowed away on the wall of the berth deck, where they were always kept (at least that's what I read).


Where the white lines between the knees are visible on the deck, the walls of the non-commissioned officers' sleeping berths will be added.

 

[Strand]

Now I finally wanted to do something with ropes and blocks and started building a long gun, even though that would have been the next step after installing the berth deck.
I wanted to try out to serve a block and all the new challenges at least once, so I quickly decided to rig a long gun.
I made a replica of part of the gun deck so that I could rig my cannon in peace and try everything out before finally attaching it to the deck of the Constitution.

This is my first attempt at using ropes, and I ask the kind readers of my log to bear with me.
I promise I'll get better. And above all, faster. That one cannon cost me a day's work. I don't even want to imagine what that would mean for a ship like the “Nuestra Señora de la Santíssima Trinidad” with its 140 cannons. Probably half a year's work like a master watchmaker.

 

[Strand]

So, now we're up to date, and from now on, posting will be a little slower, I assume. I'll also show more intermediate steps.

Finally, I would like to introduce you to one of my three most important employees, who is currently studying the plans for the Uss Constitution. There are two more employees like him, but they were busy with other things, such as confusing ropes, and are therefore not pictured in the group photo of employees.

 

[Strand]

You are off to a good start...

Thank you for your kind words.

 

[Big Jake]

I have the Mamoli cut-away model of Constitution in 1/93rd., I've built it before and one day will build it again. Your build is giving me hope to do so soon.

 

[JSGerson]

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

 

[3L120]

Mine still sits in its box…someday. Will follow your work with interest. Spent a week in Vienna, loved the city. My grandfather was born there.

 

[TimMurphy]

I volunteer at the Museum in Boston Naval Shipyard ( or what’s left of it) your off to a good start.
A former member of the Constitution Model Ship Guild did a section build of the Ship.
George Kaiser did a very detailed build. He had access to the Ship and produced a very detailed model.
I will try to send you some photos.
Good luck
Tim Murphy

 

[Kilo66]

I'm certain you'll find the information in this highly informative build log to be of value.

USS Constitution by usedtosail - FINISHED - Model Shipways - scale 1/76

I am about to start the Model Expo Constitution. I have had the kit on the shelf for about a year, but I was waiting to finish the Bounty Launch. I only looked in the box once since I received it, and did not realize how many pieces parts there are for this one. I have to say I am a little intimi...

modelshipworld.com

I'll be following your project with great interest.

 

[Strand]

I'm certain you'll find the information in this highly informative build log to be of value.

USS Constitution by usedtosail - FINISHED - Model Shipways - scale 1/76

I am about to start the Model Expo Constitution. I have had the kit on the shelf for about a year, but I was waiting to finish the Bounty Launch. I only looked in the box once since I received it, and did not realize how many pieces parts there are for this one. I have to say I am a little intimi...

modelshipworld.com

I'll be following your project with great interest.

Thanks for the tip, that's a really great build log. I'll read through it at my next opportunity.

 

[Strand]

I volunteer at the Museum in Boston Naval Shipyard ( or what’s left of it) your off to a good start.
A former member of the Constitution Model Ship Guild did a section build of the Ship.
George Kaiser did a very detailed build. He had access to the Ship and produced a very detailed model.
I will try to send you some photos.
Good luck
Tim Murphy

I would really appreciate any photos that could help me. Thank you for your support.

 

[Strand]

Mine still sits in its box…someday. Will follow your work with interest. Spent a week in Vienna, loved the city. My grandfather was born there.

Thanks for your kind words. Vienna really is a great place to live.

 

[Strand]

I have the Mamoli cut-away model of Constitution in 1/93rd., I've built it before and one day will build it again. Your build is giving me hope to do so soon.

Everything has its right time. You usually know exactly when it's right.
Thanks for your interest in my build.