Modeler Resources

The deck layouts represent USS Constitution’s deck arrangements after the 1927-1931 restoration. The 1931 arrangements were partly based upon 1849 plans of Constitution and partly on the requirements of the National Cruise the ship would take between 1931-1934. The deck arrangement plans no longer represent Constitution today, as the ship is slowly being restored/rebuilt to its War of 1812 configuration.

• Spar Deck General Arrangement, September 1931 (Plan #24422)
  Note: The replica small boats and hatch arrangements reflect the display and use of USS Constitution during the National Cruise from 1931-1934.
• Gun Deck General Arrangement, September 1931 (Plan #24423)
  Note: The captain’s cabins re-created during the 1927-1931 restoration are based on 1849 plans of Constitution and not the 1812-era cabin configurations.
• Berth Deck General Arrangement, 1927 (Plan #28669)
  Note: The ward room cabins, pantries, steerage, etc. reflect the use of Constitution during the National Cruise from 1931-1934. Modern living equipment was installed for the National Cruise.
• Orlop Deck General Arrangement, 1928 (Plan #22673)
  Note: The orlop deck and hold arrangements reflect the storage and repair needs anticipated for the 1931-1934 National Cruise.

All boats built for USS Constitution in the 1927-1931 restoration are based on early 20^th century U.S. Navy boat plans, not on War of 1812-era small boat designs.

• 28’ Cutter Lines and Mold Loft Dimensions, November 1930 (Plan #22357)
• 28’ Cutter General Arrangement and Midship Section, November 1930 (Plan #22358)
• 28’ Whaleboat Lines and Mold Loft Dimensions, January 1931 (Plan #23396)
• 28’ Whaleboat General Arrangement and Midship Section, February 1931 (Plan #23397)
• 28’ Whaleboats Fittings, April 1931 (Plan #23482)
• Boat Boom – Lower Studding Sail Boom, February 1931 (Plan #23402)
• 28’ Gig Whaleboat Lines and Mold Loft Dimensions, March 1931 (Plan #23477)
• 28’ Gig Whaleboat General Arrangement and Midship Section, March 1931 (Plan #23478)
• 28’ Gig Whaleboat Fittings, April 1931 (Plan #23473)
• Boat Stowage Stern Davits, August 1978 (Plan #4651553.A)
  Note: War of 1812 stern davits were built into Constitution’s transom quarters, not bolted to transom quarter cap rails as detailed on these 1978 plans.
• Boat Davits and Fittings for 28′ Whaleboats, 2009 (Plan #8275791)

• Arrangement of Hatch Coamings, Hatch Bars, and Solid Wood Shutters on Spar, Gun, and Berth Decks, 1930/1971 (Plan #19274)
• U.S. Frigate Constitution Name Board, June 1928 (Plan #21179)
  Note: The stern name board, ornamentation, details, etc. do not represent the ship’s War of 1812 stern arrangement. The War of 1812 stern was heavily carved and ornamented with figures, architecture, etc. Refer to the “Model of United States Frigate Constitution, ca. 1812” in the Peabody Essex Museum’s collection for an example of stern decoration.
• Stern Ornamentation Details, 1928 arrangement (Plan #23231)
• Beading and Moulding for Stern Ornamentation, 1930 (Plan #28424)
• Stern Ornamentation – Section of Moldings and Details, c. 1973 (Plan #25008)
• Billet Head, March 1929 (Plan #29623)
  Note: The 1927-1931 billet head is based on the c.1875 billet head, not the design of the ship’s War of 1812 billet head. Refer to the “USS Constitution Figure/Billetheads and Trail Boards History” for an illustration of the War of 1812 billet head.
• USS Constitution Bow Scroll Insignia [Red, White, and Blue Shield Motif], July 1931 (Plan #24825)
  Note: The War of 1812 trail boards on the ship’s bow did not include a red, white, and blue shield motif. This was added during the 1871-1877 restoration. Refer to the “Model of United States Frigate Constitution, ca. 1812” in the Peabody Essex Museum’s collection for an example of the trail boards.
• Bow Scroll Board [Trail Boards], September 1928 (Plan #30155)
  Note: The War of 1812 trail boards on the ship’s bow did not include a red, white, and blue shield motif. This was added during the 1871-1877 restoration. Refer to the “Model of United States Frigate Constitution, ca. 1812” in the Peabody Essex Museum’s collection for an example of the trail boards.
• Location and Details of Gun Port Fittings, July 1928 (Plan #25005)
  Note: To be used in conjunction with Gun Deck General Arrangement, September 1931 (Plan #24423).
• Gun Port on Gun Deck, c. 1973 (Plan #50964)
• Spar Deck Gun Fittings, 1929/1973 (Plan #24862)
• Outboard Profile Fittings, 1931 (Plan #24474)
• Brackets for Rigging Channels Prior to Restoration, 1929/c. 1973 (Plan #25351)
• Fore, Main, and Mizzen Rigging Channels, 1970 (Plan #4513172.A)
• Spanker Boom Traveler and Fittings, 1929 (Plan #25340)
• Fife Rails and Bitts, Arrangement, and Details – Mizzen, Main, and Fore Masts, 1973 (Plan #27076.B)
• Spar Deck Bulwark Cleats of Live Oak Material, 1930 (Plan #28433)
• Joiner Bulkheads – Gun Deck, 1930 (Plan #28427)
  Note: The plan states the bulkheads represent the 1800-1815 period; however, the arrangement and design of the bulkheads more closely resembles the ship’s mid-to-late 19^th century cabin arrangements. This is the period after the ship was changed to a sail training ship for the U.S. Navy.
  
