USS Constitution from Scientific Models

Vfordyce said:
San Antonio. Se habla español aqui.
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No habla Español. This is a pity because I am a retired teacher from the Hartford School District. I had many students who were of Spanish/Latino descent. Unfortunately, there were many languages there.

San Antonio is where they live. They also live in Dripping Springs, which is in the San Antonio region. I liked it there. But I have other relatives in the San Jacinto area which I liked as well (Battleship USS Texas).

We had a saying in the Navy: Home is where the Navy leaves you.

Bill
 
Peter Gutterman said:
You are proof that these old Scientific kits are great resources to be expanded upon and made into first rate models with some effort, determination, creativity and skill like your own. What a lovely job you are doing. You will have a fine beautiful model when she's finished. Very inspiring and motivating. Thumbsup

Pete
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Thanks, Pete! She’s turning out better than I had hoped. When I get the Royal on, I’ll start working on hanks.
 
Peter Gutterman said:
You are proof that these old Scientific kits are great resources to be expanded upon and made into first rate models with some effort, determination, creativity and skill like your own. What a lovely job you are doing. You will have a fine beautiful model when she's finished. Very inspiring and motivating. Thumbsup

Pete
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True story
 
My only problem with the Scientific USS Constitution is that the armament on the spar deck seems wrong. She might have been built with carriage guns in mind but quickly shifted out to have carronades mounted "topside". The carriage guns seem out of place. But I could be wrong . . .

Bill
 
Vfordyce said:
That’s possible. The current ship does have cannonades on top. I don’t know what the original had. No photos from that time. The kit cannon look a little small, too. I’m not making new ones, though. That ship has sailed.
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I acknowledged that I could be wrong. It's a good thing to research. It could be a problem similar to the number of windows were installed in the captain's cabin. Who knows?

Bill
 
WilliamM said:
I acknowledged that I could be wrong. It's a good thing to research. It could be a problem similar to the number of windows were installed in the captain's cabin. Who knows?

Bill
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I’m not changing that one either! I’m having enough trouble keeping all my rigging tight without causing other rigging to go slack. I’m going to have to cut some off and start over. Ugh!
 
She's looking terrific! Of the many logs on this subject, this stands out for its creativity and ingenuity on improving on and embellishing what was a pretty basic and simplified original kit! Bravo! Thumbsup
Interesting to me, this iteration of the "Connie" includes the naval hoods covering the beak head structure which were added to naval warships in the 19th c., and which were adapted by Donald McKay to his clipper ships in the 1850s and after, to add structural reinforcement to the stems of his ships. A subject of much discussion over on my Flying Cloud Mamoli kit bash build log.
 
Peter Gutterman said:
She's looking terrific! Of the many logs on this subject, this stands out for its creativity and ingenuity on improving on and embellishing what was a pretty basic and simplified original kit! Bravo! Thumbsup
Interesting to me, this iteration of the "Connie" includes the naval hoods covering the beak head structure which were added to naval warships in the 19th c., and which were adapted by Donald McKay to his clipper ships in the 1850s and after, to add structural reinforcement to the stems of his ships. A subject of much discussion over on my Flying Cloud Mamoli kit bash build log.
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It’s not always easy to find info even on the Connie. When I go to the museum site, I find a lot of information, but not on what I’m looking for. If you know of a site that I haven’t found yet, I’d be glad to take a peek.
 
Vfordyce said:
I just put on a mizzen stay sail. Unfortunately, it was the wrong one. I got distracted by the Olympics. Out comes the knife…again.
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Oops.
Vfordyce said:
It’s not always easy to find info even on the Connie. When I go to the museum site, I find a lot of information, but not on what I’m looking for. If you know of a site that I haven’t found yet, I’d be glad to take a peek.
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My favorite source is "Anatomy of a Ship", but that book also provides only a window into a select period of time of the ship's long and varied career during which she underwent innumerable changes and re-configurations.
 
Have you tried to contact the ship's Commanding Officer? He/She might be able to steer you to good sources. The Smithsonian can also be of help as well as The Washington Navy Yard naval history museum.

I have to point out that the Anatomy of a ship is problematic, that Marquart did not fully nor accurately research his book. I am sure that most of the book is sound but use it carefully and as a general resource. Also, I hate to say, the USS Constitution was never called "Connie". I'm just trying to be helpful.

Bill
 
WilliamM said:
Have you tried to contact the ship's Commanding Officer? He/She might be able to steer you to good sources. The Smithsonian can also be of help as well as The Washington Navy Yard naval history museum.

I have to point out that the Anatomy of a ship is problematic, that Marquart did not fully nor accurately research his book. I am sure that most of the book is sound but use it carefully and as a general resource. Also, I hate to say, the USS Constitution was never called "Connie". I'm just trying to be helpful.

Bill
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Point(s) well taken. I have two shoes full of black, blue and swollen toes, having the propensity to stub them on the preponderance of contrary information that litters my path as I wend my way through the thicket of contradictory historic sources, myths and legends concerning the variety of historic ships and vessels about which I dare to offer an idea or opinion. :rolleyes:
 
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I ordered the book. I could use another reference. Several people on the forum have called it the Connie. Constitution has too many t’s for me to type. I’ll call her Connie for short. I hope it doesn’t offend anyone. I appreciate all the comments. I know that many of the contributors have much more knowledge than I. I’ve been trying to find info on stays particular to this ship and to see if some of the rigging in the instructions are correct. I know I’m going to have to simplify rigging. No halyards or uphauls, for instance. I’d love to install them, but it’s starting to get crowded with the rigging. I need to go back and do some more research.
 
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