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Revell 1/96 USS Kearsarge

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  • Member since
    April 2016
Posted by RacerToo on Saturday, May 22, 2021 4:37 PM

Not a big problem but Cottage also placed the cannon barrel gunsight in the wrong place. Still more work to be done to these including the rigging I'm dreading.  cannon 1a by steve hawley, on Flickr" alt="" />  cannon 1 by steve hawley, on Flickr" alt="" />

  • Member since
    December 2010
  • From: Salem, Oregon
Posted by 1943Mike on Sunday, May 23, 2021 1:23 PM

Steve,

You've nudged me to change my mind about aftermarket cannons. I just ordered the post war version of the Kearsarge cannons from Cottage Industry Models. I hadn't realized until this morning that they also made that post war set.

I'll probably not do much to modify them as I'm not versed on military ordnance whether from the present or the 19th century but they sure look the part to this modeler.

Thaniks for the posts!

It relieves my mind to know I'll at least have some guns aboard that could have represented the era of my build better than the ones in the kit.

Mike

"Le temps est un grand maître, mais malheureusement, il tue tous ses élèves."

Hector Berlioz

  • Member since
    April 2016
Posted by RacerToo on Sunday, May 23, 2021 5:23 PM

Mike. Its nice to have Cottage as an alternative. Expect to throw away 80% of the Cottage parts:)

  • Member since
    November 2005
  • From: Formerly Bryan, now Arlington, Texas
Posted by CapnMac82 on Sunday, May 23, 2021 6:34 PM

1943Mike
as I'm not versed on military ordnance whether from the present or the 19th century but they sure look the part to this modeler.

About 1850, the "bottle shape" barrel shape became the "thing."  That, and the Armstrong "wedding cake" patterns with hard steps between the barrel diameters.  So, really, the shapes all wound up all about the same.

The carraiges changed about the same time, an adaptation of carronade-style carraiges.  They keyed to a deck pivot of one sort, and had trucks not for recoil control, but for train (horiszontal plane rotation).  Recoil was handled using the slide of the upper carriage on the base.

This kind of encompassed several changes.  One was much larger guns, so fewer were needed/wanted.  Also that such weight was wanted closer to the centerline for stability, and from how the thinking about broadsides had changed in the brief time of sidewheelers.

About the only time you needed to bring a gun (and many were being rifled, too) was to improve train angles, and those were for the "secondary" sized weapons where weight at the rail was not a huge stability issue.  Steam allowed something not seen before--manoverability.  It mattered less that you only had a 15º arc trhough the rigging for your 100# gun, because you could steer that arc onto your enemy.  (While on that attack vector, you could bring your "mere" 32 & 48 pounders to bear from the rails.)

We don't have a ton of documentation of a bunch of this.  The pivot muzzle loaders were eclipsed by rifled ML in something like two decades.  And breach-loading rifles eclipsed them both perhaps a decade later.

So, did they use a Gun Tackle (3 part) in 1860 and a Double Gun tackle (5 part) in 1880?  Lots of argument on that.  Dry, academic argument, often plucking phrases out of dusty of tomes & reports.  Scant few photographs, sadly.

So, ar the guns lashed to their pviots when stowed?  What tackles were used when in Action?  The recoil return tackls is usually 5 part along the side of the recoiling slides.

So, the Revell kit is not bad.  5 part tackle at 1/96 is never simple.  The aftermarket stuff can be good.  Cottage looks better than, say some of the white-metal offerings.

Your Mileage May Vary

  • Member since
    December 2010
  • From: Salem, Oregon
Posted by 1943Mike on Sunday, May 23, 2021 7:52 PM

Steve,

Why would I be throwing away so much?

 

Mike

"Le temps est un grand maître, mais malheureusement, il tue tous ses élèves."

Hector Berlioz

  • Member since
    December 2010
  • From: Salem, Oregon
Posted by 1943Mike on Sunday, May 23, 2021 7:59 PM

CapnMac82,

As usual you've given me an education in 3 minutes!

