Model Expo Model Shipways USS Constitution 48'' Long Wood KIt MS2040 1:76 Scale

The USS Constitution is a very old lady. And as such, she's seen more than her fair share of facelifts. (At one point, she served as something of a B & B for sailor training, with modifications to her spar deck that more resembled a motel than a fighting vessel.) Today, after yet another recently completed renovation, Constitution sits proudly on display in a US Navy slip at Boston Harbor...and what a sight to behold she is. She has had so many makeovers that the ship we see today is considerably different from how she looked when originally completed in 1797. (And so, unless you are a purist, it is fair to take some liberties with your version of the model.) This kit is difficult to build. Very difficult. The plans are deep, lacking clarity even given considerable study and forethought. I have no idea how long she will take me to complete, but (as a retired hobbiest) it makes good sense for me to round off the finish date in years rather than months. I figure the fun I'll have along the way, by solving a thousand little problems to create a piece of art, will more than adequately offset the moderately high cost of the kit. If, as some say, it takes 700+ hours to complete this kit, and considering the joy I plan to experience along the way, what a value it is!! I recommend every inexperienced builder visit the ship in person if at all possible. Take advantage of the next door museum's plentiful offerings. Bring a camera and take pictures of all aspects that are not clearly illustrated in the plans or online. Google's 360 degree virtual tour of the ship is extraordinary. And the "Nautical Research Guild's Model Ship World" site has hundreds of "build logs" posted by enthusiasts of varying skill levels. Some are experts. You'll find answers to every question you have there, if you spend enough time wading through the postings. I've given the kit only 4 stars because the plans could, and should by now, be updated to reflect the "how to" resources developed since the kit was first released in the 1990s.

much more complicated than I expected. Hopefully I will finish it or they will have to bury me with it !!!

First of all this is NOT a beginners kit. Modeling experience is definitely required. However, this kit is very detailed and when complete can be a family heirloom or a museum piece. My suggestion to the manufacturer is to revise the instruction manual and make it more user friendly so the less experienced modeler may have a chance on building this beautiful piece of American Naval history.

The good news is that this is a very high quality, detailed kit. That said, don't think (as I did) that because you are good at building models your skills will carry you through this. It's not enough to be a good model builder; you also need to understand the vocabulary and terminology of 16th century military warship building. I'm not only trying to build the most intricate and complicated model of my life, but at the same time, learning a new vocabulary. The "instructions" are somewhat general, and assume that you are an old hand at building 16th/17th century warships. If you are NOT an old hand at building this kind of model, expect to do a lot of research prior to doing anything with the model itself. YouTube has a treasure trove of helpful info. All that said, I'm looking forward to the journey that has just begun for me...

The service from amazon was great, the kit itself is not what I expected. the directions are very poor . Not very good instructions at all. I checked twice to see if I was missing a manual. Nope. Not for the beginner. very advanced. either I figure it out or it becomes firewood.

This is a fabulous kit. It comes with a myriad of realistic cast parts and the blueprints are clear and accurate. The finished product is stunning. This is NOT a kit you should buy if you need your hand held throughout the construction process. Completing this model will take between 700-900 hours. You do not get step-by-step directions, meaning that you have to figure out some of the steps for yourself. If you are willing to put in some time and take some chances, you will be rewarded with a real showpiece.

Excellent kit, plans and guide to get you started! Definitely not for a beginner, but challenge accepted! You tube videos are an added help to aide you on your way!

Plans are so washed out as to be unreadable, cast parts are Ill formed, instructions are vague and incomplete. Have done several kits and this is the worst. No company support either.