Nice fix Tim,

looks a lot more seamanlike,

Cheers,

Si

Really nice work on a problem area.....Cheers mark

Thanks guys, the etch helps a lot!

Next come the shrouds for the top masts.

These are pretty straightforward as they just require a bit of trimming to fit perfectly.


Test fitted for now, I’ll fix them in place later after the masts have been painted and secured to the hull.

Tim, come on now, you're showing us all up

Thanks, Russ, but not really; those Atlantic Models etched shrouds look so good, and they're so easy to use!

Good recommendation, I've been reading that one lately although currently I'm being distracted by "The Swan Of The East" about the final voyage of the Emden. A well researched and well written book which goes well with the 1/96 USS Constitution I won at a model show onboard the USS Hornet recently (a good return for a one-dollar raffle ticket).

Nice work on the topmast shrouds Tim,

I do enjoy watching you turn these old classic kits into masterpieces.


Cheers


Si

Thanks, Si.

Painting begins with a coat of Tamiya Deck Tan (XF-55) on the weather deck followed by Tamiya Flat White (XF-2) for the masts, boat, and hull sides.

I sprayed the colors to get even coverage of these highly visible light tones, but most of the rest of the painting will be done by brush.

Nice start on the paint job Tim,

Good to know skill with the hairy stick is still being practiced.


Enjoying following this build.

Cheers

Si

The Constellation’s hull colors are pretty simple: white and black. I had already used pure bright white, which works in this small scale, but straight black seems too stark. I tried samples of three different blacks, finally settling on Tamiya Rubber Black (XF-85) which was just a bit lighter than the straight black.

Hairy stick time!

Normally I’d mask and spray the black bands beside the white, but the heavy raised surface detailing would make this approach difficult. Fortunately, that same heavy detailing can make even a fairly heavy handed brush application look reasonably good, so I set to it:

With the basic colors on, the hull is starting to look like a man o‘ war!

She sure does Tim,

Nice work with the good old hairy stick.


Cheers

Si

Additional variant “wood” colors give the deck a bit more interest.

The natural wood caprails, hatches, and deck hardware were painted with Tamiya Buff (XF-57) with a slightly darker Tamiya Desert Yellow (XF-59) for areas in shadow.


The quarter gallery window frames, decorative stars, ‘Constellation’ banner, and eagle aft were picked out in white.

Tim,

You are right, she is really looking like a man o war.

Mark

For her size, the Detail is quite nice with your Paintwork.....Cheers mark

Thanks guys.



I agree; though on the heavy side, much of Pyro's detail is surprisingly effective!


Smaller "wood" details received the same colors as the deck, but the cannon barrels were painted a slightly less intense black than the hull - Tamiya NATO Black (XF-69) - to reduce the contrast with the Tamiya Buff carriages.

Coming on very nicely Tim,

Paint job on the hull looks excellent, agree the guns do look quite decent, if a little heavy. Will you be applying a wash to the carriages?

Cheers

Si

Thanks, Si.

Yes, I probably will be applying some brown washes to the bare wood areas to bring them a little more to life. For the moment, here’s how Constellation looks with most of the painting done and the major parts test fitted together:

The copper-clad underwater hull and the display cradle still await their colors...

Tim, she sure is coming together nicely. Really like the paint job. I couldn't tell from the angle of the deck guns in your photo but did you drill out their barrels also? Really loving the look of her.
John

Tim, I've missed so much!

You've done so much since I last checked in and she's looking great!

Tim,

that's amazing!! You are transforming another of these, let me say rather basic ancient kits, into a jewel!! It is stunning to see what potential some of those old kits have if they're just handled right.

Cheers,
Jan

John, Russ, and Jan, thank you for your kind comments! John, in answer to your question, yes, I did open up the muzzles on the deck guns too:

I also added the knobs at the back ends of the barrels, but for the most part I'm trying to keep this build as out-of-the-box as possible!

Hi Tim,

She looks the part with the masts in place.

I am very much enjoying following this build.


Cheers

Si

Tim, being a Pyro fan, you should like this: The Kits of Pyro Plastic Company - An Illustrated Guide

I also posted it on KitMaker forums GENERAL MODELING.

Thanks for the link, Frederick, that is an excellent article! The very first line is a big part of why I'm such a Pyro fan: "Pyro is unique in plastic models because the subjects for kits were not selected by popularity." How unusual is THAT?! Even though there is a certain roughness to these old Pyro kits, I do keep coming back to them...

I’ve been taking a break from the U.S.S. Constellation build of late, but just the other day I happened across a bit of inspiration close to home:


It is part of a 19th Century stepped mast quietly rotting on the dock at the Old Sacramento waterfront. I asked the Park Service folks there if they had any information about it, but the identity of the ship is unknown. They said it was probably a remnant of one of dozens of ships abandoned here and in San Francisco by crews deserting to join the 1849 California Gold Rush...


Anyway, it reminds me of the masts on the preserved U.S.S. Constellation. I guess it is the modeling gods’ way of telling me that it’s time to get back to work!