The gist of your post makes me feel that I'll not be far off by using some of the Cottage Industry Models'  parts when I get them.

Mike

"Le temps est un grand maître, mais malheureusement, il tue tous ses élèves."

Hector Berlioz

  • Member since
    April 2016
Posted by RacerToo on Sunday, May 23, 2021 9:28 PM

Mike. You may not be throwing away 80% like I did. I just found their white metal castings more trouble than they're worth. The cannon cradle journal is impossible to fit without hours of tedious work and the thin white metal levers bend while trying to clean up a seam, never to be totally straight again. And many of the eyelets have holes off centered. But even with all of that, its better to have the Cottage parts than not. But as CaptMac said "Your Mileage May Vary":)  Screen Shot 2021-05-23 at 10.10.11 PM by steve hawley, on Flickr" alt="" />

  • Member since
    December 2010
  • From: Salem, Oregon
Posted by 1943Mike on Monday, May 24, 2021 12:53 AM

OK Steve, now I understand.

Mike

"Le temps est un grand maître, mais malheureusement, il tue tous ses élèves."

Hector Berlioz

  • Member since
    November 2005
  • From: Formerly Bryan, now Arlington, Texas
Posted by CapnMac82 on Monday, May 24, 2021 6:43 PM

1943Mike
OK Steve, now I understand.

The Revell stuff will have a prominent seam line and some clunkiness with the carriage.

The Blueacket offereings also will have a seam line, and dthe carriage is a bit plain.

Now, from period photos, the carraiges are dark, near ebony, or painted black, or the like.

The Cottage ones will, with effort, turn out nice.

Then, the question turns into how much detail do you need to see if it's all going to e covered with the breech tackle lines and the like.  Or skip the tackles to show off a very bare gun.

These are the choices modelers face.

  • Member since
    December 2010
  • From: Salem, Oregon
Posted by 1943Mike on Thursday, May 27, 2021 1:14 PM

Small update. I've applied the Scaledecks wood decks. I could not get them to line up with all the openings perfectly but, with my usual ham-handedness, I'll manage anyway. I thought I'd taken enough time to line everything up but, with my lack of skills they don't. Part of the problem was probably my attempting to "seal" them with water based matte varnish. Live and learn Smile.

I must say I like the look of these decks even if they're not really representative of how the actual decks looked. They are just fine for me.

The Scaledecks package provides PE sweeps. I had some "Blacken it" left over from several years ago and used it. It took about 20 minutes to get what you see. I think the acid has weakened over the years. Anyway I like the varied finish I got. YMMV.

I should be getting my ordnance from eBay (Cottage Industries cannons, truck carriage, etc.) today. I'm looking forward to putting them together.

 

 

Mike

"Le temps est un grand maître, mais malheureusement, il tue tous ses élèves."

Hector Berlioz

  • Member since
    July 2013
Posted by steve5 on Thursday, May 27, 2021 3:42 PM

nice start mike , the sweeps actually have a nice worn look about them .

 

  • Member since
    April 2016
Posted by RacerToo on Thursday, May 27, 2021 5:06 PM

I was gonna say the same thing. The tracks look very convincing.

  • Member since
    December 2010
  • From: Salem, Oregon
Posted by 1943Mike on Thursday, May 27, 2021 5:29 PM

Steve & Steve,

Thanks.

I'm hoping to get to the Cottage Industries stuff I just picked up from my mailbox but first I have some chores to do.

I am sure, having just given a cursory look to the contents of the box, that I'll not be as precise as RacerToo (Steve) in my using the carriages within. I'll just use them as they are. My skill set precludes my doing the kind of scratch building demonstrated by RacerToo - so does my patience boiler (gets dangerously close to exploding when I've bitten off more than I can chew). I'll reserve judgement regarding the metal parts in the kit until I've looked at them more closely. 

To be continued ................

Mike

"Le temps est un grand maître, mais malheureusement, il tue tous ses élèves."