• Chain Plates, 1930 (Plan #25013)
• Portable Stanchions for Main Hatch – Gun Deck, c. 1929 (Plan #25419)
• Band for Spanker Main Boom Saddle, 1930 (Plan #50828)

• Sheer, Half-breadth, and Body Plan, 20^th century after 1794 (Plan #14925)
  Note: Traced from a plan drawn by William Doughty, 1794, after Joshua Humphreys’ original plan
• USS Constitution Orlop Deck, 1816 – Charles F. Waldo Plan (Plan #14949)
• USS Constitution Spar Deck Beams, 1819 – Charles F. Waldo Plan (Plan #15154)
• Framing and Elevations of “House” for USS Constitution, Portsmouth Navy Yard, 1882-1883 (Plan #17381)
• “A Draft of U.S. Frigate Constitution,” 1817 Sail Plan – National Archives and Records Administration Collection (Plan #19-4-43-2001-001)
• “Plans of the Frigate United States Decks,” c. 1820 – National Archives and Records Administration Collection (Plan #45-Ware-15)

• Locations of Airports and Scuppers, 1927 (Plan #14680)
• Spar Deck (Planking Removed), 1926 (Plan #17636)
• Gun Deck (Planking Removed), 1926 (Plan #15644)
• Berth Deck (Planking Removed), 1926 (Plan #18285)
• Orlop Deck (Planking Removed), 1926 (Plan #19506)
• Inboard Profile, 1931 (Plan #27772)
• Midship Section, 1926 (Plan #34535)
• Outboard Profile, Caprail Removal, 2007 (Plan #8575792)
• Open Waist, 2009 (Plan #002-08-2009)
• Hammock Net Frame, 2009 (Plan #013-09-2009)
  Note: In the 18^th and early 19^th centuries these frames were sometimes also referred to as “cranes,” as in “hammock cranes.” The new hammock frames/cranes installed in the 2007-2010 restoration were bolted to the waterway area for the safety of  visitors. It is presumed the hammock cranes were easily removable in the War of 1812-era for access to the large main hatch when loading and unloading goods and materials.
• Rake of Bowsprit, General Arrangement of Cutwater, Stem, Apron, Gripe, Gammon Bolts, Fiddle [Billet] Head, and Bob Stay Plates, 1929 (Plan #24779)
• Sketch of After Body of Ship, 1929 (Plan #24905)
  Note: This sketch shows locations of deadwood, etc., from which old copper bolts were removed during the 1927-1931 restoration.
• Copper Plan, 1929 (Plan #25002)
  Note: This copy of the copper plan is the only version available from the 1927-1931 restoration.
• Deck Framing Forward of Stern and Fore Tack Bumpkin [Boomkin], 1929/1973 (Plan #25175)
• Quarter Gallery, Port and Starboard, 1976 (Plan #4649400.A)
• Rudder and Details, 1930 (Plan #28429)
• Sketch Showing Typical Gun Port Construction, 1927-1931 (Plan #50965)
  Note: Gun port doors on Constitution are shown split and with a center aperture for the gun muzzle to protrude. The “Model of United States Frigate Constitution, ca. 1812” in the Peabody Essex Museum’s collection retains three intact gun port doors – each one a single, solid door, hinged at the top. This is the more likely and more common construction of gun port doors on warships.
• Crew’s Head Area – Modification, 1975 (Plan #4648371.B)
• Bitts – Bowsprit Bitt, Mooring Bitt, Arrangement and Details, 1973 (Plan #4520781.A)
• Diagonal Rider and Knee Layout, 1995/2011 (Plan #022-06-2011)
• Skylight in Captain’s Cabin, 1930 (Plan #25370)
  

