J11

12 hours ago, CDW said:

I once read that bad luck was in part responsible for the CSS Alabama's loss in the battle with the USS Kearsarge. An unexploded round was found to have lodged between the rudder and hull of the Kearsarge that may have sunk her had it detonated as it should have.

Yes your correct this historically did happen. It did seem the Kearsarge did have lady luck that day.

11 hours ago, ccoyle said:

Interesting subject, but there is some confusion on the scale. 1/4" to the foot is actually 1/48th scale. 1/25th scale is closer to 1/2" to the foot (1/24th). Judging from the size of your construction, I'm guessing the latter scale is the correct one.

Yes and thank you ccoyle I hadn't noticed my typo. 

12 hours ago, CDW said:

I am definitely aboard for this. A very unusual and interesting project. Civil War subjects are fascinating to me, I guess because so many of my long past relatives fought in that terrible conflict.

Glad you like it. It seems a lot of information on both sides was lost and has been recovered. It's a wonderful feeling to bring history to life. 

"The Sea Miner" By Chuck Veit had intrigued me for a American first design during the Civil War of a actual torpedo launcher and how it was developed in secrecy and test fired along with the demise of the Engineer whom had brought the idea to reality. This wasn't the first of Human torpedo designs as there are a few before this one. 

Since no one had made a actual model of the "What is it" as it was named by the public when is was in full view on the docks as it was being built and tested and no one new how advanced of a weapon it was they were looking at. Simply incredible when you think of all the confederate spies whom were also present at that time. I decided to tackle a basic representation of it.

Image of the book:

Images of a few early torpedo's:

The build images for the first design in testing and perfecting the torpedo itself then later developing the launch tube. Also the historical drawings provided by the author which he had discovered in archives.

Build images phase one:

I'll add more images of the finished phase one design next as not to overwhelm the blog system for one day, enjoy and feel free to ask quotations along with the updates for phase two which will be a few months as my CSS Alabama build is taking precedent for awhile.

Jonathan11

Some more progress images of painting the finished yards and mast pieces along with a closeup on the swinging boom setup for future rigging, which I will have to tie a small single square knot to run the line up to the proper place on the yards, I had used white rope for the swinging booms as to accent the rigging which so far from my research no one whom has built the CSS Alabama has added to their model representation and I feel it does add a sense of detail that is needed for proper historical representation. One point on this representation I will add different colors for the rigging to enhance the detailing as this is so very fragile. Tremendous amount of research and thought has gone into the sequence and application of installing all the details. This rascal has turned into a real challenge for a plastic kit.  

Nice painting representation of Her in full sails for ya'll to enjoy also. Notice the white hulls of the other smaller boats. Mine will also present this detail for better contrast with this historical representation build.

Wonderful creative application which I will use in the future. Truly a unique awning, fit for a king. Really appreciate the research done to produce the final product and detailing artistry.

Here's a couple swing booms prepped for the main rigging to them and will get to the other two soon and one set of yards for the main mast with one more to to go for carving and sanding then I'll set them up for blocks and rigging before mast installation.

Well progress is going slower than expected because of the fragile mast and spar work. I'm having to slowly sand and carve the mast pieces for addition to the masts and it's a tedious process to get the right shapes and strength I will need for the added rigging. looks like I'll have to scratch build some other smaller parts also for the masts too. But some of the mast parts included with the kit will work so it will be a process of supplied parts and scratch built part along with modified parts to make these masts work right and look correct per the plans. 

Here's a couple of images which shows some of the supplied mast parts and some of my replacement hand carved and sanded parts. I am hoping to have the main masts parts completed today and will post a preliminary setup image of how it will look and the fore mast when it is done.

Incredible craftsmanship! She's turning out beautiful.

Be glad too. I'll get the images correlated and post one up by next week. But it has been on the back burner as the Alabama has taken precedent for now. The second phase launch tube is a problem in working model logistics as per how they loaded the torpedo into the tube and the mechanisms used.

Bravo!! Excellent work !!

Prayers for your speedy recovery, enjoying the research and your build blog. Look forward to you back in the dock soon!

8 hours ago, yvesvidal said:

Moving along: 

One can clearly see the torpedo compensation tank. Unfortunately, Trumpeter only gave one in the kit, leaving plenty of open space on the side. Such a pity!

Yves

I don't mean to photo bomb your blog. I thought it would be  interesting comparison for the modern torpedo tubes and the first American test torpedo tube which was called "What is it" because of the secrecy as the American public saw it on the Naval docks late in the civil war. I have completed the first model of phase one testing box and will take a few more months to work out phase two of the actual launch tube as shown in the images. Also imaged is the first torpedo design made from oak wood if you can imagine that. 

