SEARCH FINESCALE.COM

Enter keywords or a search phrase below:

CSS Alabama Questions

867 views
5 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    January 2006
CSS Alabama Questions
Posted by cytorg on Wednesday, January 16, 2008 1:36 PM

I've recently started the Alabama and discovered that they did not mold the opening above the rudder for the hoist for the propellor.  Not only that but the space between rudder and stern is not large enough for the guides so I'm just gluing the hoist in place.  I've also noticed the fit for the mast halfs are off so I've had to do a lot of trimming and sanding there.

Has anyone found any other problems with the model?

Also, are there any suggestions for making and placing of the hammock netting on top of the bullwarks, top side of hull.  I see the rumpled canvas laying on top from the photos in the Alabama book.

 

Any other tips/photo's or suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

  • Member since
    May 2003
  • From: Greenville, NC
Posted by jtilley on Wednesday, January 16, 2008 6:24 PM

We've had several interesting discussions about this kit.  Here's a link to one:  /forums/686355/ShowPost.aspx

Near the end of that thread is a post I wrote regarding the instructions now being sold with the kit (and available for download on the Revell Germany website).  They're awful.  I suggest taking a look at that particular post - though I'm afraid it's rather discouraging.

Good luck.

Youth, talent, hard work, and enthusiasm are no match for old age and treachery.

  • Member since
    January 2006
Posted by cytorg on Wednesday, January 16, 2008 11:28 PM

I see some of that now for the rigging of ratlines.  I'll be making my own from scratch so I'll look at this.  As far as the rigging, I usually chunk the instructions these days and instead use rigging books/manuals and just plain common sense anymore.  My main reference is Andrew Bowcocks book and the photographs. 

Any Ideas on the hammock netting?  The Laird model just shows them balled up, no cover.  I guess uneven putty could work with canvas over top.

  • Member since
    January 2008
  • From: new york
Posted by 96th BG 338th SQ on Saturday, January 19, 2008 9:46 AM

  Hello cytorg

  About 3-4 years ago i was living about 14 miles from savannah GA. and, on the Savannah river near that city marine archeaologists were excavating the wreck of what i heard was the CSS Alabama. I'd pass by the project every day on my way to work. I don't know, but theres probably some kind of web site about the dig. Maybe some good info.

       regards,  Wiliiam

Why does the cat glare at me?
  • Member since
    May 2003
  • From: Greenville, NC
Posted by jtilley on Saturday, January 19, 2008 10:15 AM

I'm pretty sure the wreck near Savannah is a Confederate ironclad ram.  (My senile brain is unable to remember which one; a quick web search just established that quite a few Confederate warships were scuttled and/or burned when the Union forces arrived at Savannah.) 

The Alabama was sunk by the U.S.S. Kearsarge in the English Channel off Cherbourg, France.  The wreck was located in the late '80s; the maritime history program at the university where I work has been involved in the ongoing effort to find and bring up artifacts from it.  So far the most impressive find is a Blakely pivot gun - loaded with a shell that the French explosives experts disarmed.  I haven't heard anything about the project in a couple of years, but I have the impression that plans are afoot for the divers to go down again in the not-too-distant future.

A Yahoo search on "C.S.S. Alabama"  turned up some interesting links related to the exploration of the wreck.  Here's one of them:  http://www.css-alabama.com/

Youth, talent, hard work, and enthusiasm are no match for old age and treachery.

  • Member since
    January 2008
  • From: new york
Posted by 96th BG 338th SQ on Saturday, January 19, 2008 11:08 AM

  Hey Jtilly

  Thanks for the history lesson. Alabama died along way from home...Whew!

  I was always rubernecking at the dive site near Savannah.

  Thanks   William

Why does the cat glare at me?
JOIN OUR COMMUNITY!

Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.

SEARCH FORUMS
FREE NEWSLETTER
By signing up you may also receive reader surveys and occasional special offers. We do not sell, rent or trade our email lists. View our Privacy Policy.