USS Constitution: a work in progress

[Bonaparte]

I just love these progress threads.

Seems you made a good start Mr. P.

Very original idea to use those nets like you did.

I haven't seen that before.

Edited September 12, 2007 by Bonaparte

[Capn Frank]

...

Very original idea to use those nets like you did.

I haven't seen that before.

Thanx B, I think i am going to use those nets like that for all the "hammock netting" on top of the rails instead of lattice bricks.

That just means i need about 18 more nets :S

Boy am i glad there's BL X-D

Here's a nice little equation i've come up with: :-P

+ + + =

That's right, that pile of bricks is what used to be (from left to right) my Xebec, my DDW, and my HMS Charlie. X-D

(Hopefully you guys aren't too mad at me 8-| )

The pieces of card board in the above large pic are cut to lego scale of what the interior of the top three decks are on the constitution.

Here's a couple err few semi-updated thumblinks of the constitution:

I ran out the color of bricks i needed, but i used other colors instead until i get the needed bricks from BL.

More pics coming soon.

P

Edit: More pics X-D

Here's the mostest currentest pics of the Constitution:

The mast isn't exact at all or anything,

it's just showing where the mast is going to be *y*

Eventually all the pretty colors will be gone

Eventually |-/

Edited September 13, 2007 by phred

[Captain Green Hair]

Looking good so far Phred!

Is this the waterline of the ship, or are you going to contstruct the underside also?

I wonder if the bow shouldn't be a bit sloped forward, i like the round shape of it though.

Keep it up, i'm seeing forward to the result!

[Capn Frank]

Looking good so far Phred!

Is this the waterline of the ship, or are you going to contstruct the underside also?

I wonder if the bow shouldn't be a bit sloped forward, i like the round shape of it though.

Keep it up, i'm seeing forward to the result!

Thanx Capt'n Green Hair :)

I am currently making it down to the waterline of the exterior

and try to complete the interior of gun deck and captain's quarters.

My goal is to be complete enough to display at Brickworld in June 2008.

Then i'd like to make the entire ship, even below the waterline.

Below is a pic of how far down i'm building it.

The tan line along the bottom most edge is about where the waterline is.

For the bow, it has undergone some major reconstruction:

I've got the prow done and a lot of the detailing. I'll need to get 4 16L white flex hoses to go around the yellow ice cube trays.

Let me know whacha think

P

Edited September 29, 2007 by phred

[Captain Green Hair]

It's looking great so far, u sure build different then i do.

I always start at the bottom.

I like the colors, and i see u've sloped the front a bit.

Love the prown, it looks very accurate.

I'll be following your project man *sweet*

[Paladin]

This looks to be a very impressive project. You appear to be off to a great start.

You're correct in some of your previous posts about some parts of the Constitution being radically different from the way she sits today, especially the stern galleries and the beakhead. I think they changed throughout the years because... #1, when she was on active duty and went into battle these parts of the ship would receive a lot of damage and wouldn't always be rebuilt correctly. #2, Later in life she was covered with a shed like structure which altered a lot of her upper works and until the 1992 reconstruction she was in various altered configurations.

I believe that they are currently working on a major overhaul of the ship, which may include rebuilding parts of the upper works to their 1812 configuration...or at least that's what THIS seems to say.

I've gotten a book from the library about the USS Constitution

There are two very good books I used when I built my model you may be interested in:

OLD IRONSIDES, The Rise, Decline, and Resurrection of USS Constitution

by Thomas Gillmer. This book is somewhat a history book and somewhat a synopsis of the 1992 reconstruction. It has a lot of really great information, especially about how the ship changed over the years.

You can order it directly from the USS Constitution Museum: HERE

The Frigate Constitution and Other Historic Ships by F. Alexander Magoun This is also a really great reference on the ship with layouts and sail plans, although the book you already have may contain most of this already. It's a really good book though nonetheless. Looks like Amazon has sellers that offer the book but doesn't sell it directly. I found an old copy at a library and had Borders order me one using the ISBN.

