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Photos of My 1/96 Revell C.S.S. Aabama

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  • Member since
    March 2006
Posted by TD4438 on Tuesday, January 25, 2011 9:04 AM

Never in a million years would I have guessed those sails are plastic.Outstanding.

  • Member since
    May 2008
Posted by tucchase on Monday, January 24, 2011 1:43 PM

Phillip1 -  Your technique with the sails looks very effective.  I had a feeling they were plastic knowing that is what Revell liked to use.  But your technique makes them look so much like real cloth in the photos that I couldn't be sure!  Thank you for posting how you accomplished it.  I have added it to my list of Saves for future reference.

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Derry, New Hampshire, USA
Posted by rcboater on Saturday, January 22, 2011 9:33 PM

Billyboy

Gun set is produced by Cottage Industries, see here; http://www.modelshipwrights.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=2681&mode=thread&order=0

I can't see them on the company's website though? http://cottage-industry-models.com/index.htm.

FYI--

I just sent an email using the "contact us" link on the Cottage Industries website-- got back a reply that the gun sets for for Alabama and Kearsarge are available. 

Webmaster, Marine Modelers Club of New England

www.marinemodelers.org

 

  • Member since
    August 2010
  • From: Heart of the Ozarks, Mansfield, MO (AKA, the 3rd world)
Posted by Rich on Saturday, January 22, 2011 6:51 PM

Phillip, it's widely known that the alabama/Kearsarge molds were/are interchangeable. The similarity of those "clipperish" hulls dictated that economy. Further evidence is the differing rake of the masts (you mentioned); very little on the actual Kearsarge, much more marked on the actual Alabama. Your Alabama appears to have the rake of the masts as has the Kearsarge model.

Beautiful job of finishing! 

Rich

Nautical Society of Oregon Model Shipwrights

Portland Model Power Boat Association

  • Member since
    December 2010
Posted by Phillip1 on Saturday, January 22, 2011 10:40 AM

Thanks to everyone for the kind words concerning my model.  It appears there are many CSS Alabama experts on the forum, which is very educational and helpful.  I am not a sailing ship modeler, but still think this Revell kit is the best looking sailing ship model ever made.  Also, having lived my whole life in Alabama and being fascinated with the ship's history helped motivate me into building it. 

tucchase-The sails used are the vacform parts from the kit.  First, I painted them flat white.  This was the only painting done.  Next, medium brown pastel powder was applied with a soft, flat brush on each side.  The flat white paint was added in part so the pastel powder would have something to grab on to.  A very soft t-shirt was used to burnish the pastel powder into the sails.  Doing this should produce a multi-color effect, and also highlight all of the recesses and indentations on the sails.  It is kind of like a reverse dry-brushing technique.  Care was taken to not rub on the parts too hard, since that can damage the white paint or the part itself.  To get a specifc area darker I applied a little more pastel powder to that area.  Once I was happy with the color, each sail was airbrushed with Testors Dullcote (50/50 mixture of Dullcote and thinner).  This was required because buffing the parts produced a semi-gloss finish.  The finished model is protected in a glass display case.

Many people might be aware of this, but there is a great review/comparision article of the Revell Alabama/Kearsarge models by Joel Labow at www.steelnavy.com/alabama&kearsarge.htm.  It appears the Kearsarge kit was modeled after what she looked like when she sank in 1894, which is really different from what she looked like in 1864.  To make the Alabama kit it appears Revell just heavily modified the Kearsarge molds.  I grew up thinking it was the other way around, since the Alabama is a much more well known ship.  But that might be my Alabama state pride getting in the way.  Probably the most ironic thing about the article is the suggestion that if you want to build an 1864 Kearsarge it would be much easier to do it by modiying an Alabama kit than trying it with a Kearsarge kit!

Below are a couple of interesting facts about the CSS Alabama I learned from reading the book "My Two Years on the Alabama".  It was written by a man named Sinclair who was an officer on the ship.

>The ship was manned by Confederate navy officers but alot of the crew were not from the Confederacy.  In fact it was common for sailors of captured ships to become part of the Alabama's crew. 

>The Alabama never seemed to have a full crew compliment of 115 men.  It varied but on average it ranged between 90 to 105, which created more work for the existing crew.

>At the time of its sinking the ship was in terrible mechanical condition.  Its boilers had not been overhauled since it was launched, and the hull below the waterline was in bad shape, making it no match to do battle with the Kearsarge.  According to Sinclair, the day before the battle the ship was cleaned and polished to where it looked brand new, even though it was in very poor condition.  It seems I read that Captin Semmes knew the Alabama was no match for the Kearsarge, but he was determined that the ship would end its career in battle as opposed to being surrendered intact.  I also read that during the battle, after it became clear the Alabama was losing, Semmes attemped to run along side the Kearsarge so the two ships could be lashed together and hand-to-hand combat would determine the winner.  However, the Kearsarge anticipated this and maintained a safe distance.

If I could do it over again I would have gone to the effort to fill in the rectangle openings around the transom, and I would have raked (tilted back) the masts.  These are the only items that really bug me.  However, I have only built two sailing ships and do not plan on building any more.  They are too hard!  Thanks.

Phillip1

  • Member since
    May 2008
Posted by tucchase on Saturday, January 22, 2011 1:15 AM

tigerman

I'm a little confused from the photos on how the pivot guns could fire? They don't appear to have any gun ports and doesn't look as though they could shoot over the side.

