For model ship builders, the USS Constitution is a popular choice. The ship is beautiful, historic and, as the oldest warship in the world still afloat, very prestigious.
If you are building a USS Constitution model from a kit, you have a choice of plastic and wood models. The plastic model kits tend to be more affordable and look surprisingly similar in appearance to wood. Wood kits are more expensive but most closely resemble the actual ship.
Just be forewarned, USS Constitution model building is not for beginners. The ship is very detailed which makes it a very challenging build. If it is your first time building a model ship, the USS Constitution is probably not the best choice.
USS Constitution
If you still want a USS Constitution but don’t want the hassle of having to build it yourself, you can also purchase a fully assembled USS Constitution Model Ship.
If you feel you are up for the challenge of building a USS Constitution model kit, I’ve created the following list of the best kits for sale:
(Disclaimer: This article contains Amazon affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.)
Revell USS Constitution Model Kit 5404:
This USS Constitution Plastic Model kit 85-5404 by Revell is the manufacturer’s best-selling USS Constitution kit on Amazon.
In fact, Revell makes the most popular and best-selling plastic USS Constitution model kits in general.
Revell’s USS Constitution model kits are based on the detailed model built by the ship’s crew in 1812 for their captain Isaac Hull after his tour as commander was over.
This kit features pre-molded ratlines, individual cannons, textured plastic sails, three-piece hull & deck assembly and a display stand base with nameplate.
The skill level for the kit is listed as a level 5, which is the highest level of difficulty and requires some skill, time and patience.
The model measures 15-3/4 inches long, 2-3/8 inches wide and is 1:96 scale.
The kit comes with 159 parts and comes with step-by-step assembly and rigging instructions. Paint and glue are not included.
The kit is probably not great for beginners and requires some patience and skill.
Revell USS Constitution Model Kit 85-0398:
This USS Constitution plastic model kit 85-0398 by Revell features detailed captain’s quarters complete with bulkheads, a table and bunk beds, 20 miniature crew figures, 55 scaled cannons lifeboats with oars, anchors and anchor rope.
The model also features rigging and thread, 39 detailed plastic sails, molded deadeyes, blocks and pinrails, preformed rat lines and a colorful flag sheet. The model can be rigged with or without sails though.
The model measures 32 inches long and is 1:96 scale. The kit contains 1,223 parts and comes with step-by-step assembly and rigging instructions. Paint and glue are not included.
As it is a level 5, the kit is listed at the highest level of difficulty and requires some skill, time and patience. The manufacturer’s assembly time on the listing states it takes 4 months to complete.
Revell kits are the best in the industry. What’s great with this kit is you can build the ship as is or customize it by buying or making your own cloth sails, adding real copper foil to the hull, replacing the plastic belaying pins with turned brass ones and etc.
Revell USS Constitution Model Kit RG5472:
This USS Constitution Plastic Model kit 80-5472 by Revell of Germany is a more detailed USS Constitution model, which is why it costs more than the other Revell Constitution kits.
The model features four lifeboats, 24 guns, anchors, one piece shrouds (sails) with fabric texture, flags and a display stand.
The model is 435mm long and is 1:46 scale. The kit comes with 191 parts and comes with step-by-step assembly and rigging instructions. Paint and glue are not included.
The skill level for the kit is listed as a level 5, which is the highest level of difficulty and requires some skill, time and patience.
Bluejacket USS Constitution Model Kit K1018:
This USS Constitution Model Kit K1018 by Bluejacket is made of basswood and features over 2600 fittings, 20 different sizes of scaled rigging cord, photo etched brass sheets and resin deck boats.
The carved basswood hull is solid to the gundeck, which leaves two decks to fit out. Some spar deck planking may be left off, so the interior will be open to view.
The model is designed to look like the ship during her glory years from 1812-1815. The design of the kit is based on three years of research of the ship’s deck logs and maintenance records.
The manufacturer states that the kit has been named “The Official Kit of the U.S.S. Constitution Museum” but I have not been able to verify that claim.
The model measures 40 inches long and is 1/8 scale. The skill level for the kit is for expert modelers and is definitely not for beginners.
Bluejacket also offers options items such as a paint kit, baseboard, pedestal, planking set and copper plats.