Amazon lists two ISBN numbers, so if you're interested you might try to order it through a local bookseller:

ISBN-10: 0486255247

ISBN-13: 978-0486255248

Here are a couple of official navy sites you might find interesting:

http://www.history.navy.mil/constitution/

http://www.ussconstitution.navy.mil/

Good luck with the build!

[Capn Frank]

It's looking great so far, u sure build different than i do.

I always start at the bottom.

...

:-D

me too, unless i dont have enough bricks to start at the bottom X-D

i just have a very good portion of the bricks needed to start at the gun deck

and eventually build down.

This looks to be a very impressive project. You appear to be off to a great start.

You're correct in some of your previous posts about some parts of the Constitution being radically different from the way she sits today, especially the stern galleries and the beakhead. I think they changed throughout the years because... #1, when she was on active duty and went into battle these parts of the ship would receive a lot of damage and wouldn't always be rebuilt correctly. #2, Later in life she was covered with a shed like structure which altered a lot of her upper works and until the 1992 reconstruction she was in various altered configurations.

I believe that they are currently working on a major overhaul of the ship, which may include rebuilding parts of the upper works to their 1812 configuration...or at least that's what THIS seems to say.

There are two very good books I used when I built my model you may be interested in:

...

You couldn't be more right about all the different reconstructions the Constitution has under gone.

My goal is to try to replicate the 1812 version.

but whatever info about the 1812 version, i try to go by what the ship's like today.

So my model will be a hybrid X-D

Thanx for the info on the books.

I have been getting the book i use from interlibrary loans

I'll do the same right away for the other books you have suggested to see if they're what i'm looking for,

or until i'm able to afford to buy them (which is usually the case) :-)

Hey paladin,

do you show your mocs in brickworld in chicago?

P

[Paladin]

Hey paladin,

do you show your mocs in brickworld in chicago?

I quite intend to do so next year!

This year I had committed to the NMRA Train show in Detroit so I couldn't swing time off to display at both shows. Next year though, definitely doing it.

Constitution and Bellerophon will most certainly be there. Depending on how the train/town section comes together they may be displayed on my "Independance Harbor" section

I'm also hoping to do some pretty awesome castle-themed stuff too. Last year one of the guys from IndyLUG coordinated the Brickworld castle area...so I'm hoping to work with him and some of the other castle guys to do something in that area too.

Edited October 10, 2007 by Paladin

[Opproperaar]

Looking very good so far, you obviously put in a great deal of thought before you even began building. The bow certainly looks good though perhaps the gunports are a bit big, may I suggest downsizing them to 3x3 or would that mess up your entire hull and bring down the Apocalyspe on your impeccable plan? :-$

[Capn Frank]

I quite intend to do so next year!

...

Constitution and Bellerophon will most certainly be there. Depending on how the train/town section comes together they may be displayed on my "Independance Harbor" section

I'm also hoping to do some pretty awesome castle-themed stuff too. Last year one of the guys from IndyLUG coordinated the Brickworld castle area...so I'm hoping to work with him and some of the other castle guys to do something in that area too.

I am very intent on attending brickworld also.

I was hoping to bring my constitution, but i don't think it'll get done in time 8-|

Way too busy with school and work |-/

Definitely will bring it the year after though *y*

Looking very good so far, you obviously put in a great deal of thought before you even began building. The bow certainly looks good though perhaps the gunports are a bit big, may I suggest downsizing them to 3x3 or would that mess up your entire hull and bring down the Apocalyspe on your impeccable plan? :-$

From what i've computed for the gun port sizes, they're between 3-4 studs square.

But closer to 3 studs square 8-|

The gunport covers on the constitution have a top door that swings up and a bottom door that swings down.

Each being half the square. Like the thumb-link shown below:

And to keep the doors like that, it needs to be an even stud length square.

