Suggestion for Ironclad fans

Very interesting idea! Particularly since Heller produce a 1/150 kit of the same ship - although the 1/350 kit would be a lot more practical, however, as so much would need to be scratchbuilt or modified, and the larger the scale, the more details are needed and the more reference material is necessary - in 1/350 you could get away with fairly simplified guns and deck fittings, possibly modified from the kit parts or those in another kit. If I see a cheap second-hand 1/350 Vespucci (they're quite common on eBay) I might try this myself.

I built the "kitbashed" 1/700 HMS Warrior you mentioned, last year - I'm currently working on a much larger model of the Warrior, in 1/150 scale, based on a heavily modified lower hull from a kit with everything else scratchbuilt. It's looking quite good so far - I'm currently working on the lower masts and the bulwarks for the main deck. A hull-line purist would be aghast, but to my eye it already looks a lot more like the Warrior than my 1/700 model (which is much too wide and too boxy).

EP, here is the webpage where I've found the profile and deckplan:

http://digilander.libero.it/carandin/reditalia.htm

As it's seen, the deck is practically empty except the smokestack. I have the 1/350 Vespucci kit and as of my observation, its conversion is a moderate though straightforward process. the portholes and engraved lines are to be wiped out with putty first. The bow and the middle part of the upper bulwark pose the two major problems. Vespucci's bulwarks are cut out in the middle to show a different-height profile on the fore and aftercastles; Re d'Italia has a single level upper deck and and an unbroken bulwark. As for the bow, that of Vespucci is an elegant long snout while that of Re d'Italia is a short and blunt one. Frankly, I don't have clear idea about how to cure this for now. The Imai/Revell kit has its middle deck integrated to the upper hull; this, also, must be eradicated. When the windjammer's hull is turned to that of the ironclad, a new deck shall be cut out from wood grain detailed evergreen and the ship may be completed with the placement of its boats, funnel, masts and rigging.

EP, if you decide to try this project; let's keep in touch.