CSS Alabama by J11 - Revell - 1/96 scale - PLASTIC - kit bash 90% historical accuracy

[J11]

Since she is at the half way point for the build I'll keep this brief for a start. Research in depth along with custom and scratch built parts is in progress. Rigging and masts per BlueJackets model plans. I am changing some colors for a show model style IE mast colors and other smaller boats along with deck detailing enhancements.

 

Cannon's:

Ship deck detail (In progress):

My humble dry-dock (Mobile):

I'll post updates periodically, any questions please ask. The kit was found in shelf perfect condition and is a joy to build. The best CSS Alabama kit out there I feel is the Bluejackets model of her but was to expensive for me to purchase. But I do have the plans from the kit which are historically excellent. Time to complete is another 4 months. 

[Fright]

Incredible detail on your guns !!! Really amazing work with that tackle 

[Matt Cinnabar]

Outstanding.

[J11]

Appreciate all the kind words, those cannon's were about 8 hrs each to finish out. 

[J11]

Scratch building the dead-eye strops with 3.5mm and 5mm walnut dead-eyes. Parts and tools associated for building them. Wire is 7cm in length with the 3 hole strop cut down to two hole. 20 made and need 56 total which will take a couple of more days. Then proper location angle placement along with drilling. I'll work on the hammocks placement after I get these installed.

 

[Matt Cinnabar]

What kind of wire are you using to strop the deadeyes?

[J11]

15 hours ago, Matt Cinnabar said:

What kind of wire are you using to strop the deadeyes?

24 gauge aluminum wire, then painted of course with flat black to hide the small CA artifacts. My first go around making these by scratch as the model one are just a joke. Revell could have made this such a nicer model kit, but then I wouldn't have all the fun detailing her out as much as possible.

[EJ_L]

Beautiful work thus far! Those added and improved upon details are making her so much more than a "out of box" kit. Wish we could have been on this journey with you from the start, but there is still plenty to see so I think I will pull up a chair.

[J11]

Thank you EJ. Here's a few build images when she was started.

 

 

 

 

[Hubac's Historian]

Really an interesting model, and very nice detail work.  I will gladly follow along.

[J11]

Here's the update images on the dead-eye's. These are very fragile and time consuming to install and build from scratch. Even break when installing them and have to bond then tightly to the plastic and wood before final drilling can commence. The detailing along with angle placement is exact per three sets of historical prints, rigging will be multiple colors along with historical accuracy. But will be awhile as the hammocks and davits are next along with the extension spars. All will be scratch built for proper sizes and accuracy. These are work in progress.

 

[KurtH]

Beautiful work!  I never realized what could be done with a plastic kit.

[J11]

12 hours ago, KHauptfuehrer said:

Beautiful work!  I never realized what could be done with a plastic kit.

Thanks, it's a very slow process but the rewards are worth it. Trying very hard to make this a show model for the ship and as close to historical accuracy as possible. Three different sets of prints are being used for detail and placements on the model along with the best details on the cannon's available from "Cottage industries". The small men that came with the model are really good in detail and will be the last added parts when everything else is completed. Multiple historical colors along with a good friend whom is an expert on the Alabama is making her come out nicely.

[J11]

Here's them completed and mounted, waiting on the bond to dry and working on the hammocks which will be scratch ,and from cloth and hand sewn. Looked over the davits and are very fragile so I will wait till I mount them after she is rigged. Then rig the boats and added detail on them. A sequence of installation is going to have to happen as this is the first time a combination of wood parts and plastic ones are incorporated in the kit and is coming along nicely. Once I'm satisfied with the bonding I will drill and add the nails, which will be a couple of days, the hammocks will have to take time and placement will be per historical drawings and pictures.

Zoom in for details:

 

Edited March 21, 2019 by Jonathan11

[popeye the sailor]

I built the Revell kit way back in the 80's............didn't come out nothing like your though  very nice work....she looks splendid!

[J11]

Many thanks Popeye, one problem I am having trouble as what to use for the hammock tie downs. Looks like I will go will 2 mm brass nails which will be the smallest I can find to do the job and not overpower the model. That of course will be about 149 drilled holes along with the strop hole drilling, Which as fragile as the model is I won't dare try to hammer them in, any other suggestions?

Edited March 22, 2019 by Jonathan11

[J11]

On 3/8/2019 at 8:58 PM, Hubac's Historian said:

Really an interesting model, and very nice detail work.  I will gladly follow along.

Thank you, will be a few months till I finish with her. 

[J11]

Here's how the hammock representation is turning out. I have used black walnut for the wood bevels and 100% cotton tee shirt sleeve trim which is rolled up to the small size as not to overpower this detail. The second image just show it layed down to show how it looks with the model. Will probably die them a light yellow for UV effect. The tie down rope will be sewn in and I'll show a a image of one completed soon also. These are work in progress, ca is applied to the wood and to keep the roll tight.

