Rob, thank you. I had not thought about all the planning I have done in doing all the wires on my RC Bi-planes. Your right, on several of my RC Bipes, it has been critical to get them right due to them actually being functional supports. I will eventually do a wood tallship, just want to get a few Plastic versions done to learn more by doing them. Some of Y’alls wood builds are absolutely inspiring ! Dale
The “guns vs empty ports” question isn’t quite so simple.
The vast majority of the great British Admiralty (or Navy Board) models don’t have guns. It’s easy to figure out why, given the models’ purposes. Anybody studying the models surely knew what a cannon looked like.
Quite a few modern modelers (e.g., Donald Mcnarry and Philip Reed
The equally famous POW models push the matter to the other extreme, with guns (usually out of scale) pointing out in every direction.
The bottom line, as usual: build YOUR model the way YOU want it.
Aha , I see where you’re going here ;
I have done that often . Now , you have been given some good advice .I personally usually display Sailing Ships , ( warship or civilian ) in port configuration with "Yards Akimbo "
This of course means Sails have been sent below after washing with fresh water and drying . That way the yards are bare , tilted to one side and any rain can run off readily and that way the yards live a long life .
As far as crew on one rigged for sea .The model should , But , doesn’t have enough sailors out and about . Holy stoning and mopping was always in gear as the decks must needs be clean .
God Forbid , if the Captain stepped on a dirty plank ! . The hammocks are always brought up in fair weather and at battle . Extra protection from small shot and readiness to clean below decks in port . See , there are many ways to display .The choice is always yours . T.B. P.S. I use Irish Linen for furled sails .They seem to work very well .
I have finally purchased my 1/96 USS Consitution. I just went ahead and bought a new kit from my buddies LHS who I occassionally do some RC plane and boat work for. As suggested by many here (tk you) I have got some research materials and should have the DVD from the museum today. I am going to order the BJ manual and follow their rigging suggestions. I also have down loaded the older revell rigging plans, which are way more detailed than the new kits provide.
I guess I lucked out, my hull nor decks are warped and fit together really nice. I am pretty good with an airbrush, but for me I am looking for a touch of realism. I think that for the most I will be brush painting to give it that mopped on and worn look.
1 question on colors, interior of hull. I have seen conflicting choices, is this one of those “what you like choices” As always tks for help. I might post a few pics, but not planning on doing a full build log. Dale
The only real difference between the various releases of this kit (besides the painted lower hull) is that the latest releases have plastic molded shrouds and ratlines rather than the old wax-coated string because the machine required to produce the old broke last year. Most of us don’t use either premade shrouds and ratlines because we rig our own.
There is one amenity about the very early releases; they included a nice historical booklet of the ship. I wish that Revell would start including them again!
Bill
Hi;
I did the " Connie " years ago for a client .What I did for the deck was buy two ships .I used one to make patterns for the wood and then Took Basswood skived thin and cut the planks according to the patterns and glued them to A piece of Craft ply for strength and then cut to shape and cut all the requisite holes and installed the new wood deck . I stained it with a wash of a color that sadly Humbrol no longer makes called " Deck Bleached teak ", You can make this color by using the lightest tan you can find and tinting it with Lt.grey or Black
I think the little crew disappeared.
By the way the deck was pine.
Bill, that book would be something else nice to have included. Tank thats a bit more than I am ready to do “yet” I am planning on doing a larger wood Connie in the future. I thought this 1/96 revell would be a really good learning platform for my future endeavor. I have done the smaller Connies, but not with the amount of detail I am planning for my 1/96.
I have a hard copy revised edition of “A Most Fortunate Ship” on order. I have the DVD “Living the Legend” What reference book/guide should I be buying to help me in proper riggings, tying ratlines, block placements, besides the BJ build manual ?