Hector Berlioz

  • Member since
    July 2015
Posted by MR TOM SCHRY on Thursday, May 27, 2021 9:19 PM

Amazing work Mike!  Your basic construction and attenion to detail is award winning work.

The CSS Alabama and the USS Kearasarge are two kits on my "wish" list.  Your Cutty Sark  also looks great.  I presently have Revell's Cutty Sark and USS Consrtitution in my stash, on my to build list now that I'm retired. I completed Revell's 1/96 English Man O War several years ago so I'm ready for another challenge.  In the meantime, I'll be following your build closely!

TJS

  • Member since
    September 2012
Posted by GMorrison on Friday, May 28, 2021 12:21 AM

You  know there's a whole debate about how the Revell Alabama makes a more accurate Kearsarge etc.?

Look on Shipmodelforum.

Nice work here.

 

Bill

 Modeling is an excuse to buy books.

 

  • Member since
    December 2010
  • From: Salem, Oregon
Posted by 1943Mike on Friday, May 28, 2021 11:49 AM

Tom,

Thanks for the overly generous compliment.

In fact I try to hide most of my sloppy work and build errors when I photograph the model for posting online. That having been gotten out of the way, I do like ship models so I'm going to attempt this build, warts and all, to the finish.

Mike

"Le temps est un grand maître, mais malheureusement, il tue tous ses élèves."

Hector Berlioz

  • Member since
    December 2010
  • From: Salem, Oregon
Posted by 1943Mike on Friday, May 28, 2021 12:03 PM

Bill,

I've not read that specific debate but am aware that there's controversy regarding which kit is more accurate. Do you have a link to that specific thread?

Since I determined a long time ago I was not going to modify the hull (freeboard) of the Kearsarge to represent her during the Civil War I thought I'd be OK just building the kit as she looked (more or less) in the post war era of her life. That gives me some leeway. It also presents the problems concerning her rigging - at some points after the war she was ship rigged, at others ketch rigged, etc. In fact - I don't really care if what I put together is a combination of different eras during her post war service.

I'm simply going to enjoy the process and hopefully have another ship model to display in my little condo.

Mike

"Le temps est un grand maître, mais malheureusement, il tue tous ses élèves."

Hector Berlioz

  • Member since
    November 2005
  • From: Formerly Bryan, now Arlington, Texas
Posted by CapnMac82 on Friday, May 28, 2021 3:11 PM

1943Mike
I'm simply going to enjoy the process

Well, I'm enjoying it, too.

  • Member since
    December 2010
  • From: Salem, Oregon
Posted by 1943Mike on Monday, May 31, 2021 9:43 AM

Bill,

Do you have pictures? (RE: your Kearsarge)

"I have completed all of my work on modifying the Revell kit to closely match the drawings in the Bowcock kit, including using the Scale Decks wood deck and pivot gun rails, surgically altering or scratch building various deck furniture, using the set of guns by Cottage, adding crosstrees to the head, planking over the false windows at the stern, and have cut wedges out of the mounting stubs to the masts to provide an 8 degree rake. I have also opened and relocated gun ports and scuppers to reflect Bowcock. I believe that I will ultimately have a close approximation of this historic ship!

Bill"

Mike

"Le temps est un grand maître, mais malheureusement, il tue tous ses élèves."

Hector Berlioz

  • Member since
    December 2010
  • From: Salem, Oregon
Posted by 1943Mike on Friday, July 2, 2021 1:06 PM

Small update:

I've not been working on modeling much ... weather was (until the 119° on Monday at McNary Field - our local airport) really nice so I've been mostly outdoors walking in the park.

Also, what few modeling skills I had at one time seem to have gone the way of the Dodo. I'm having problems with fine detail - just can't hold brush steady; getting glue all over the place; etc., etc. Nonetheless, I've managed to put together some of the Cottage industries cannon as well as complete the Kearsarge boats using their wood decks for same.

Kind of sloppy - some touch up work to be done for sure - but here's the latest:

forward cannon

Mike

"Le temps est un grand maître, mais malheureusement, il tue tous ses élèves."

