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USS Constitution - Model Shipways

RogerD said:
I can relate to your thought processes about fully rigging or not. I went with just the breech lines and side tackle for my carronades on the Syren. I did a mock up initially but found with all the tackle in place things were too visually cluttered. Obviously a personal decision but keeping things a little more simple reduced my brain clutter too ROTF.
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I am concerned with that too, especially since the boat will be fully rigged with sails and the whole 9 yards.
 
Since the kit didn't come with proper mounting hardware for the tackle, I had to make some with my 3D printer. The following pictures illustrate the 3 parts I made. The first one is for the side tackle, the second one is for the outhaul tackle which I am debating whether to install or not, and the third one is for the breech line. I also had to make a pin for the breech line mount. I guess the people that are in the know would ask, where is the inhaul tackle? Apparently it has been removed because it is a tripping hazard to visitors of the ship.

I sort of used my discretionary powers to create these because in reality they are eyebolts. The ones that came with the kit are too small, in my opinion, and there is no such thing as a "double eyebolt" in the world of kits. So I made them to look like angle brackets with holes on top. The breech line mount looks like the one on the ship, though.

Screenshot 2025-12-22 111607.png

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Jack Sparrow said:
Since the kit didn't come with proper mounting hardware for the tackle, I had to make some with my 3D printer. The following pictures illustrate the 3 parts I made. The first one is for the side tackle, the second one is for the outhaul tackle which I am debating whether to install or not, and the third one is for the breech line. I also had to make a pin for the breech line mount. I guess the people that are in the know would ask, where is the inhaul tackle? Apparently it has been removed because it is a tripping hazard to visitors of the ship.

I sort of used my discretionary powers to create these because in reality they are eyebolts. The ones that came with the kit are too small, in my opinion, and there is no such thing as a "double eyebolt" in the world of kits. So I made them to look like angle brackets with holes on top. The breech line mount looks like the one on the ship, though.

View attachment 565512

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I make "Double eyebolts" just by placing two eyebolts next to each other and bending the eyebolt part apart. You can twist the stems together so they anchor better.

Rob
 
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Rob444 said:
I make "Double eyebolts" just by placing two eyebolts next to each other and bending the eyebolt part apart. You can twist the stems together of they anchor better.

Rob
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yes, i know that solution, thanks. I don't like the eyebolts that are given with the kit and I don't want to get bigger ones because it is now too expensive to purchase anything from the States.
 
I can also use this instead of the bracket. Maybe I'll change it. So, I am going to replace the bracket with this and I am going to install the breech line and mount and not install the outhaul tackle. I don't even know where I would put the mount for that outhaul tackle. There is no bloody room.

Screenshot 2025-12-22 171654.png
 
I am stuck with a dilemma. I reviewed the information about the Carronades illustrated here

Modeler Resources - USS Constitution Museum

ussconstitutionmuseum.org ussconstitutionmuseum.org

Based on the current scale of 1/76, the ID of the eyebolts on the carronades is less than 1mm in diameter! The eyebolts provided with the kit are about 0.8 mm, which in my opinion is to scale. However, there is a practical limit to this size. I for one cannot work with such a small scale. So I will try to make some eyebolts that are about twice that ID. I ask the ship gods to allow me to make such a change!
 
JSGerson said:
I also am using 1/32" (0.8) eyebolts and 3/32" single and double blocks. Anything smaller at this scale is beyond my skills. It may not be perfect, but it will do. Don't forget, we are making models, not miniature reproductions.

Jon
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Good point about the miniature reproductions.
 
Final iteration of what I will be using. For the double pin I am just going to put two single pins beside each other. I gave up on trying to make a double eyebolt contraption so I will just use two single eyebolts. It also simplifies what I am going to print. Now I just have to make sure that I make them big enough that I can work with them.

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So I scrapped the idea of making 3D printed parts for the carronades with the exception of the fitting for the breech lines and the wedges that are installed under the carronade barrels.
Since I don't like the size of the eyebolts that came with the kit, I decided to make them myself using the following video for inspiration:

 
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I was looking at the galleries of the ship and I realized that I made a mistake. I don't know how I missed that one.
The gallery windows are supposed to be taller than the cannon door openings. Given where I am at in this build I don't think I will be changing anything. It will make more of a mess than if I just left things alone.

Screenshot 2026-01-22 193913.png
 
Jack Sparrow said:
I was looking at the galleries of the ship and I realized that I made a mistake. I don't know how I missed that one.
The gallery windows are supposed to be taller than the cannon door openings. Given where I am at in this build I don't think I will be changing anything. It will make more of a mess than if I just left things alone.

View attachment 572232
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10 lashes should suffice for this dereliction of duty! We are merciful! ROTF
 
LIttle update:
I have installed 5 carronades. FIfteen more to go. I made and attached the rigging to the carronades directly before installing them. I also, installed the eyebolts before installing the carronades. That made things easier for me.
I have to touch up the green paint because I tried a few different types of eyebolts for the rigging, but I ran out of green paint so I have to wait for it to arrive.

As installing the carronades is horribly boring, I have decided to start the lifeboats at the same time. These are tricky to make because if you sand too much you will go right through the hull of the lifeboat, like I did. I fixed the problem by applying some wood filler.

carronades.jpg

pinnace.jpg
 
Jack Sparrow said:
……. I have decided to start the lifeboats at the same time. These are tricky to make because if you sand too much you will go right through the hull of the lifeboat, like I did. I fixed the problem by applying some wood filler.

View attachment 574200
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That generic Model Expo “lift” construction method takes time and patience but it’s looking good Jack.
 
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