Construction phase:

Finished model phase one:

Author, Mr. Veits illustrations from his book:

Phase two of test torpedo tube:

Your work is masterfully exquisite on your sub and apologize again for all the images for a comparison of CW developmental and U class sub torpedo tubes. Look forward to more of your build images and technics in construction.

Magnificent craftsmanship, the wood colors and clean installation is wonderful. Love the hull shape of these old Carracks. Look forward to your updates and more images. Maybe one day I'll add one of these beauties to my collection. Keep up the fine work Jack!

Look forward to your updates and build data you incorporate into her. Wonderful ship parts to work from.

Nice work, I also have this kit moth-balled. Look forward to starting it one day.

Excellent work, enjoying your build blog!

13 hours ago, CDW said:

I have never done much reading on early sail/steam ships like Alabama or Kearsarge. I wonder how much they depended on sail vs steam power. It would seem their capacity to carry coal fuel would severely limit how much and how often they used steam power, so I imagine they were most often under sail.  

They were under sails most of the time as the steam funnel was a advanced sneaky tool which Alabama had. They could lower and raise it as to hide their advantage of a steamer and would utilize the steam engine in pursuit and attack modes only from the historical documentation.

13 hours ago, popeye the sailor said:

I did my first United States with the studding sails........it makes for an impressively wide model     I can't recall........didn't it come with the studding booms?  I have some pictures of the one I built.......I'll check to see if I put them on or not.   unlike some other ships,  the sails don't impact the rigging as bad.......

The Alabama kit does come with one set of extension booms and are the wrong size and not very strong. Popeye would like to see a image of your United States.

I have basically finished the boom extensions for the fore and main masts. I will have to add the blocks and tackle when some other parts come in from Syren. ( Thought I had all the blocks I needed ) I am in the process of adding the mizen mast and making sure all the heights are as close as possible utilizing the BJ plans and this 1/96 scale model. I will temporary mount all the masts for a final measurement and will be working on the main mast parts and assembly next with the 4 sail spars. I'll post some images of work progressing, won't be working on the ratlines till probably next week as the heights of the masts and size of the sail spars with extensions will be concentrated on now along with painting scheme of course. 

Here's a nice image of a sailing ship utilizing the extension booms for the fore mast as an example for them being utilized in real life. Still contemplating on full sails for this model as it changes the time completion and work loads, she would look beautiful with the boom extensions and added boom sails which also adds to the case size and mounting board size. I will have to scratch build the spar extensions mounting parts along with changing the rigging for the full sails if I decide to go with them, doing research on this possible addition and it's so far looks like a real challenge to add them along with a couple more months added to the build. Be considering the full sails seriously over the next month and any suggestions is welcomed along with opinion's. 

Thanks gentlemen for the admiration, I'll have some more progress images soon. Here's a small set of the Civil war's batteries at a 1/600 scale approximately. They are scratch built and will be under glass soon with their nameplates. Thought ya'll would like them for a project for our young ones as they are easy to build as you can see.

Jonathan11
 

Going threw all my plans and knowing that blocks and rigging should be added to the extensions, just the BlueJackets plan actually show the blocks and rigging associated with them. So I will be adding these to the extensions. I'm seriously considering adding the sails to her also, but will have to make some from scratch. Never tackled the sails before so I will consider this carefully for this model. Might just do roll ups as to show off the rigging better. Something to contemplate for awhile.

Progressing nicely and all the stomps are done and touch up painting is finished also completed one of the extension booms, working on others and hope to have them all completed by tomorrow. Then finally start concentrating on the rigging and mast work. I had found a small brass flat piece which I have used before for special scratch built parts and it worked wonderful for the extension mount hardware, I will leave it brass in color as it gives nice definition and detail to the boom.

Here's a reference of model images for the USS Kearsarge for those interested. @CDW

There is a four part series for this build which I am working to get a copy for added research on the CSS Alabama. Model is 52" in length.

19 hours ago, CDW said:

Yes, the very early Revell kits had pre painted copper hulls below the waterline. Darn good paint, too. It held up just fine after all these years in the box. Box is in tatters, but box art still visible. Will take the kits out for some pictures when I can get around to it. 

One time years ago, a fellow sent me a ton of great information and line drawings of the Kearsarge. I have looked and looked for that package he sent but cannot find it yet. It had everything I needed to make corrections.

CDW, look forward to those images. If you can't find your line drawings for the Kearsarge, holler at me. I can probably get some copies of the plans also. Blue Jackets has a kit also which I believe we could get plans for also. Is the Kearsarge kit 1/96 also?