Hector Berlioz

  • Member since
    April 2016
Posted by RacerToo on Saturday, July 3, 2021 3:31 PM

Looks great, Mike! Keep 'plugging along'. You have another winner.

  • Member since
    December 2010
  • From: Salem, Oregon
Posted by 1943Mike on Thursday, September 16, 2021 6:59 PM

OK, I apologize for taking so long between updates.

I suppose it's that, when I'm feeling well and the weather is cooperative, I just forget about what's on my "bench". Under those circumstances I'm usually outside enjoying my predilection for nature and landscape photography along with easy to moderate day hiking.

Lately I've tried to get back into working on the model ... I do enjoy that time ... but, alas, my normally sloppy technique has erroded to nearly unacceptable to me. And that is saying a lot since I put up with my sloppiness more than I should.

However, I am pushing on.

Here's what she looks like with most of the bits and pieces of deck furniture and hardware on the main deck complete.

The difference in color between the aft section and the rest of the deck is due to the difference in color temperature between the two LED lamps I used to light her for this quick update.

Note:

A) I mixed using the supplied, white padeyes and some brass eyebolts I had on hand.

B) I broke a couple of ram rods so I made my own with brass rod and Tamiya tape. I used the brass eyebolts I had on hand to secure them to the inside of the bulwarks (if that's the correct description?).

C) I destroyed one of the pinrails. I made another from styrene but could only find some brass belaying pins that were a bit too large. It does show if you're comparing them. I'm not too broken up about it ... I wish I'd had enough of the larger, brass ones to replace all the belaying pins - I just think they look nicer. Thinking back on what I've done I feel it would have served the model better to just have use some brass rod of the proper scale and painted them black before installing them as I did with the larger, out of scale pins.

I will be working on the forecastle deck next.

Before I get to the ship's boats and davits I'll have to think about attachment points for the standing and running rigging. I can see myself getting into lots of trouble without some forethought on that subject.

 

 

 

Mike

"Le temps est un grand maître, mais malheureusement, il tue tous ses élèves."

Hector Berlioz

  • Member since
    December 2010
  • From: Salem, Oregon
Posted by 1943Mike on Saturday, November 27, 2021 1:09 PM

OK, another small update.

Here you can see just how much I'm screwing up. I'm at the 3 steps forward, one step back stage. It seems like I break a part every 3rd or 4th attempt to attach it. I'm also unhappy that I no longer can control the shaking of my hand and fingers when attempting to do some tasks that require delicacy. However, it is what it is.

I usually notice errors and omissions when I post pictures and today is no different. I forgot to paint the molded in lanyards on the mast tops. I'll take care of that soon. I still need to figure out how to rig the futtock shrouds ... they're not part of the rigging diagram supplied by Revell but they were most certainly there.

I've rigged some shrouds for the foremast and will start the ratlines when I'm done rigging the mainmast shrouds.

Note the Tamiya tape on the ends of the rope for the ship's boats. It's there just to keep the line from coming out of the those @$%# tiny openings in the davits. The boats will be attached near the end of the build.

For neat, fine detailed work wait for Racer Too's next post on his build. He's doing what I can't do - fine, detailed work with some scratch building. Way above my pay grade.

At any rate this build gives me some enjoyment on rainy days where I'm not in the mood to go to the gym.

One major mistake may be how I rigged the opening for the large guns on the starboard side.  I did it based on the Revell instructions. It looks like the cannon would blow the lines out that are holding the doors ... I'll just have to let that one go unless someone can tell me why it might be correct?

 

 

 

Mike

"Le temps est un grand maître, mais malheureusement, il tue tous ses élèves."

Hector Berlioz

  • Member since
    March 2018
  • From: Chicago suburbs
Posted by Luvspinball on Saturday, November 27, 2021 3:48 PM

Lower doors on guns only had a rope to pull it up which just hung down when door was open.  Close lower door, then upper.  Upper keeps the lower door in place when closed.