Aside from that, I think you did a very good job on her. I admire your bravery for tackling the lines.

If you look closely in front of the small boat hanging off the starboard side there is an elongated gunport there.  There is a matching one on the port side also but it is hard to see against the white background.  The length of the gun carriage allowed the cannon to be rolled to the gunport in order to fire it.  It also allowed the recoil to be buffered more than on a standard carriage.  I believe the Kearsarge mounted two guns in this configuration.

  • Member since
    February 2007
  • From: Brunswick, Ohio
Posted by Buckeye on Friday, January 21, 2011 1:46 PM

Very impressive build!Yes

  • Member since
    November 2009
  • From: SW Virginia
Posted by Gamera on Friday, January 21, 2011 1:35 PM

Wow, that's some beautiful work. I'd love to try something like this but it takes me over six monthes just to finish a 1/48th aircraft. I can imagine how much work you put into her. But @#$# she's one impressive model.

"I dream in fire but work in clay." -Arthur Machen

 

  • Member since
    March 2005
  • From: West Virginia, USA
Posted by mfsob on Friday, January 21, 2011 10:26 AM

Anyone who can make a Revell sailing ship kit look that good deserves a Well Done! The painting is top notch and the rigging is very, very good.

  • Member since
    March 2003
  • From: Rain USA, Vancouver WA
Posted by tigerman on Friday, January 21, 2011 1:22 AM

I'm a little confused from the photos on how the pivot guns could fire? They don't appear to have any gun ports and doesn't look as though they could shoot over the side.

Aside from that, I think you did a very good job on her. I admire your bravery for tackling the lines.

   http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y269/wing_nut_5o/PANZERJAGERGB.jpg

 Eric 

  • Member since
    February 2006
  • From: Boston
Posted by Wilbur Wright on Thursday, January 20, 2011 1:26 PM

It looks good, I give you a lot of credit in getting the ratlines and rigging to attach to the dead-eyes. Very difficult on this model.  I couldn't do it on mine I drilled them out and tied them through. My version is on here somewhere if you search. I still don't have  a case for it.

  • Member since
    September 2005
  • From: Groton, CT
Posted by warshipguy on Thursday, January 20, 2011 10:10 AM

Gentlemen,

I have been working on the Alabama off and on for a year now, modifying the kit as I go.  I replaced the plastic deck with a basswood one, relocated the armament according to deck plans, revised the deck furniture, replaced some of the armament with Bluejacket parts, and raked the masts.  I will check out the aftermarket set you mention.

Thanks!

Bill Morrison

  • Member since
    May 2008
  • From: UK
Posted by Billyboy on Thursday, January 20, 2011 9:01 AM

Gun set is produced by Cottage Industries, see here; http://www.modelshipwrights.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=2681&mode=thread&order=0

I can't see them on the company's website though? http://cottage-industry-models.com/index.htm.

I would wager that if you decided to rectify the guns, you'd feel compelled to change a good deal of the superstructure of the Alabama kit too! Not a good road to go down when you've got a completed model!

I think your Alabama is as good an 'out of the box' model I have ever seen  All I'll say is, if you haven't already, build a display case to protect your model from dust. It certainly deserves to be preserved for a few decades!

nice work.

Will

 

 

  • Member since
    September 2005
  • From: Groton, CT
Posted by warshipguy on Thursday, January 20, 2011 6:48 AM

Publius,

You mention aftermarket products for this kit.  Who manufactures and sells them?

Bill Morrison

  • Member since
    July 2009
Posted by Publius on Thursday, January 20, 2011 2:26 AM

     Photos, I think this model deserves a glass case and a long life. Really great job all around. I may try some of that dry brushing on my Kearsarge to make it look better. There are aftermarket kits around for the CSS Alabama guns too. Maybe a refit? Excellent job. Thanks for the pics, Paul V Thailand/California

How does this work?

  • Member since
    May 2008
Posted by tucchase on Thursday, January 20, 2011 12:50 AM

A very good looking model!  Nice and clean.  I have a question though.  Were the sails included?  They look like cloth.  Your paint scheme may not be correct but I think it looks great!  Very natural.

  • Member since
    March 2007
  • From: Carmel, CA
Posted by bondoman on Thursday, January 20, 2011 12:46 AM

Phil, that's a great job. That is a big kit to tackle. I think your sails look super. Thinking about the Kearsarge? or the Constitution? Nicely done.

  • Member since
    December 2010
Photos of My 1/96 Revell C.S.S. Aabama
Posted by Phillip1 on Wednesday, January 19, 2011 10:26 PM

The C.S.S. Alabama was a Civil War Confederate commerce raider, built by England and manned by Confederate sailors.  From 1862 to 1864 the Alabama was able to destroy or capture 57 merchant ships (and 1 warship) before being sunk by the U.S.S. Kearsage on June 19, 1864. 

I finished this kit in 2000.  It was built straight from the box and I pretty much followed the kit’s instructions concerning painting.  This was the first sailing ship I built, and found working with the rigging much harder than I thought it would be.  It is a beautiful model, but a great deal of sanding and parts clean up was required due to the kit’s age.  Based on Andrew Bowcock’s 2002 book “Anatomy of a Confederate raider”, just about everything on the deck should have been painted black (lifeboats, cannons, etc.) instead of the colors given in the kit instructions.  Enjoy the photos!

Phillip1

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