 

Edited March 22, 2019 by Jonathan11

[J11]

This actually turned out better than I expected. Once my sweetie and I figured out the build and install process it moves very quickly. I have a couple outside tie downs done and will work to complete all eight of them and then start the tie downs on the inside. Add's a nice detail and was a challenge to figure out how to make it work. So far so good. I'll paint and stain in place very carefully. They are sewn in place after the ca dries for the wood mounts, then just very gently  up and down with the tightness on the 2 mm nails drilled in place and glued with ca also.

 

I'll post them finished for the outside tie downs hopefully tomorrow, and show a couple inside tie downs done too. Without adding the extra bass wood planks for the top of the bulwarks, these added details couldn't have been done to this plastic model and look close to historical information.

 

 

 

Edited March 24, 2019 by Jonathan11

[J11]

Here's the images of the added bass wood for extending the bulwarks detailing:

 

[J11]

Completed all the outside hammock tie downs. Kinda like the pure white color and now undecided as to stain them or not. I also have started the inside tie downs which take more care and time as not to damage the other detail parts on the deck, figure a couple days to finish all of them inside on the bulwarks. She's moving to the rigging soon, I'll probably make a few custom ropes for certain lines. Will have to pick some specialty wooden blocks also, so I'll be getting those ordered. 

 

[J11]

Here's the steps it took to tie these down without knotting the needle or the threader when working on them.

Took awhile to figure out the steps but when it finally worked out they went smoothly to install and not get all tangled up when doing them.

 

The first step: Material

Second step: Threading the loop and the needle properly.

Third step: Threaded properly.

Step four: Ready for hammock install.

Step five: Sewing from top started.

 

Step six: Pulling threw for nail mount setup and needle removal.

Step seven: Needle removal and tie loop setup with tight nail mount.

Step eight: Loop behind nail mount for double knot tie off.

Step nine: Back tie off for loop with tight pull up for securing main knot tie off.

Step ten: Tight knot tie down completed.

Step eleven: Apply maxi cure ca and cut excess off, finished tie down detail. Then repeat steps all over again for next tie down.

As we know it takes slow movements and a gentle touch as not to strip the soft cotton or the thread when doing these type of tie downs. I am very satisfied with the outcome and have completed all of them. Moving on for rigging and mast install, will post images when I get the fore mast installed as it will be plastic and wood which will need to be painted and prep for rigging.

 

[popeye the sailor]

I've read in the past where folks have thickened the bulwarks,  to give a better representation.   build projects of the Revell 'Connie' are the most common example.  it worked well in your favor........glad to see that      you have a truly wonderful representation here as well...great looking model shaping up here     some have substituted the eye bolts and blocks for metal and wood.......are you going to do that as well?

[J11]

Yes, in fact am ordering my wooden blocks and different rigging lines now, one problem I haven't solved is finding a supplier for these guys circled in green. Anyone know of a supplier?? All of the eye bolts have been replaced on the deck with metal ones as the plastic ones were just to flimsy and not quality enough for this detailed build I'm working on. Thanks for the compliments, slow process to fine tune the details but worth the hard work and time.

 

[Old Collingwood]

On 3/20/2019 at 4:15 PM, Jonathan11 said:

Here's the update images on the dead-eye's. These are very fragile and time consuming to install and build from scratch. Even break when installing them and have to bond then tightly to the plastic and wood before final drilling can commence. The detailing along with angle placement is exact per three sets of historical prints, rigging will be multiple colors along with historical accuracy. But will be awhile as the hammocks and davits are next along with the extension spars. All will be scratch built for proper sizes and accuracy. These are work in progress.

 

I feel your pain with the deadeyes.

 

OC.

[Old Collingwood]

Very fine work,   just shows what we can all do with plastic and a little imagination.

 

OC.

[Jim Rogers]

You can get those closed heart blocks (green circle)at Syren Ship Company.

[J11]

11 hours ago, Old Collingwood said:

Very fine work,   just shows what we can all do with plastic and a little imagination.

 

OC.

Thank you, glad you like her Old Collingwood.

[J11]

10 hours ago, Jim Rogers said:

You can get those closed heart blocks (green circle)at Syren Ship Company.

Excellent and many thanks, sometime these are a treasure hunt for parts.

[J11]

11 hours ago, Old Collingwood said:

I feel your pain with the deadeyes.

 

OC.

I am still going threw them very slowly to bond them properly to the hull as it takes a couple of days for each one to dry and I have to keep strong pressure on them to seat them properly. A real challenge for these scratch built guys. When I have some drilled and mounted properly I will post some images. Plastic, metal and wood; one weird combination of parts, just glad the ca and the bonding epoxy is work well so far.