CSS Alabama/ Kearsarge Revell

[Capt Mongo]

The Kearsarge was the first kit released.  It is actually based on the 1883 refit of the original vesel, so it isn't even the one that was involved in the action off Cherbourg.  The CSS Alabama kit was released with the same hull and deck and new upperworks inserted to be the Alabama.  There's many differences; the Alabama had different tracks and locations for the Parrot guns and the hull was 8-12 feet longer, among other things.

Why did Revell do it that way?  $$$$  Money.  Injection molds are HUGELY expensive and to make a dedicated one with comparatively little difference wasn't worth it.  Just like the Thermoplaye kit is the same as the Cutty Sark  with a couple added details.  They're in business to make money, not necessarily to be historically accurate.  If you want greater historic accuracy, the modeler has to fix it.

 

[Petecycles1]

As the Cutty Sark/Thermopylae issue has been mentioned, I’m just doing a heavily modified Cutty Sark, but just found the Thermopylae in perfect condition at a good price. When I opened it, I compared the hull to a set of plans I have in 1/96 taken from the original builders offsets, and it comes up over an inch short, so ten to twelve feet in real life. That said, it’s going to get a major rework with new stern and counter, new decks without the hatch, correct length quater deck, re spaced masts etc. it’ll be fun!