So, I've always been an avid model builder. Just been a really long time since I built one. Probably about 30 years ago was the last one I built. Mostly muscle cars etc. Most of them ended up as demo cars with fire crackers LOL.
Anyhoo, I was telling my GF a few months ago a story about my first model. I just turned 11 while I was in my first foster home. My mom and sister had given me about $25 in cards to do with it what I wanted. My foster mom took me down to the local dept store to find something. Found a Revell plastic model of the USS Constitution. I had just enough money to get it. Upon return home, I was told I couldn't put it together until my chores(wood stacking) was completed, then homework. This actually turned into weeks of asking when I could start on it and they had tucked away in a closet. Long story short, that following Xmas, THEY, gave it to me as a Christmas gift. I know, I don't know why. So, that was my first model, I had it done in about a couple weekends. I never did stay in the home much longer after that. Never knew why they shut it down.

So, upon hearing this story, my GF decided to get me a higher end wood model of the USS Constitution this year for my bday. Got me all the paints, the fancy brushes, high end super glue, tools etc. Now I know why it takes some people almost 2 years to complete these things. I took various snap shots since I started on it. Granted, it is my very first one and I would have to say my planking came out better than expected.













I have more work done since I have taken these pics. I'll take more once I get working on it again.

Wow very intricate wooden model ship building there Mike! Great story indeed!
You must have a lot of patience to do this!
USS Constitution is going to look amazing when you are done! Keep up the good work, & look forward to more images.

Thanks sir. It DEFINITLEY requires patience to put this together. I think the other day it took me about 2.5 hours just to assemble one of the main mast, and that doesn't include all the rigging of ropes or pulleys.

Neat.

Wow, that'* cool! Very thoughtful of your GF!

I used to build plastic models when I was younger as well . . . and also haven't done any of that in many years but still want to.

I've never done wooden models except for a conestoga wagon kit. Your ship looks great!

Thank you CC. One of the books I have, it mentioned which ships to start off with for a first timer in wood ships was the Blue Nose Schooner. It'* small, doesn't have a lot of intricate details, and minimal sails/rigging. But I just found that there are other smaller simpler ships than this listed on various sites.

When this one is done, I'll probably get the HMS Victory. Probably the largest one on the market. $500 LOL

A tidbit of info that I didn't know until the other day. The USS Constitution is the ONLY active ship in the current US Navy fleet that has sunk an enemy ship in her 225 years on the sea.

I think I read that somewhere too. A lot of history has been decommissioned and scrapped over the decades.

I've even spent time at sea on one that'* at the bottom of the Black Sea now.

I'd ask which one, but you'd tell me, then you would have to kill me right? LOL

So, more work done.

Excuse how some of these are taken. With the mast being white, they would blend with my white walls. Had to take some while it laid on its side.










I still have to go back and do touchup paint, probably add another coat to the hull. The deck still has more things to be added. Masts are assembled, but still don't have the sail supports installed. Nor any rigging.