So yes, if i were to downsize the gunports, it'd bring down the apocolypse on my plan :'-(

Unless of course someone knows a way to have gunport cover doors 3x1.5 studs X-D

BTW: There hasn't been any progress of the constitution since september cause i've made my entry for the halloween contest ;-)

P

Edited October 10, 2007 by phred

[Capn Frank]

Well now that i've completed my halloween entry and sorted all the bricks from the DDW, HMS Charlie, the Xebec, and any other set/moc i still had together; and almost done sorting all of mini-figs.

I can work on the Constitution at full efficiency (meaning there won't be 5 gallons of unsorted bricks in the way X-D )

...

The Frigate Constitution and Other Historic Ships by F. Alexander Magoun This is also a really great reference on the ship with layouts and sail plans, although the book you already have may contain most of this already. It's a really good book though nonetheless. Looks like Amazon has sellers that offer the book but doesn't sell it directly. I found an old copy at a library and had Borders order me one using the ISBN.

Amazon lists two ISBN numbers, so if you're interested you might try to order it through a local bookseller:

ISBN-10: 0486255247

ISBN-13: 978-0486255248

...

I've got this book today from the library and looking forward to reading it. Skimmed through already and looks very informative. Thanx Paladin. *y*

The other book is on the way.

While sorting my mini-figs i got sidetracked and made the US Marine musicians.

I got the idea from B's army v 2.0:

I'm really happy the way they've turned out X-D :

(the decal on the torso is actually very close to the same shade of red as the MF, the flash makes it look otherwise |-/ )

A pic of the backside of the drummer:

And a pic of an actual Marine Musician:

Now to work on the ship. :-)

P

Edit:

Well i've made my first attempt of the capstan of the constitution.

According to the pictures i've seen there are supposed to be 12 poles sticking out from the capstan.

This is really difficult to do with lego so i brought some friends over to help. ;-)

They were also kind enough to try out the capstan so see how well it could work. :-D

Edited October 26, 2007 by phred

[Opproperaar]

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA :-D :-D

Look at them work, look at them slave :-)

there's Bonaparte, and Mr Tiber and oh Norrington and mr Phes

so funny to see them working on the capstan, all that's missing is a guy with a whip, though back in those days, they rather encouraged crew members by playing jolly, cheery tunes on the violin.

Now that I'm temporarily not childish, will the all-mighty Bonaparte and Mr Tiber forgive me please?

Anyway, nice going, I'm very much enjoying the progress thread on your Constitution *y* *sweet*

Edited October 30, 2007 by Hairy Ruben

[Capn Frank]

Well I've gotten a little further,

I've been re-working the bow and made my first "draft" of the bottom portion of the main mast.

Here's the portion of the ship i've got pictures of:

The mast is HUGE and this only the bottom portion of 4 portions of the main mast *wacko*

Where the large green brick is is about where the top deck of the constitution is going to be.

Here be some pics:

Up to 20 marines and crew can fit on each crows nest. They're about 20 x 15 studs each.

Here's a comparison of the mast and my french merchant vessel:

This is my first rough draft, so i'm very willing to improve if there are suggestions.

P

Edited November 13, 2007 by phred

[Opproperaar]

I like *wub* *wub*

Though perhaps, the size of the crow's nest seems awefully large in comparison to the width of the mast. Are you sure you got the dimensions right?

[Errorist]

Ah very nice *sweet*

Ingenious mast design really cool 8-

[Capn Frank]

Thanx for the compliments :-)

...

Though perhaps, the size of the crow's nest seems awefully large in comparison to the width of the mast. Are you sure you got the dimensions right?

...

I like the design of the crow's nest a lot but i would either make it smaller (i'd say about 14 studs wide max)or make the mast thicker.

Using about 1 foot = 1 stud or about 1 meter = 3 studs

According to the plans in the book i have, the main mast is 2.75 feet in diameter at the widest point and the mast i built is about 3 studs (or 3 ft) in diameter and the crows nest is 21 feet wide and 16 feet long and the crows nest i built is 15 long and 20 studs wide.

