The latest e-mail newsletter from Bluejacket indicates that the release of its 1/96 CSS Alabama is right around the corner. I can’t figure out how to put a link to that newsletter here (Al Ross - can you help?), but it contains some photos, which make it clear that this is going to be a superb kit. (Among other things, it has several hundred photo-etched parts, and beautiful guns.) No word yet on the price. I’m sure it will be steep, but if you’re really into the Alabama it should be worth it.
Spoiler alert: if you’re going to build a model of this ship from the old Revell kit, you’d better not look at those Bluejacket pictures. They make it obvious that…well, you can guess how the Revell one, originally released in 1961, compares to this new kit.
I once compared builder’s drawings of the hull form and deck plan of the Alabama and compared them with the Revell rendering. Needless to say, I scrapped the Revell kit, using it for spare parts.
I’ve spent an enjoyable afternoon looking for information about this kit. I’d heard the two combatants were being designed by Bluejacket, good news indeed they are nearly out. I don’t subscribe to the newsletter ( note to self- sign up) so I didn’t look for the link.
Several forums are already set up ready to go.
The price was generally described by “Mrbluejacket” as between $ 700 and $ 800.
One very interesting feature appears to be parts that show the wood ribs and iron bracing exposed, out of laser cut wood and PE.
To insert an active link, you need to use the rich format mode. Then, choose the “link” icon. Clicking that will bring up a window with an area to copy and paste the link into. However, that icon is almost invisible. It is between the clipboard with a W on it, and the calender with a pencil. Gray on gray is not the most visible color choice!
In this case I couldn’t hot link it either. Something to do with the newsletter being pass code protected.
But I did update/ sign up.
I sense Blue Jacket is taking a real risk here and wish them the best. I’ve always admired the Revell kit of the Kearsarge and been impressed by the Alabama, despite it’s derivative genesis and obvious inaccuracies.
Yup. There are 17 bulkheads spaced about 1 3/8" apart. Planking is 1/16" x 3/16" and 1/16" x 1/4" bass. There are filler blocks between the forward three and aft three bulkheads and it’s built using the Hahn method.
Harold M. Hahn built exquisite admiralty-style ship models of 18th century warships. The Hahn Method essentially involves planking the hull upside down with the frames glued to a building board. Each frame had an extension on it which is glued to the building board and the keel. The result is an extremely stable, warp proof structure on which to plank. ALABAMA uses a modification of this approach in that it uses an 1/8" profile of the hull into which are fitted bulkheads with extensions and stiffeners. 1/16" plywood subdecks are fitted between the keel profile and extensions, ensuring a rigid framework, which is glued upside down to a building board.
Monday, when I’m back at the shop, I’ll upload a photo of the hull construction.
Thanks for the info on the Hahn method. Kinda hard to visualize, so yes please, post some pics of it.
I’m wondering if BlueJascket used Bowcock as their reference, in which case their hull should be the correct length. Also wondering if any one has knowledge of the release date.?
You should give Bluejacket a call on the phone. I believe it’s possible to buy at least some of their plans - and various other kit contents - separately. You’ll probably talk to a very nice lady named Lisa, who will, I’m sure, do her best to help you.
