Keith Black

Thank you Talos. Because the scaling of the model is so mismatched, I'm just not sure a US modeler/former crew member would have done this taking into account the amount of time required for an individual to complete the build. Everything is hand carved including the single blocks and only single blocks were used, no deadheads or doubles. I'm thinking maybe this model was made in Hong Kong during a port visit? What think ye?...........KB

Mark One of my more valuable sources of information has been models built by folks like yourself. Where as those models may not be the Tennessee, they provide invaluable information on how things were done immediately before, during, and after the time period between 1869 and 1886. Also, those models provide a guide post for my efforts in the restoration process. Going to the pictures Talos provided, one of the 100 pounders is seen forward of amidships. At least that's what I think it is? Thank you Mark and all of you for your efforts telling the tale and preserving the history of sail and the first forays into mechanical propulsion.........KB

Mark During the refit they completed a whole new top deck.....KB

MT Not sure as I believe Wiki in this case as there were 18 cannon ports on the top deck and 20 on the second deck. This is what the model represents and is also what pictures of the Tennessee indicate. The gun information provided by Wiki maybe for the USS Madawaska which was refitted and renamed the Tennessee unless cannon were not designated permanent positions but shuttled to positions as action might require? The top deck cannon barrel length made by the modeler are a little over two inches which at 1:120 would be 20 plus feet. My research indicates that the barrel length for the 9 inch guns would have approximately 13 feet. I used what barrels were salvageable from the lower guns ( right at 1.25 inches in length) to added with carriages to make the top deck guns. I have to make 5 barrels to give the upper deck it's full complement of 18 cannon. But pouring over the photos provided by Talos (thank you again) I don't see neat rows of cannon lining both rails. I'm taking your advise and going over to the scratch build section and asking feedback as I've put further restoration on hold till I get input from those folks on their thoughts on going forward with the project, thanks.............KB

Glad that trying to load a couple of stinking photos wasn't trying to disarm a nuclear devise or we would have all gone up in smoke. Sorry for the quality of the pictures posted, hopefully I'll be able to address that issue in the near future and I'll be able to post better..........KB

Talos, I can not thank you enough but, these images raise more questions than answers as far as the original modeler and what relationship he had with the Tennessee if any? The model I have is loose interpretation at best of the actual Tennessee. Is that a problem or just my head saying it is after years of searching for answers, drawing conclusions based on very limited information, and setting a course of restoration based on that data. What a glorious ship the Tennessee was, I wish someone would build a model of her that would do justice to her, what I have does not. Thank you again Talos, I can't emphasize enough how important these images are to me, you've opened these old eyes. Trouble with camera, trouble attaching photos (my end, not a site issue) I wait on my dear wife to awaken and help guide me...........KB

I'll post pics shortly. I failed to mention the scale is 1:120. If there's fault with the original modeler it was his lack of maintaining scale which has lead me to think that that the model may have been created somewhere other than the US?? I'll leave that to discussion. I've tried to correct that by reducing the size of the cannon. I fought with this battle with myself for months. If all the original cannon and carriage had been there, I probably would have used them for the sake of originality. But because I would have had to make 50% of both for total complement I chose to go with smaller guns and off the shelf carriages (though I've had to modify them to make them work) As they say, pictures are worth a thousand words, shortly. Thank you for making me feel welcome......KB

Sorry, Wiki link is https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Tennessee_(1865)somehow I corrupted during C&P.......KB

Greetings My name is Keith Black and I'm new to the NRG. My reason for joining is that I'm currently restoring a model of the steam frigate USS Tennessee; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Tennessee_(1865) I'm pretty confident the model was built between 1895 and 1905 by someone with first hand experience of the Tennessee (possible former crew member) I came to be caretaker of this model when I purchased it several years ago off eBay. As you can imagine all the rigging was shot (rigging has since been removed) and at some point the model had became a toy with the expected results (broken and missing pieces) I've not been a modeler till now but I'm getting lots of OJT. I'm desperately trying to do both the model and modeler justice by not putting too much of my stamp in the restoration process. I've spent the better part of three years looking and the model and doing research before starting restoration. But most importantly, I am saving it from the rubbish bin. Pictures of the steam frigate Tennessee seem to be rare. The easy ones are at the two at the Navy docks in Florida and Brooklyn. The one at Brooklyn is during refitting and the one at Florida is so small, any detail is almost impossible to see. If anyone has a link to other photographs or information please provide, I'll be eternally grateful. I'll post a couple of pics if someone is interested though I'm somewhat hesitant to do so if fear of having done something wrong, as they say, ignorance is bliss. I think it will be about six months till I'm ready to start rigging. The period of combined sail and steam is fascinating to me and I look forward to striking up conversations with like minded folks. Thank you in advance for any suggestions and links...........KB