At least that is the normal way they were done from my experience.

Bob

Bob Frysztak

Luvspinball

Current builds:  Revell 1/96 USS Constitution with extensive scratch building

  • Member since
    December 2010
  • From: Salem, Oregon
Posted by 1943Mike on Saturday, November 27, 2021 4:26 PM

Bob,

Thanks for that. I'm familiar with that from having built the USS Constitution about 10 years ago.

On this ship (not sure if you can make it out from what I posted) there are two types of openings for the guns. The smaller cannon have two doors as you describe and with which I'm aquainted from other ship models. The larger cannon however have just one large door each. The instructions clearly show how it's rigged. It just doesn't make any sense to me.

Here are the instructions - see page 14, number 43:

https://www.scalemates.com/products/img/4/7/7/103477-85-instructions.pdf

Maybe they altered the door rigging when getting ready for a battle?

Mike

"Le temps est un grand maître, mais malheureusement, il tue tous ses élèves."

Hector Berlioz

  • Member since
    July 2006
Posted by Michael D. on Tuesday, November 30, 2021 2:35 PM

Hi Mike,

Looking great so farYes, as far as the large gun doors maybe It's as simple as maneuvering the gun barrel between the ropes?.

Michael D.

 

  • Member since
    December 2010
  • From: Salem, Oregon
Posted by 1943Mike on Monday, December 6, 2021 1:10 PM

Michael,

That's what I was hoping it was.

Note to all regarding this thread:

Last week I had a couple of small strokes. Went blind in right eye for a few minutes the first time, lasted about 2-3 minutes, then all my vision returned.

My regular doctor (after I'd seen my optomitrist) recommended I get to an emergency room to have some tests done. I went and was given ultra sound, an MRI, and a CT Scan. Tests showed I'd had strokes in my brain and, perhaps, directly in my retina. I was admitted overnight (Friday), given another ultra sound, and saw my surgeon (Saturday). He said I should be scheduled for surgery within the next week to two weeks.

So, don't expect much from me for a short while. The surgery won't take too much recovery time - he told me usually his patients can leave the hospital after a night or two.

For the moment I'm just fine. No pain, no problems with my vision. So no real excuse not to keep on working on the Kearsarge ... I just don't have much motivation as of the moment. After my surgeon reams out my right carotid artery (70% blocked) and I'm home after the surgery, I'll no doubt get my motivation back.

Meantime it's life as usual.

Mike

"Le temps est un grand maître, mais malheureusement, il tue tous ses élèves."

Hector Berlioz

fox
  • Member since
    January 2007
  • From: Narvon, Pa.
Posted by fox on Monday, December 6, 2021 1:52 PM

Hi Mike! Great work on the Kearsarge! Toast

We'll send some prayers for you to the man upstairs that all goes well.

Jim Captain

Stay Safe.

 Main WIP: 

   On the Bench: Artesania Latina  (aka) Artists in the Latrine 1/75 Bluenose II

I keep hitting "escape", but I'm still here.

  • Member since
    August 2021
Posted by goldhammer88 on Monday, December 6, 2021 3:42 PM

Best wishes on the short stay in the hospital.  Will keep you in my thoughts.

  • Member since
    December 2010
  • From: Salem, Oregon
Posted by 1943Mike on Monday, December 6, 2021 4:38 PM

fox and goldhammer88,

Thanks for the kind wishes.

I'm sure the operation will go as expected. My surgeon is 1st class. I'm just anxious to get it over with.

I'm hoping that Michael D's thoughts regarding the lines holding up the large gun ports is correct. It did take me a little while to rig both of those ports in the manner that is shown in the instructions and I'd hate to tear it all out and rerig them.

My shakey hands are certainly not what they were even 9 or 10 years ago so I'm wondering how I'll manage with tying the ratlines with clove hitches - we'll see.

Mike

"Le temps est un grand maître, mais malheureusement, il tue tous ses élèves."

Hector Berlioz

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