I am going with decks from scaledecks, rope from Syren. Any guidance on how much more than 20’ am I going to be needing of a certain size/sizes would be appreciated. I also like the looks of the Syren boxwood rigging blocks. 3 sizes used of single and double blocks. What 3 sizes should I be using ? Is there any source for deckhands ? As always thank you much for help… Dale
Dale,
I have extra sets of the deck hands, and I might have an extra booklet. Let me know where to send them. I believe that the best reference source for building this kit is the old thread by Force9 in this forum in which he incorporated many of the improvements that you are looking for. It is titled, “Old Ironsides - Revisiting the Classic Revell 1/96 Kit”. It would at least be a great place to start.
Bill
Don’t buy it all at once.
In fact don’t buy any rigging except for the anchor cables and gun tackle until you finish the hull.
Then buy the standing rigging including the dead eyes, only.
Hull is ready for gundeck. I was not planning on getting too fancy with gun deck. Main deck I want to do more realistic gun tackle. I should have both decks in place within the next couple of weeks. I am in the cannon building process now. Any particular reason for not having all your building supplies on hand ahead of time ?
Only thing is that it’s going to be $ 500 or more before you get it all. And most folks don’t finish the kit. So it’s up to you to decide how you want to handle that.
Bill, Thanks so much ! I have read all of the Force9 build thread several times. He is an impressive modeller. His build has inspired me to go a bit more detailed on my build than I had originally planned. So much for well made plans 
I am waiting patiently on him to start posting again on how he is doing the rigging.
http://www.lesliejonesphotography.com/collection?search_api_views_fulltext=constitution
I came across this. “Warning” it is 525 photos of the USS Constitution, mostly rebuild and drydock stuff. But there is some decent photos of how some things are done.
That’s a great shot of the Nantucket with the bow of Constitution in the foreground.
There’s a whole lot of good info here on this Thread. Glad this topic has resumed. I have made this one of my “favorites”.
Like just about everyone else, I have a 1/96 Constitution in the box. No after market stuff yet since I do not know what I will need. The postings here will help take care of that.
Nino
Nino, I am compiling all the great info I have been given and finding here on FSM and a few other forums. I am planning on doing a build/reference thread soon, just need the time to finish up compiling it all and getting it posted. I may post a few pics of the results I achieved using a combo of OOB and aftermarket as suggested by forum members. One thing I can for sure suggest is get some styrene strips and sheets. I will post suggested sizes soon.
In between doing research and getting it all compiled, I have been working on building my cannons and getting them a bit detailed. I work from 7pm (1900) to 7am (0700) for 2-3 days in a row then off same. I am fortunate that my job here at the VA Hospital allows me a bit of time to do some work on little items like cannons.
On a ship like the Constitution, how many on a gun crew ? I am thinking 3, but wanted to make sure… TKS Dale
LIVIT,
It takes a large crew to handle those heavy guns. My recollection was it took at least 7 or more depending on size of gun. There is a video that shows a Constitution gun crew running in, swabbing, loading, running out, aiming and fireing. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQSBxQiLSyQ .The video is showing a 24 pounder being fired and it looks like a crew of 7.
There are quite a few members who will know better then I. I hope they will chime in. If you are going to add crew to your ship, you will need to know what each crewman does what as far as placing the figures in the right spot.
Nino.
Hey Dale, my memory could be a bit fuzzy. I watched a bunch of Horatio Hornblower episodes last week. The last episode I watched showed his 5-man gun crew in action. It’s a great series but maybe a bit short on accuracy.
The heavier the gun, the more guys on it. They had to run it out, and then run it back. Unlike a rifle, it didn’t present itself for loading as a result of the recoil.
The 32 pounders on Victory had as many as nine, seven is a good estimate on a 24, and so on. And attrition happened pretty quickly. Add all of the sailors and marines and it’s not hard to understand why the Constitution had a crew of 450- 500.
Thanks Bill, I was afraid I had watched too much TV and had recalled a TV Gun Crew.
Jim.