... likely to end in frustration, tears, and cursing. Or quietly fade away in shame. ;]
Hi, my name's Richard and I'm a modelholic. (Others: "Hi, Richard.")
I'm in the process of a second attempt to build the ubiquitous Revell 1:96 USS Constitution kit.
My first attempt was in 1970. I received the first kit for Christmas at the age of 12. I think my parents got it from the Sears catalog for $13. I actually made pretty decent progress on it although not a lot of quality in my work. I had gotten all the way up to the final step in the main assembly: Inserting the three masts. After that it would be rigging, rigging, rigging.
I got the fore mast in without any problem. When I tried to insert the main, it turned out to be a tight fit. So, 12-year-old that I was, I forced it. The spar deck broke and collapsed into the gun deck, damaging that as well. The main mast shattered and most of the yards broke. In the melee, the fore mast and a great deal of the spar deck details also suffered damage. Being only 12, I gave up the entire project in disgust and threw it away.
Fast forward to 2005. I had re-entered the hobby after many years. Thanks to friends and fellow modellers in my local IPMS chapter, I was developing some decent modelling skills. I'd won a few trophies for builds entered in regional contests. My confidence was high so I decided to give the Constitution another go. Another Christmas, another kit (then around $80) and a slew of reference materials. I started planning my shipbuilding redemption, even making a trip to Boston to shoot many detailed photos.
Then came a late-life career change, from Computer Engineer to Independent Filmmaker. I sold the lion's share of my expansive kit collection to finance equipment for my new endeavor. But not the Revell Constitution kit. Since it was partially started, I kept that, carefully packing it away.
Fast forward again to 2020. My wife and I decided to retire, leave Atlanta, and move to Hilton Head Island. I had already abandoned filmmaking in favor of writing by that time. Making movies takes a village and I can write a novel by myself in my underwear. Four books published so far, so that is working out well and there's no reason to stop due to retirement. The main benefit of "retiring" is that I can once again devote time and energy (and $) to modelling. So, out came the Connie.
And that's where our present-day story begins. As you can see, I've gotten as far as assembling the hull and rudder, as well as some interior and exterior painting. After visiting the Constitution IRL, I decided to add some structural details on the gun deck. I may have been overly ambitious on this deck, since it will be hard to see once the ship is complete. I also committed to building a semi-realistic series of beams to support the spar deck. I say I'm committed because I cut away the lugs/tabs that were meant to support the spar deck, so I'm stuck with that decision.
And that's where I'll kick off this build log. I doubt I'll make lightning progress. My goal is to fill the display shelf above my newly-constructed workbench with something I'm halfway proud of but I'm in no hurry.
