USS Constitution from Scientific Models

[Vfordyce]

Beautiful workmanship Vic! Hope things are well in San Antonio. Magic Mike

I have to say, I’m liking the weather. I need to get a move on with this ship, though.

 

[WilliamM]

Beautiful job! Your Constitution looks great! I just got out of Rehab for a hip replacement in which the facility had a Scientific Model of the Thermopylae. Both showed how much can be accomplished with these kits! Well done!

Bill

 

[Vfordyce]

Beautiful job! Your Constitution looks great! I just got out of Rehab for a hip replacement in which the facility had a Scientific Model of the Thermopylae. Both showed how much can be accomplished with these kits! Well done!

Bill

Thanks, Bill! I hear the recovery time for hips is better than the knees. Keep the PT up. If we don’t keep exercising, we start to freeze up.

 

[WilliamM]

I just don’t know where to get such skinny planks. I do have both mahogany and walnut veneer, but walnut is way too dark, and I’m not sure how I could get a consistent cut for the planks. And you are so right about the ugly wavy rings/burl on the deck.

May I suggest that you look at Midwest products. I bought several bags of precut lumber to plank an old small-scale HMS Victory by Aeropiccola. It worked well.

Bill

 

[Michael T]

Check out EBay. They have a good selection and almost bulk packaging in some cases. I also noticed that EBay England/ Great Britain has a larger selection, including longer pieces. Postage can hurt but what can you do?

 

[Vfordyce]

I didn’t like the supplied sails, so I made my own. I cut them a little larger than the supplied ones and the Admiral sewed them to look like they were sewed together pieces. The guy I’m making it for soaked the sails in a mixture of water and a bit of white glue to keep the edges from unraveling when I cut them later. He dried them using a heat gun. Then I ironed them to get all the wrinkles out.

 

[Vfordyce]

So I asked Gary how he wanted me to show the sails. He said, “I want all of them. I like the look of the sails.” I responded, “, then.” This may be more work than the hull and standing rigging combined.

 

[Jimsky]

Glad you have returned to the model, VIC. Sails will make her more beautiful, for sure

 

[dockattner]

A labor of love...

 

[Peter Gutterman]

I had a restoration of a 1920s scratch model of the ship. The original had sails and they all had to be replaced as did the whole rig.

 

[Peter Gutterman]

Your model is gorgeous now. With the sails she'll be smashing!

 

[Vfordyce]

This model has five levels of sails plus three stay sails for both the fore and main masts.

 

[Vfordyce]

Your model is gorgeous now. With the sails she'll be smashing!

Thank you, Peter.

 

[Vfordyce]

I had a restoration of a 1920s scratch model of the ship. The original had sails and they all had to be replaced as did the whole rig. View attachment 449922View attachment 449923View attachment 449924View attachment 449925

Wow! The sails and rigging on this one are amazing. Not sure I can handle that level of rigging.

 

[Peter Gutterman]

Judging from the pictures of your work so far, she'll be nothing less than fantastic!
By the way, I wasn't sure either.

 

[WilliamM]

Judging from the pictures of your work so far, she'll be nothing less than fantastic!
By the way, I wasn't sure either.

I do have one question. The sails look great. Did you make them from those in the kit?

Bill

 

[Peter Gutterman]

I made them. This was a restoration, not a kit.

 

[WilliamM]

I made them. This was a restoration, not a kit.

My bad! I apologize.

Bill

 

[Peter Gutterman]

A restoration (furniture OR models) is like getting a kit with no instructions.

 

[Kurt Konrath]

So I asked Gary how he wanted me to show the sails. He said, “I want all of them. I like the look of the sails.” I responded, “, then.” This may be more work than the hull and standing rigging combined. View attachment 449866

Well would "all of them" include the full set of stunsails?