The Ship Model Forum

As for rigging threwad, I can recommend "CIM-Rope":

http://www.cottage-industry-models.com/Accessories.htm

A tad on the expensive side, admittedly, but it looks next to fantastic.

One minor warning about the kit (which you probably know anyway, as you have the Bowcock book) - it's more a general approximation than a true replica, being essentially a Kearsarge with some modifications. I'd consider scratchbuilding the main guns, as they are so prominent features.

Jorit

If I were to build it the first thing I would throw away would be the rigging thread. Good thread can be found by going to the Model Expo site or checking on some of the other manufacturers like Billings Boats. As for the spanker gaff, you could either make a new one out of Evergreen Plastic or get a tapered one out of wood from one of the sites above. The lifeboat davits should be available through one of the model ship suppliers in metal or you could scratchbuild your own.

I would suggest that you look up the sailing ship sites on the net. Also you might buy a copy of [i]Ships in Scale[/i] magazine. It's primarily for wood kit builders and has advertisements for suppliers. You also might go to [url]modelindex.com[/url] . It is a site divided into links to modeling sites, categorized by type (AC, Armor, Ships, etc.) Finally, I would highly recommend Les Wilkin's book on building plastic scale model sailing ships. It has a lot of tips in it. You can probably find a copy on ABE Books website.

Hope this helps.

Hello,


I am presently building the Revell 1/96 scale model of the CSS Alabama, and have a couple of concerns. This is my first attempt at a sailing ship with thread for rigging; but even at 52 yrs. old, I decided to try, since I built many models in the past. Can anyone who has built this model tell me whether there is plenty of the tan thread, and plenty of the black thread? I've been very careful not to waste any, and though I have only used thread on the 2 larger guns, so far, I am already wondering about whether I should buy more, and where to get it. Also, I'd like to locate a source for a replacement for the spanker gaff (part 160), which is curved (might have to heat and straighten); and a dingy davit (part 84), as one is broken.
There are discrepancies on advised colors for many parts, if you compare box art, box model pictures, and the instructions; so I have done a lot of research, using the internet, the book CSS Alabama - Anatomy of a Confederate Raider, and the book Shark of the Confederacy. Apparently, when the ship first sailed, the masts were "bright", which I found means not painted, but varnished with several coats. Also, the boats were described as black. These details are agreed upon by both of the above books, but who knows...this could have changed over the next two years. If anyone would like further ideas on colors, just ask... I'm painting everything! "Gun Metal" for the guns, "Rubber" for black painted wood, etc. CaptKangaroo

Hello,

I just purchased the book, "CSS Alabama, Anatomy of a Conferate Raider" by Andrew Bowcock. I haven't read it all yet but the book does have deck plans, profiles, and detail drawings of guns, rigging etc. The drawings are not anywhere as numerous as the Conway Anatomy of a Ship series but along with the detail photos of the 2 builders models of the Alabama, provide enough detail that I think one could build a reasonable replica of the ship. The book was about $50USD at Amazon.com including shipping.

Could someone familiar with USS [i]Kearsarge[/i] and the battle with CSS [i]Alabama[/i] please answer my question in the History section?

Thanks!!

IMHO, Joel Labow's review of both Revell kits on the "other" site is very well researched and helpful :
http://www.steelnavy.com/Alabama&Kearsarge.htm

An excerpt:
"The [b]Revell Kearsarge[/b] was truly one of the most carefully researched styrene models of its day and with her quarterdeck and conning platform restored could easily serve as the basis for an extremely accurate model of this famous warship at the end of her career. Unfortunately, the modifications required to backdate her to her 1864 appearance would involve an extensive revision of almost all external hull details above the waterline as well as replacement of many kit-provided small parts...The [b]Revell Alabama[/b], on the other hand, bears only a general resemblance to her prototype since the hull and many of the parts were based on the Kearsarge. The good news however is that the kit has just enjoyed a limited re-release and is readily available, and aside from the concerns noted is a good kit which makes into an attractive model out of the box. A modeler who wanted to build an 1864 Kearsarge in plastic could make a good beginning by using this kit rather than the very hard-to-find Kearsarge as a starting point (and it would be LOTS cheaper!). Ironically, the cutdown bulkhead lines of the Alabama kit make it resemble the lines of the 1864 Kearsarge more closely than the kit which bears the Kearsarge's name."

Seeing a few of these built beautifully right out of the box, I'd like to build one or the other of these kits sometime in the future.

:wave_1: Hi, okay, i've got the revell kit. Is there a review that lists the inacuracies of this kit? Any good plans or drawing to show what needs to be corrected and help in added details??
Steve are you building one of these??

Thank you

[b][i]USS Kearsarge:[/i][/b]
http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/sh-usn/usnsh-k/kearsarg.htm

[img]http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/images/kn10000/kn10867.jpg[/img]

[b][i]CSS Alabama[/i]:[/b]
http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/sh-us-cs/csa-sh/csash-ag/alabama.htm

[img]http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/images/h85000/h85593k.jpg[/img]

[b][color=#800000]The Battle:[/color][/b]
http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/events/civilwar/cw-cru/kear-ala.htm

[img]http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/images/k20000/k29827.jpg[/img]