Revell CSS Alabama

Cottage Industry Models (www.cottageindustrymodels.com) makes  BEAUTIFUL resin and metal

Naval Artillery kits for both the Alabama and the Kearsarge.  Then, at least the armament is correct...

All the best

Ray

Hello Phil, my sincerest apologies.  I looked more into it and the bug didn't come from you after all.  I've emailed you all I have on the Alabama. Hope it helps!

Mike,

I tried the wood deck with good results, including inlaying into the deck HO scale railroad tracks for the two centerline guns.  I also raked the masts according to diagrams and photos I recovered online. Additionally, I replaced the armament with Bluejacket parts and positioned each gun correctly, and I plugged those stern openings. But, it still wasn't the Alabama.

We have discussed this issue many times on the Forum. It is a shame that manufacturers perpetrate this scam on consumers. As the old saying goes, let the consumer beware.

Bill

Bill:

Picky, picky.  They did (hopefully) get the name right... This is just one of those kits that is such an embarrassment that it makes you wonder why they even bothered to produce it, they were obviously not bothered by the lack of accuracy.

I also have an older version of the Alabama kit, and while it is not accurate, it can build into a nice model.  At the least, I'll blank off the openings in the stern and use the correct armament (the armament in the kit is not even right for the U.S.S. Kearsarge in 1864).  The most discouraging aspect of the build is dealing with the three-piece main deck which has defied most efforts to hide the seams between the sections.  I think one modeler substituted a one-piece wood deck with good results.

Regards,

Mike

The ship's doctor also wrote an interesting account that has been published by the Naval Institute Press. I forget it's name.  

But, I feel about the Revell kit as John Tilley feels about Le Soleil Royal, although we do have historic records of what the Alabama looked like. The Revell kit bears little resemblance to the real ship. The masts are raked incorrectly, the armament is incorrect, the deck furniture is inaccurate, and the hull is shaped incorrectly. The openings at the stern did not exist, either.  I ended up throwing mine away and I am waiting for Bluejackets release next year.

Bill

my computer just caught a bug from ur email.  why is that?  

Hi, my name is Phil and the moderator sent me in your direction.  I too need the instructions for the CSS Alabama.  Wondering if you could also help me.  pmichener1954@roadrunner.com

No. It is Memoirs of Service Afloat by Raphael Semmes.

I have a book named CSS Alabama  Shark of the Confederacy.  It reads like a log of the ship's voyages. Really interesting reading about the ship's history and crew. This may be the book that Don was referring to in an earlier post.

Memories of Service Afloat.

I have two copies.

Instructions and guides sent

If you are building that kit, you might be interested in a great book.  Forget the exact name, but it was basically a memoir written by Rapheal Semmes, the captain of the Alabama, written soon after the war ended.  He had no use for Lincoln or the North.  Kind of extreme views, but the book is well worth reading for the adventures of the ship during the war.  A google search on book, CSS Alabama, and Semmes would be a good start.

Yes, if  you don't mind, that would be great!  I'll need the rigging and ratline guides if you have them..if not, that's fine too.  My email is nbaxt000@hotmail.com.  Thanks a million!!

If nobody else has them i can scan my copy and email them to you...