USS Constitution?

[Jack Sparrow]

There is a new Constitution model available and it looks great but I am confused by the large opening on the deck. I have never seen any pictures of the Constitution that look like this. Is this accurate? If I had known I would have done the same thing instead

 

[RussF]

I've seen it modeled both ways. Most, if not all, the plastic kits leave that area open. I've seen some models with gratings there as well. The Peabody Essex Museum (as shown here at the USS Constitution Museum) has an 1812 model of her showing the grates off.

 

[Kurt Konrath]

It is another question of what specific period in time is model based off of, due to changes in use and changes made by each Captain!

Grates off when loading cargo I could see, but with the ships boats stowed, I would think you would have the grates in place for safety, if they considered that back in those days.

 

[Jack Sparrow]

It is another question of what specific period in time is model based off of, due to changes in use and changes made by each Captain!

Grates off when loading cargo I could see, but with the ships boats stowed, I would think you would have the grates in place for safety, if they considered that back in those days.

What throws me off in that image I sent is the fact that the lifeboats are sitting on top of the open grating. Don't you remove the gratings only when you want to move cargo down to the lower deck? I agree with your comment.

 

[Jack Sparrow]

I've seen it modeled both ways. Most, if not all, the plastic kits leave that area open. I've seen some models with gratings there as well. The Peabody Essex Museum (as shown here at the USS Constitution Museum) has an 1812 model of her showing the grates off.

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I have the Model Shipways version of the Constitution. From the instructions, it says that the model is based on how the Constitution existed in 1998. Maybe that picture I have shown is based on this Peabody Essex Museum version?

 

[RussF]

I have the Model Shipways version of the Constitution. From the instructions, it says that the model is based on how the Constitution existed in 1998. Maybe that picture I have shown is based on this Peabody Essex Museum version?

It looks like the Model Shipways version, at least the one in the current catalog, has gratings under the boats. That is an awfully large open area with little space to walk alongside it - especially a many sailors are scrambling around on a dark, stormy night trying to take in sail. I doubt they would have ever sailed her that way. My guess is that the reason so many models are produced/built without gratings is simply to show off the detail on the gun deck below.