I think the crows nest does look too big also. Hopefully it'll look like it fits better when it's on the ship and there's rigging on it. :-$

I know the Constitution had very tall masts but isn't this section a bit too high even for the mainmast?

maybe it could be a little bit shorter. But that's just me :-P

ps i'm back :-)

I only got a rough estimate of the height from the spar deck to the crows nest and it's about 55 studs plus or minus 5 studs (looks like i may have to minus ;-) )

P

[Bonaparte]

Wow, that's a great mast design.

I would be very much interested in learning how you made this.

Maybe when I study the pictures a bit more I can figger it out.

Also that capstan design is impressive.

This is going to be one hell of a ship !!!

And I *wub* your little band.

But why didn't you attached the drum to the neck with a rope?

Wouldn't that be more accurate?

Now that I'm temporarily not childish, will the all-mighty Bonaparte and Mr Tiber forgive me please?

You are forgiven :-D

I just past through Berchem again by train ;-)

ps i'm back :-)

Welcome back Errorist !!!

[Capn Frank]

...

ps i'm back :-)

Hey since you're back does this mean you've got some Lcad ships complete?

Wow, that's a great mast design.

I would be very much interested in learning how you made this.

Maybe when I study the pictures a bit more I can figger it out.

Also that capstan design is impressive.

This is going to be one hell of a ship !!!

And I *wub* your little band.

But why didn't you attached the drum to the neck with a rope?

Wouldn't that be more accurate?

...

Thanx B :'-)

Well i used or on top of one another with two 1x1 plates between each brick.

placed a 1x2 plate on two sides and rotated the bricks up 60 degrees in a spiral effect X-D

About the drummer, from what i've seen on the pictures, it seems like the white strap across his torso is supposed to hold up the drum.

So i just tried to be discrete with my string and make it look like the stap is holding up the drum as much as possible. ;-)

P

[Errorist]

Hey since you're back does this mean you've got some Lcad ships complete?

Unfortunately no :-$ i've been far too busy lately with school and stuff so did'nt get the chance of actually designing ships anymore.

However i did buy my first two legosets in 8 or 9 years which are the vader tie advanced and the technic towtruck *sweet*

But now i want to focus on ships again and maybe even design one which is "affordable" and isn't too large :-P

[Capn Frank]

The apocalypse has rained down unto my Constitution X-D

I've decided to remake the porthole covers to one 3x3 door each.

One of the books paladin mentioned shows that a porthole is just a little bit less than 3 ft by 3 ft.

Like ppl said already, my porthole doors were too big :-P

Here's the rebuild so far:

Now i've got to get A LOT of 1x2 and 1x1 black tiles.

Hopefully Z will let me have some if has extras :-D

P

Edited November 15, 2007 by phred

[Opproperaar]

The apocalypse huh?

It is as the prophecy has foretold us. We must now convert and turn away from our sinful ways before the horsemen get to us. It is as was told to us by the prophets yet we refused to listen to common sense and now we must pay for our heathen crimes.

But seriously for a sec, without all that bible stuff, how much do you think the entire project will cost you?

[Capn Frank]

The apocalypse huh?

Yup, the apocalypes X-D

...

But seriously for a sec, without all that bible stuff, how much do you think the entire project will cost you?

With the $150 to $200 i've spent so far, i'll probably need another $300 to $600 of bricks to complete the portion above the water

(most of that being high price items like black barrels and tan tiles for the carronades, shakos (if there is ever 30 available |-/ ), and the 250 pirate figs i need yet.)

and who knows how much more it'll cost to have nothing but tan slopes on the exterior on the exterior below the water with rown floors. *wacko*

But it's going to be so flippin sweet when it's done *wub*

P

[Errorist]

O money where are thou? 8-

[Capn Frank]

O money where are thou? 8-

[Errorist]

it's only costing $15 to $50 at a time, it doesn't seem so bad X-D

How do you do that? Do you take an estimate of how many pieces you are going to need every time you order your bricks or is it more on a hunch?

The reason i'm asking is because this method could spread the cost of my minifig scale frigate over a long period of time making it much easier to handle offcourse :-P

Edited November 17, 2007 by Errorist