Thanks, Charlie! :smile: It's really a great little model, although a bit simplified in it's approach in some respects and wrong compared to the actual ship in other areas. Nonetheless, if you follow the instructions to the letter it still comes out as a very nice model. One thing to keep in mind is this model is apparently based on the 1929 restoration version of Constitution, not the way she presently looks after a number of changes had been incorporated over the years. Also, the scale is actually 1/250, as with most WHV kits, I got that wrong when I first started this thread...no, I didn't upscale the size any, just a bone-head move when I typed up the title way back when.
The CD I bought from Monduni a few years ago, and they still offer it. Believe me, I needed the ability to reprint the templates to get to this point. I also have been using the ship plans available from the NHC-Detachment Boston, which sells a CD of the "engineering drawings", which is essentially all of the drawings they have in Boston of this ship, particularly the 1929 restoration plans and the subsequent modifications. I have long loved this ship, have built a wooden version (well, still building, but now on the back burners) but have studied her history and evolution for a good number of years, so I have a lot of information about her configuration over the years. Unless you are crazy like me and feel the urge to modify the kit a lot, you probably don't need any of that. It also helps to have a good set of photos of the kit for the configuration you are building for some of the finer points.
I do, indeed, recommend reinforcing the formers and even the main deck with some lamination as it provides a good deal of support that proved helpful later on; the original instructions that comes as part of the CD (not sure if the printed version also has them) doesn't, as I recall, suggest lamination, but I always like to do that to give a bit of strength to the hull formers.
I use PVA glue almost exclusively for all aspects of the build, with CA only for some smaller details when I needed a quick set. I prefer PVA, even though it causes some problems because it is water based, as I find it easier to apply and control. I use a small brush which I keep in a pan filled with water to apply the glue. I squeeze a little bit on a piece of foam board I've had for many years now (you should see the build up of dried PVA on it, it looks like a tiny mountain scape!) and just dip the tip of the brush into the glue, then apply it to whatever part I am working on. I find this gives me lots of control over the glue placement which other methods have not permitted. I always keep it in the pan of water when not being used to keep the brush hairs from setting, and use a piece of paper towel to dry off the brush before use.
My modifications involved a lot of trial and error, and trying different things to get the look I wanted for some of the add-ons, but there is probably a better way of doing most of it. After last night I decided to totally redo the railing around the skylight, it just looked to God awful messy, so hopefully I can post another update once that is re-built later this week, time permitting.
I noticed the photos that went with the earlier part of this thread are no longer part of the post. I kept copies of all the photos posted so I will have to see about editing the earlier messages that were transferred from the old site to add the pics, if I am able to, but that's going to be a long process which might not be worth it if no one really needs them. If I do I will have the pics hosted so as to avoid taking up a lot of the space in this forum. If anyone, including you, Charlie, have any questions about the earlier posts and need to see some of the pics, just let me know.
Well, thanks again, Charlie, I appreciate the very kind words. I think you'll enjoy building this model, but I would recommend you go all the way and rig the masts, etc., since that's a very distinctive part of this type of ship...it would be like making a tank without any treads! ;-)
Cheers!
Jim
