Model Ship Builder Ironclads

Celestino wrote:

I have a hard copy of that issue. Will find the article and advise contents

I would much appreciate it.  Thanks.  The usual plans sources (Taubman, Maryland Silver, etc.) aren't turning up any hits on the Essex.  Probably because she was rebuilt so many times.

Gerarddm wrote:

If you want to build any of the Civil War ironclads I can recommend historian Donald L. Canney's definitive "The Old Steam Navy: The Ironclads, 1842-1885".

I've been looking for that book for some time now.  Vol. 1 can be found for a decent price, but right now I can only find one copy of Vol. 2 on line at well over $200.  I'll just have to wait a little longer I guess!

-Devin

Ron Smith wrote:

There's a slew of stuff on ironclads at the DC Acrhives and maybe some at College Park in RG-19 BSE or dash plan series. Smithsonian may also have something.

I had the chance to walk through the backroom stacks at Archives II in College Park.   The fellow who pulls the requests wanted to show me the magnitude of my request.   He pointed out all the rolls of drawings from the 19th century which they have, many piled upon the cabinets.   He told me that there are many cases where they are not allowing them to be brought out for use or display.  They are so fragile that many shatter when touched.   He said they are waiting for the day when consevation methods (and $$) are available to permenantly conserve them.   Ultimately these paper plans may be lost forever if they are not conserved soon

What was neat was rolling out late 19th or early 20th century plans drawn on linen.   The draftmanship was impecible.   While the background was gray - the plans were clear and readable.

Jeff Herne wrote:

Flagship Models just picked up the old Lone Star line of ironclads and is re-working them and re-issuing them.

I've been watching and waiting for those.  I have an old copy of the USS Cairo that is ROUGH (so rough that I've bought grooved styrene so I can re-sheet the casement), so it'll be interesting to see how the new incarnations turn out.

My issue with these kits, and now the Verlinden ones -- which are magnificent by the way -- is that they always seem to concentrate on the Confederate ships.  I'm a Union man and like the looks of those ships, particuarly the riverine ironclads, a lot better.  Besides, the shapes are straight forward enough on most of them that if I have good drawings, I'd like to do some scratch building.

Ron Smith wrote:

There's a slew of stuff on ironclads at the DC Acrhives and maybe some at College Park in RG-19 BSE or dash plan series. Smithsonian may also have something.

Interesting.  I'll shoot you an email soon and see if we can work something out.  Maybe even a tour.  I'm taking a week off in March or April and don't know where to spend it, maybe a Gettysburg, D.C., Norfolk trip is in order.

-Devin

Jeff Herne wrote:

Just some news: Flagship Models just picked up the old Lone Star line of ironclads and is re-working them and re-issuing them. From what I can see, they look great. I have Chicora coming this week, and Tennesee and maybe a Richmond after that. They look to be nice builds that won't take me 300 hours (like some of these other projects). Check it out: www.flagshipmodels.com Jeff

Would make a great review and maybe spark some interest. Hint, hint. 

I have the MSB issue in front of me. Both models are 1/240 scale. Essex plans provide by Canney'sOld Steam Navy, Vol2. Smithsonian and Navy Historical Center provided outboard and deck plans of Benton. Builder, Mr. Edward Parent, had five photos of Essex, three of Bentons. He preferred photos to plans for accuracy.

Article spans pp4-11. There are twenty photographs of the models being built or built or fittings. Text deals with detail differences of the two and some construction notes. One partial cross-section detail as interpreted by the builder of the models. No plans are reproduced.

That is it.

You can purchase all of the old Model Ship Builders issues on CD from Seaways folks. Also, obtain off of the Ships in Scale back issues there.

MSB did not have the best B&W photo reproduction. Tend to be dark which obscures detail Paper quality is much less than FSM,

Thank you for the info.  Looks like I'm still going to have to wait for the "Old Steam Navy: Vol 2" to become affordable and talk with those that have access to plans.  Buying the MSB issues on CD is something I've considered, but right now buying the set is a little beyond my means.

Thanks again,

Devin

devinj wrote:

Interesting.  I'll shoot you an email soon and see if we can work something out.  Maybe even a tour.  I'm taking a week off in March or April and don't know where to spend it, maybe a Gettysburg, D.C., Norfolk trip is in order. -Devin