• Spar and Rigging Plan, 1930 (Plan # 21227)
• Fore, Main, and Mizzen Lower Masts, 1929 (Plan #30185)
• Fore Mast Step, 1927 (Plan #14704)
• Main Mast Step, 1927 (Plan #14708)
• Orlop Deck General Arrangement, 1931 – for Mizzen Mast Step (Plan #22673)
• Main Mast Bibbs, 1987 (Plan #6266144)
• Mizzen Mast Step, 1928 (Plan #50546)
• Fore, Main, and Mizzen Topmasts, 1929 (Plan #30652)
• Fore, Main, and Mizzen Topgallants Masts, 1929 (Plan #31067)
• Spanker (Snow) Mast, Yards, Gaff, Booms, and Fittings, 1929 (Plan #30651)
• Trestle and Cross Trees, 1929 (Plan #18406)
• [Fighting] Tops for Masts, 1928 (Plan #21162)
• Assemblage of Material for Building Masts, Topgallant Masts, Yards, Boat Booms, Studding Sail Booms, and Anchor Handling Boom, 1928 (Plan #25314)
• Boom, Spanker Boom, and Gaff Jaws (re-drawn), 1973 (Plan #25568)
• Bowsprit and Martingale, 1929 (Plan #30154)
• Block List, 1929 (Plan #30359)
• Booklet – Details of Sails, 1930 (Plan #18402)
  Note: This booklet details the 36 sails made for the 1931-1934 National Cruise and does not include all sails for the ship – which could be as many as 47 sails. Refer to “USS Constitution – Sails and Sailing.”
• Sail [Staysail/Jib] Hanks, 1930 (Plan #21247)
• Boom, Studding Sail, End and Quarter Irons, 1927-1931 (Plan #25527)
• [Fife Rail] Bitts and Fore Sheet Sheaves, c. 1927-1931 (Plan #24803)

• Bower Anchor, c. 1929 (Plan #15036)
• Bower Anchors and Anchor Handling, 1931 (Plan #24509)
• Steering Arrangements, 1928 (Plan #18727)
• Starboard and Port Sea Steps, 1930/1974 (Plan #24999.A)
• Covers: Air port and Scuppers, 1975 (Plan #25001.A)
  Note: The air ports and scuppers installed on USS Constitution may be from the mid-to-late 19^th century.
• Belaying Pins, 1929 (Plan #28432)
  Note: Lignum Vitae is listed here as the wood for belaying pins, though the War of 1812-era belaying pins were likely made from ash and/or iron.
• Capstans (Spar and Gun Decks), 1929 (Plan #29621)
  Note: The two capstans are from the mid-to-late 19^th century as they are designed to take anchor chain. In the War of 1812 era, Constitution’s anchors were held by anchor cable (rope) alone.
• Steering Wheel General Arrangement and Details, 1929 (Plan #29622)
• Pump Fittings, 1975 (Plan #50976)
  Note: The copper pumps may date to the mid-to-late 19^th century.
• Companionway Canopy Frame, 1974 (Plan #50980)
  Note: This drawing was prepared from 1929 restoration drawings and sketches. The arched canopy frames were likely installed when USS Constitution became U.S. Naval Academy training ship in the 1850s. They were originally cast bronze, but were replaced with brass in 1973. In the War of 1812 era, Constitution had low copper stanchions and copper or rope rails.
• Detail of Glass Deck Light, 1956 (Plan #1599084.A)
• Galley Smoke Stack (“Charlie Noble”), 1977 (Plan #4650285.A)
  Note: “Charlie Noble” is not a contemporary term of the War of 1812 era.