US Lexington 1776

[Lubber123 326]

I have long had a fascination for the US Lexington 1776. It is the subject of Charles G. Davis' book "The Built Up Ship Model" that I've had for forty years now. I never imagined that I would ever be able to have the skills let alone find the materials to be able to build a from scratch plank-on-frame ship model. However, after I got the book I used the ship diagram in the book to build a nice from scratch, to scale SIB of the US Lexington 1776. I built it for a gift upon request for a ship-in-a-bottle and after I gave it away I never saw it again. I always thought it was my best made model and I could never find another bottle that could hold the ship's dimensions.

 

So I recently purchased a Mamoli kit of the Lexington to build as a scale plank-on-frame which will be my third POF and my forth scale model sailing ship.

 

 

 

But before I start the plank-on-frame model I want to build another scale scratch build SIB since I want to re-purpose the Dutch flask bottle that I didn't use for my Airfix Cutty Sark SIB kit.

 

 

I found a nice depiction of an of-the-period naval battle scene and I want to either attach it inside the bottle of maybe more pragmatically outside the bottle.

 

 

I made some scale drawings that confirm that the ship is about as tall as it is long and hence I need the rectangular size of the Dutch flask bottle.

 

 

I began this carved hull quite awhile ago and I realized that I couldn't get it to fit in any of the bottles I came across so I laid it aside until I found the AIrfix Cutty Sark kit.

 

 

So slowly I'm making some progress with it.

 

[Jeff B 633]

Nice start! 
I have a Lexington completed without a bottle too! 
The bottle It fits in has a ship in it, dagummit!

I should visit the nice bottle lady at the consignment store, one of these days.😀

[Lubber123 326]

Finally made some more progress on this. I had used an old watch gear to make a ship's wheel the last time I made this SIB so I reprised that method and also made a capstan out of a gear. Then I found some watches that I think I might be able to repair and got sidetracked repairing all my old watches and bands! Another hobby for another forum I suppose.

Well here is my current progress. I have the deck detail done so now it's on to grinding down dowels for the masts, yards and spars. I left the ship's boat loose on deck to see if it doesn't interfere with folding down the foremast once I've installed it.

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