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What color is the USS Constitution deck?

Jack Sparrow

Jack Sparrow

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I was under the impression that the USS Constitution had a wooden color to the deck, but when I look at some photos of it, it looks black. Would black be the correct color?
1729545315761.png
 
It depends on a variety of things such as species of wood, sealing if used, holy stoning if there was no sealing, etc. Add to that the use of two or three different species at times. On English ships the decks were traditionally oak but after about 1740 outboard strakes were oak or elm for strength with deal used for inboard strakes as oak supplies dwindled. For US ships it may be a different story but something to consider. The choice for the model is yours, but you can ask for details at the Constitution museum. They were very quick to reply to my questions whenever I sent them a note.
Allan
 
AllanKP69 said:
It depends on a variety of things such as species of wood, sealing if used, holy stoning if there was no sealing, etc. Add to that the use of two or three different species at times. On English ships the decks were traditionally oak but after about 1740 outboard strakes were oak or elm for strength with deal used for inboard strakes as oak supplies dwindled. For US ships it may be a different story but something to consider. The choice for the model is yours, but you can ask for details at the Constitution museum. They were very quick to reply to my questions whenever I sent them a note.
Allan
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Thanks. I think I will do that.
 
Constitution is a Jackalope! As she as remained in commission, various restorations have changed her appearance and not for the better. Most noticeable is her ugly boxed in mid Nineteenth Century head structure. Because she is a commissioned warship, the Navy uses her for all sorts of ceremonies, and publicity events. They may well have treated the deck with some sort of preservative. Unlike HMS Victory that is being restored to a period of historic significance, Constitution is a PR asset for the USN.

This brings up a larger question for anyone building a Constitution model from a kit. What version of Constitution are you building?

Roger
 
Jack,
I would not use too much of her today as a literal guide without additional research if you have the 1797 version in mind. For example I asked Carl Herzog, the historian at the Connie Museum about the cannon pattern currently on board and he acknowledged they are different than the gun pattern that was actually on her when she was a fighting ship. You can contact Carl or curator Sarah Watkins if you want to know what the decks looked like in 1797. I no longer have Sarah's email but you can try curatorial@usscm.org or contact Carl directly. I do not want to post his direct email in public but can PM his direct email if you are interested.
Allan
 
AllanKP69 said:
Jack,
I would not use too much of her today as a literal guide without additional research if you have the 1797 version in mind. For example I asked Carl Herzog, the historian at the Connie Museum about the cannon pattern currently on board and he acknowledged they are different than the gun pattern that was actually on her when she was a fighting ship. You can contact Carl or curator Sarah Watkins if you want to know what the decks looked like in 1797. I no longer have Sarah's email but you can try curatorial@usscm.org or contact Carl directly. I do not want to post his direct email in public but can PM his direct email if you are interested.
Allan
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ok. will do. thanks for this.
 
Jack Sparrow said:
Would black be the correct color?
1729545315761.png
Click to expand...

Only if you want to portray it after a shower. Look at the reflections on the deck of those saw horses - that deck is wet.

P3110034.JPG

That's the deck of HMS Warrior at Protsmouth early this year. It's pale grey when dry and almost black when wet.
 
Smithy said:
Only if you want to portray it after a shower. Look at the reflections on the deck of those saw horses - that deck is wet.

View attachment 479468

That's the deck of HMS Warrior at Protsmouth early this year. It's pale grey when dry and almost black when wet.
Click to expand...
big difference. I didn't realize that. I think I am going to stick with that grey color and forget about historical accuracy. The ship has gone through so many iterations that I think I can be forgiven if my paint scheme is maybe not accurate.
 
. . . and the thing is how to duplicate this color - I know you can play around with colors such as White, Black, and some other Grays by mixing, or you can buy a Gray color already mixed. However, achieving the "look" of what seems like a "washed worn" look will take a little experimentation.
If anyone can duplicate that, I am surely interested.
If you laid down (painted) the surface with just a gray tone paint, it will look just like that; wood that has been painted flat. Therefore, my thought would lean more toward a "stain".
Any other thoughts ?
 
Donnie said:
. . . and the thing is how to duplicate this color - I know you can play around with colors such as White, Black, and some other Grays by mixing, or you can buy a Gray color already mixed. However, achieving the "look" of what seems like a "washed worn" look will take a little experimentation.
If anyone can duplicate that, I am surely interested.
If you laid down (painted) the surface with just a gray tone paint, it will look just like that; wood that has been painted flat. Therefore, my thought would lean more toward a "stain".
Any other thoughts ?
Click to expand...
i am looking at a stain. I think it will do a better job. I have already tried with paint and I am in the process of sanding it off because I don't like how it looks.
 
Another question. A lot of ink has been spilled about replicating the appearance of teak decks exposed to weather. Constitution is, however, an American built vessel and American lumber was used for her construction. There are disparaging remarks by the RN about “fir built” American Frigates. I believe that her decks were planked with pine; this could range from White Pine then widely available in northern states to the very resinous Southern Longleaf pine. Hopefully experts on early Federal Navy warships will weigh in on this matter.

Roger
 
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