The paint kit includes one ounce of thinner along with primer and the following colors: clear, flat black, flat white, ocean gray, British crimson, gold, copper and grun.
Model Shipways USS Constitution Kit:
This Model Shipways USS Constitution kit by Model Expo is made out of basswood and is a plank-on-bulkhead kit.
The kit features over 50 cannon, carronade and gun barrels, basswood planking strips, Britannia metal, brass and hardwood fittings, 400 yards of six diameter line rigging and 16 photo-etched brass sheets. Extra touches include laser cut gratings, wooden parts and engraved scrollwork.
The design of the model is based on the 1927 Navy drawings, photographs and documentation used during the 1993-1997 restoration. The model measures 48 inches long and is 1:76 scale.
The skill level for the kit is listed as intermediate. The kit includes eight sheets of detailed plans and 48 page step-by-step instruction manual.
Sources:
“Revell 1/46 Scale U.S.S. Constitution Plastic Model Kit.” Revell.com, www.revell.com/germany/ships/80-5472.html
“Revell 1/96 Scale USS Constitution Plastic Model Kit.” Revell.com, www.revell.com/model-kits/ships/85-0398.html
“Revell 1/196 Scale USS Constitution Plastic Model Kit.” Revell.com, www.revell.com/model-kits/ships/85-5404.html
“Model Shipways – 1/76 USS Constitution.” Fine Scale Modeler, Kalmbach Publishing Co, 28 Jan. 2005, http://cs.finescale.com/fsm/modeling_subjects/f/7/t/34980.aspx
Force9. “Old Ironsides – Revisiting the classic Revell 1/96 kit.” Fine Scale Modeler, Kalmbach Publishing Co, 30 April. 2012, cs.finescale.com/fsm/modeling_subjects/f/7/t/146977.aspx
“A Model Ship.” USS Constitution Museum, 23 Nov. 2015, ussconstitutionmuseum.org/2015/11/23/a-model-ship/
There are c couple of “Finger checks” on scale listings so I thought a few updates/corrections might be helpful.
Revell USS Constitution Model Kit 5404: Listed scale: 1/196. Actual scale: approx 1/212.
Kit measurement of 15 3/4″ is bowsprit tip to stern. Actual Hull part length is 11 3/4″.
One re-issue listed as skill level 3. See http://www.scalemates.com/kits/111683-revell-85-5404-u-s-s-constitution-old-ironsides
Revell USS Constitution Model Kit RG5472: Listed scale: 1/146, Actual scale is approx 1/212.
Listed as 17.1″ This measurement of 17.1” is Bowsprit tip to Driver boom end. Actual Hull part length is 11 3/4″. It is same hull as the 1/196 kits .
Thanks! That is helpful!
I’m having trouble understanding how to assemble the rudder and tiller assembly . Please help or give me a place to go for advice. Thank you
I don’t build models so I don’t know but I would suggest visiting FineScale Modeler magazine’s online forums. There’s tons of helpful information there.
The 1/96 Revell kit has a lot of flashing. When working with the dark pieces, hold them over white poster board, it will be easier to see the flashing. The same goes for the white pieces….use black poster board.
There is flashing on the stern section that is hard to see, at the lower corners. corrected the fit is much better. It helps to use magnifying glasses or magnifying stand.
It is better to get rigging “rope” at the hobby shop and wet it when threading. Don’t forget to wax it. The kit’s ratlines are awful, and flat. Make your own.
Forget the plastic “windows” sheets, Testors has a clear glue/window maker that does an excellent job of making windows. Use that on my n scale railroad…good stuff. goes on white, dries clear.
The end results are much better if you dump the plastic deck and get a wood replacement…just remember that styrene doesn’t agree with wood as well as it does with plastic.
My build took a year to complete and came out rather well. I modelled with no sails as those plastic shrouds are junk …cloth shrouds are much better.
If you use the wooden deck and cloth shrouds it will keep your model from looking like a toy.
Properly done the kits guns look almost as good as the brass one….you paint those anyway. Just take a pin drill and clean out the barrels.
You can get some nice 7/8 ” spring clamps (plastic) at Harbor Freight with nylon swivel pads @ 6 for 99 cents. Great for masts and gun barrels.
For tensioning the rigging I used small fishing weights tied off at the end of the thread and snipped the weight off when ready…that saves a lot of trouble with rigging tension.