USS Constitution kit recommendation
 

Hi! I am new and would like to build a USS Constitution from a kit that is wooden, and looks good, but doesn't cost $500. Any recommendations?

Update: I have been informed that I should start with something a skitch easier so...nevermind :)

Re: USS Constitution kit recommendation
 

The only good wood kits of the Constitution that I know of are the Model Shipways and the Blue Jacket kits, both of which violate your price limit. If I were to build a Constitution kit myself, I would buy the 1/96 Revell plastic kit, keep the plastic hull and guns, replace the plastic deck and spars with wood, and rig from scratch. That would be much less costly than a wood kit and all of the bare wood parts would still be real wood. All three approaches result in a very large model though, so I would probably wind up scratch building to a smaller scale anyway.

Re: USS Constitution kit recommendation
 

Any recommendation would depend on the period in the ship's history that you want to model. The Bluejacket kit, although expensive, depicts the ship as she appeared during the War of 1812, with the necessary instructions to convert her to either the Guerriere action early in the war, or the Cyane/Levant action at the end. The small Revell 1/196 scale kit depicts her during the 1830's, with the Andrew Jackson figurehead. The Revell 1/96 scale kit depicts her after her 1927 refit. and the Model Shipways kit depicts her as she appears today, after her 1990's refit.

If you are interested in the War of 1812 appearance, and price is a consideration, go with Paul's recommendation but also buy the plans for the Bluejacket kit. Both kits are in 1/96 scale, and it would be an easy conversion to make.

NOTE: STAY AWAY FROM THE OLD SCIENTIFIC USS CONSTITUTION; IT SEEMS TO BE AN UNDETAILED CONGLOMERATION OF MANY DIFFERENT VERSIONS.