USS Delaware 1817 by threebs

[threebs]

Been a long time since I posted a build here.  I believe I will start up again and see if I can drum up some interest.  I have finished 3 of the 11 ship sunk at Norfolk harbor in 1861.  The Pennsylvania, The Columbus and the United States.

[ccoyle]

Impressive collection!

[mtaylor]

That's quite a fleet taking shape there.  Looking forward to the next one.

[GrandpaPhil]

Very impressive!

[Roger Pellett]

Three ambitious models finished and one launched and being outfitted.  Wonderful!

[threebs]

I am building all of the US warships sunk at Norfolk harbor in 1861.  Still have the Germantown, the Merrimack, the Columbia, the Raritan, the Dolphin, and the Plymouth.

[threebs]

One of the ship's sunk was the Merrimack.  Except for a set of loft plans of her class ship the Wabash, I can not find much about her.  How closely would the USS Kearsarge resemble the Merrimack?  

[Roger Pellett]

Kearsarge vs Merrimack:  Apples and Oranges.  Merrimack was a large steam frigate; a super frigate like the earlier Constitution intended to outclass all foreign rivals.  Kearsarge was a much smaller steam sloop.

 

You might want to pick up a copy of the book “Merrimack, the Biography of a Steam Frigate” by Stephen Chapin Kinnaman.  Another valuable reference is Volume I of “The Old Steam Navy” by Donald L. Canney.  A third reference would be an article published within the last 5-10 years in the Nautical Research Journal describing construction of a model of USS Minnesota, another ship of the same class.

Edited December 26, 2020 by Roger Pellett

[michaelpsutton2]

I gotta ask here. Are there any plans for Kearsage availabe. I konw of very little info for the 1850's and 60's except for the ironclads.

 

 

[uss frolick]

Don’t forget the USS New York, 74. Although unlaunched, she had been completed and was ready to fit out, if required.

 

... all that beautiful southern live oak, up in 🔥 flames 🔥!

[Jaager]

Thus far this is an extraordinary effort and represents what must be a significant number of hours.

 

Looking at the three completed members of the lost fleet, it became clear to me that a great gift was given to the US Navy with their loss.  The liners and the frigates were obsolete.  They were too large and slow to be of real use for the functions needed for next four years  The crew and supplies would have been far more costly than any benefit they could provide.   The Germantown, Plymouth, and Dolphin were a real loss.  This way , instead of Congress being negative  about paying for replacements because the Navy have to scrap them, they got sympathy.  The Merrimack by having a engine was something of a loss, but her size versus the job - blockade and chasing smugglers was a bit too large.

[Chuck]

Wonderful models.  Its really refreshing to see some American subjects from this era.  Well done and thank you for sharing them.

[threebs]

The USS Delaware scratch built in 1/72 is 99.9% done. I will need to go over it closely a few more times to touch up paint here and there. Add a few more rope coils to the ship's boats tie off pins. Touch up the coppering and smooth it down where is has curled up from handling.

[GrandpaPhil]

Amazing work!

[dvm27]

Where do you keep this impressive fleet? This is the kind of collection that museums would hope for.

[threebs]

I keep them in my garage.  Working on cases for them slowly.

 

[GrandpaPhil]

Very impressive fleet!

[TBlack]

On 1/7/2022 at 8:34 PM, threebs said:

I keep them in my garage.  Working on cases for them slowly.

That's not a garage; it's a museum!

Tom