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.
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.
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.
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.
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/