1/90 USS Constitution (Revell)
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by John Lemire |
This is the classic Revell 1/90th scale USS Constitution – “Old Ironsides’. And I realize there have been a few submissions of this kit over the years; so add mine to the ‘pile’. I checked the fine print and the instructions were copyright in 1965. Let’s see, I was 17 and just graduating from high school. President Kennedy was assassinated two years before. What is truly amazing is the quality of these Revell kits, which is superb and every bit as detailed as many of the later kits from Heller, Imai and etc.
I wish Revell would rerelease all of these classic kits. It did release the Pedro Nunez briefly as it also did with the CSS Alabama and the USS Kearsarge. Photos of the Pedro Nunez were posted here early this year. I did pick up the other two kits in the brief time they were available. Probably the most beautiful ship and kit is the Thermopylae (later renamed Pedro Nunez), which, to my knowledge has never been re-released. Fortunately, for me, I have the kit in my inventory to build again someday.
I am very fortunate that the original USS Constitution is berthed in the Charlestown Navy Yard, just outside of Boston and about a 2 ½ hour drive from where I live in Maine. I have visited, over the years, three times and taken extensive slides and pictures for reference. This is my third ‘build’ of this ship model. The first was a commission for the President of the company I then worked for – a Christmas gift from his senior staff (that was about 25 years ago). The second was a gift to a family member. And this one, well I have to see if there is any shelf space left in the house for a model this size! J
I have worked on this off and on for several years, often taking breaks when the arthritis in my hands acted up. Fortunately, this time, planking the deck with scale wooden lumber was easy as there was very little molded in detail. I just had to remember to open various holes. Once again, making the ratlines from scratch is incredibly tedious but what a difference it makes. As usual, all lines are hand rubbed with bees wax, which eliminates and sagging in humidity and gives them a bit of tensile strength for easier handling. I continue to use heavier lines for the standing rigging, knowing that these were coated with tar. I’ve recently started going with thinner lines for the running rigging after taking many looks at the size of the ropes that were seized on actual ships of this period. This also makes it easier to make the coils looped around the belaying pins.
I hope you enjoy looking at it as much as I did making it.
