WARNING: This topic contains spoilers regarding the "Last Voyage of the USS Constitution" side quest

INTRODUCTION: The USS Constitution is initially found NEAR Boston harbor at a point which is READILY visible from street level as well as from nearby building upper floors

OBSERVATION: According to the Pipboy area map there SHOULD be a DIRECT LINE of sight from the forward bow of the Prydwen to this original "moored" station ...

Given the Prydwen's position - eastward and ABOVE the Weatherby Savings and Loan (location of the Constitution) - should be ideal; HOWEVER Old Ironsides IS NOT VISIBLE at any time while working through the relevant side quest

It is not until the "Last Voyage" has been completed that Ironsides becomes visible from the Prydwen (now stuck on another but TALLER building)

QUESTION: Has anyone seen the Constitution BEFORE its "Last Voyage" from anywhere than Charleston?

QUESTION: Is this an INTENTIONAL GLITCH by Bethesda to make finding the Constitution more difficult?

Huh?

Generally speaking, all actors (player model, npcs and creatures - things that act / do) are only visible from a certain distance. I'm pretty sure that the Prydwen is much too far away from the Constitution to allow you to see Ironsides. This isn't a glitch - this is just "Loading Distance" in action. It's a common rendering limitation for games, although it's usually only noticable in open-world games - static textures and terrain have the longest loading distances, whereas actors and other dynamic models have the shortest (because they take up much more of the memory).

If you set the Actor Fade to the lowest in Settings -> Display, this will become even more apparent whenever you watch an actor from a distance.

Lots of examples of this in game. My fortress on spectacle island disappears from the castle viewpoint and any other land location nearby, the place is 'reset' with the trees back. When you to the new constitution location, several other spots are returned to stock.

Speaking of the Constitution. It is too bad there is not a follow up quest after it ends up on top of the tall building. I would of really liked to help them get to sea.

@ Madolite ... doubtless the limitation of distance rendering is a POTENTIAL explanation, it is not SUFFICIENT - unless there is a hierarchical ordering of asset rendering that puts the Constitution "low on the totem pole"

Best way to understand my point is to look for yourself in game - for example: the Bunker Hill monument is readily seen from the Prydwen even though it is further away than Weatherby's

@ SDZald ... I share your disappointment; however it is possible to get back onto the Constitution (where Captain Ironsides has a token of esteem for rendering succor to their cause) ...

PERHAPS Bethesda is planning a follow-up quest in a DLC but doubtless a mod will be developed to make a "After the Last Voyage" miniquest