Hello from Texas Longhorn Country

[Glen McGuire]

I discovered this incredible site just as I was finishing an 8-month long ordeal with by first ever build - Mamoli's CSS Alabama.  I finished her off in January and am finally getting around to posting an after-the-fact build log.  Hopefully it will be of some interest since I could not find a build log anywhere of this particular kit.  Check it out if you have time (1851 - 1900 forum) and by all means tell me what I could have done better.   I cannot tell you how badly I wish I'd found y'all before I got started, as the collection of talent in this community is ridiculous.  Regardless, I'm here now and thrilled to be a part of this group!      

[Keith Black]

 Glen, welcome to MSW and glad to have you aboard. I've visited your build log, great stuff. 

[Jim Lad]

Hello Glen, and a warm welcome to the forum from 'Down Under'.

 

You say you're from Texas Longhorn country.  Isaw some of those beasts in far north Queensland a few years ago - they have some pretty serious cutlery!!

 

John

[mtaylor]

Welcome to MSW, Glen.

[Eurus]

Hello Glen, and welcome to the MSW forums!

 

We are in the same boat: I also built my first project and only afterwards I am reporting here how it went. I have lots of pictures, though, and have been documenting everything from memory. Thanks to this exercise I realize now that I learned much more than I initially thought. Maybe the same has happened to you. Overall, it was fun to build but turning the experience into a narrative has helped a lot too.

 

On a side note, your build of the Alabama is fantastic. The ship's history is already interesting, and your pictures make me want to build my own. The Kearsarge will be no match for her!

[allanyed]

Hi Glen

Warm welcome to MSW.  At least you only did one big project before discovering this motley crew.   Most of us had no such source when we did our first build and the second, and third and on and on but here we are, still going after it but with a lot more knowledge being shared by others.

Cheers

Allan  

[Baker]

[Moab]

Glen; welcome aboard...Moab

[Glen McGuire]

On 7/20/2021 at 5:43 PM, Jim Lad said:

You say you're from Texas Longhorn country.  Isaw some of those beasts in far north Queensland a few years ago - they have some pretty serious cutlery!!

 

@Jim Lad Thanks for the welcome note.  I had no idea y'all had longhorns down under.  How cool is that!  You can see one of my longhorn babies (named Sweet Eileen) in my profile picture.  She doesn't have much "cutlery" yet but she's working on it!  

[Glen McGuire]

On 7/20/2021 at 6:02 PM, Eurus said:

We are in the same boat: I also built my first project and only afterwards I am reporting here how it went. I have lots of pictures, though, and have been documenting everything from memory. Thanks to this exercise I realize now that I learned much more than I initially thought. Maybe the same has happened to you. Overall, it was fun to build but turning the experience into a narrative has helped a lot too.

 

On a side note, your build of the Alabama is fantastic. The ship's history is already interesting, and your pictures make me want to build my own. The Kearsarge will be no match for her!

@Eurus Thanks for the welcome note.  I agree with everything you said in the first paragraph above.  It's incredible how much you learn along the way.  And now that I've posted my after-the-fact build log, I'm learning even more from the comments that have come in.

 

I also agree with you about the history of the Alabama.  I read the book, "Wolf of the Deep" by Stephen Fox to learn about the captain and the ship.  A really fascinating read.

[Glen McGuire]

On 7/20/2021 at 7:35 PM, allanyed said:

Most of us had no such source when we did our first build and the second, and third and on and on but here we are, still going after it but with a lot more knowledge being shared by others.

@allanyed Thanks for the welcome note.  You are so right about the information sharing on this site.  It's incredible.  Wish I'd discovered it when I first got started but I know it's going to be a huge help for my next build.

[Glen McGuire]

@Backer

@Moab

@mtaylor

@Keith Black

 

Thank you all for the welcome note!

[Jim Lad]

Glen, Longhorns were imported into Queensland several years ago with the idea of cross breeding them with Brahmans.  The Brahmans can handle the wet conditions in the tropical north, but they're a bit anti-social.  the idea was to cross them with the gentle Longhorns to try and get a calmer beast that can be bred in the tropics.  I've no idea whether the idea worked, but I sure loves seeing those Longhorns!

 

John

 

[Keith Black]

BEVO!

[Eurus]

1 hour ago, Glen McGuire said:

@Eurus Thanks for the welcome note.  I agree with everything you said in the first paragraph above.  It's incredible how much you learn along the way.  And now that I've posted my after-the-fact build log, I'm learning even more from the comments that have come in.

 

I also agree with you about the history of the Alabama.  I read the book, "Wolf of the Deep" by Stephen Fox to learn about the captain and the ship.  A really fascinating read.

 

That book looks really interesting! Thank's for the recommendation. I will definitely add it to my reading list.

[Glen McGuire]

@Jim Lad

 

What a beautiful animal!  Love the coloring. 

[Louie da fly]

Glen, Welcome to MSW.

 

Just looked through your build log. Very impressive.

 

Steven

[Laggard]

Go Sooners!  Jk.  Welcome!  😜

[bruce d]

Hello Glen,

I'm late to the BBQ but ... Welcome to MSW from the UK.

Your Alabama is impressive, looking forard to more.

 

Bruce

[Glen McGuire]

On 8/11/2021 at 1:10 AM, Laggard said:

Go Sooners!  Jk.  Welcome!  😜

 

@Laggard Not only do we lose to OU every year, now we get to lose to Bama every year too!  I think OU will do a lot better in the SEC than we will and I think I'll be building a lot of ships during football season from now on.  ☹️  Regardless, thanks for the welcome!!

Edited August 14, 2021 by Glen McGuire

[Glen McGuire]

On 8/6/2021 at 10:19 PM, Louie da fly said:

Just looked through your build log. Very impressive.

 

@Louie da fly  Thank you, Steven and thanks for the welcome!

[Glen McGuire]

On 8/11/2021 at 3:48 AM, bruce d said:

I'm late to the BBQ but ... Welcome to MSW from the UK.

 

@bruce d Thanks for the welcome, Bruce.  But I gotta tell you, my babies below DO NOT like to hear anyone saying that word BBQ!!!  

[DelF]

Hi Glen, and welcome to MSW.

 

We have a herd of English Longhorns near us. Their horns vary greatly in size and shape, but these are fairly typical:

 

Derek

[Glen McGuire]

@DelF Those are beautiful animals, Derek!  I had no idea there was an English version of longhorns.  The one on the right in your picture has remarkably similar coloring as my Sweet Eileen which is the one on the right in my picture.

[Jim Lad]

Glen, looking at the beast on the right of Derek's image, I doubt that it has a name like 'Sweet Eileen'! 

 

John

[Glen McGuire]

21 minutes ago, Jim Lad said:

I doubt that it has a name like 'Sweet Eileen'! 

@Jim Lad I think you are right!  Maybe Surly Ernie? 

[DelF]

Hi Glen

 

9 hours ago, Glen McGuire said:

I had no idea there was an English version of longhorns

Yes, they're an old breed, originally used as draught animals. This Wikipedia entry gives more information,  explains the differences between the Texas and English Longhorns, and mentions the Thoresby Estate herd which is the one I know. I envy you having your own herd of such beautiful animals.

 

Derek

 

[Glen McGuire]

@DelF Thanks for sending that link about the English Longhorns.  Very interesting info!  I have what they call around here a gentleman's herd - only 4 and they are really pets rather than beef cattle for production.   Sometimes referred to as yard art.