American Frigate "U.S. Constellation" Ship Model Kit 1:85

American frigate USS Constellation model ship kit from manufacturer Artesania Latina

History of the original:

The USS Constellation was one of the first six frigates of the US Navy and was commissioned under the Naval Act of 1794. She was launched on 7 September 1797 at David Stodder's shipyard in Baltimore and entered service in 1798. Like her sister ships, she was built to the designs of Joshua Humphreys, who conceived a new generation of frigates: faster and more manoeuvrable than ships of the line, but more heavily armed than conventional frigates.

Officially, the Constellation was classified as a 36-gun frigate, but in practice it often carried up to 48 guns of various calibres. With a length of around 53 metres, a width of about 12 metres and a crew of around 300, it combined speed and firepower in a balanced design.

Its first significant deployment was in the Quasi-War with France (1798–1800), where it captured the French frigate L'Insurgente on 9 February 1799 – the first major naval success of the young US Navy. Shortly afterwards, it fought against the French ship La Vengeance and prevailed here too, cementing its reputation as a powerful warship. Later, the Constellation saw action in the First Barbary War in the Mediterranean, where it protected American trade routes from attacks by corsairs.

During the 19th century, the Constellation served in various areas of operation, from the Caribbean to the Mediterranean and Asia. The original frigate was eventually decommissioned and scrapped. However, its name was transferred in 1854 to a new frigate of the same name, which is now a museum ship in Baltimore, Maryland, and is often mistakenly confused with the original ship.

The USS Constellation of 1798 is considered a symbol of the rise of the US Navy and the ability of the young United States to defend its interests on the world's oceans with a modern navy.

Description of the kit:

The kit contains all the materials needed for construction. Selected woods and precision-cut components enable accurate assembly. The model is constructed using a frame-and-plank method, with double planking on the hull, lime wood for the underplanking and precious wood for the visible planking. The fittings and attachments, most of which are made of metal, are included in three sorting boxes. The carronades and mortars are turned from brass. The scope of delivery includes all the rigging material with all the necessary blocks, pulleys and rigging cord, as well as a ready-sewn set of sails. A few crew members are included in the kit to bring the deck to life. A model stand is not included in the scope of delivery. German assembly instructions are included.

Who is this kit suitable for?

The kit is suitable for model builders with some experience in historical ship modelling.

What else is needed?

Paints, adhesives and tools are required and can be found in our range.

What do the building instructions look like?

The instruction booklet consists of well-illustrated step-by-step instructions. Text descriptions and explanatory pictures. A construction plan and parts lists are included. Two large construction plans supplement the instructions.

Languages: German, English, Spanish

The assembly instructions are available for download on the manufacturer's website.

Technical data:

Scale: 1:85
Length: 1035 mm
Width: 153 mm
Height: 710 mm