USS Constitution, 44-Gun Frigate, 1797

The 'ShipCraft' series provides in-depth information about building and modifying model kits of famous warships. In general these cover plastic and resin models of 20th century subjects but, like the previous volumes on Nelson's Victory and Captain Bligh's Bounty, this is a radical departure - not only a period sailing ship but one for which kits are available in many different materials and scales. This requires some changes to the standard approach, but the main features of the series remain constant.Now preserved in Boston harbour, USS Constitution is the oldest commissioned warship still afloat. One of the original building programme of 1794 for the newly established US Navy, the ship would enjoy a stellar career beginning with the Quasi-War with France and the campaigns against the Barbary states of north Africa. However, it was the War of 1812 that established the fame of the ship that became known as 'Old Ironsides' following her victories over two British frigates and a number