Post by noelsmith on Jul 11, 2024 3:53:14 GMT -6
Apart from the huge Revell plastic kit in 1/96th scale and some large wooden kits of this ship there is nothing in plastic that would be in a more reasonable sized model for most. About the size of the models in the Airfix Classic Ships series to give some idea of what I would like to see.
The big Revell kit is considered to be incorrect by many as the hull mouldings have also been used for their Kearsarge kit.
The Alabama had a retractable propeller whereas the Kearsarge's was fixed, so one is definitely wrong, besides which one ship was about 12 feet longer than the other.
The Alabama went to sea after fitting out as a warship in the Azores and continued unchanged until sunk by the Kearsarge. The ship was suffering its constant use by the time it was sunk. I have read somewhere that the Revell Kearsarge is modelled on the ship with a different refit to how it appeared when it went into combat with the Alabama but could be wrong on this point.
It would be nice to see a very accurate, moderately sized kit of the Alabama in view of the extensive research already done about the vessel. Andrew Bowcock's book, CSS Alabama, The Anatomy of a Confederate Raider is regarded as the most comprehensive treatise on the ship. As an ex Cammel Laird employee he had access to the Laird Shipyard's archives on the ship besides his research done elsewhere. He was on a steering committee to fund and build a full sized replica of the Alabama to go on permanent display in the dock where it was built in Birkenhead, Liverpool. Unfortunately the project was shelved indefinitely, but I would imagine that much of his research for the project has been used as the basis for the book. I have a copy and can vouch for how comprehensive it is about the ship and how it was built with numerous plans and rigging details within. A must for anyone contemplating building a model of this ship. A technical manual, so no history of the ship in service. I have another book named 'Shark of the Confederacy' that is a detailed account of the Alabama's service history that is a good read.
The big Revell kit is considered to be incorrect by many as the hull mouldings have also been used for their Kearsarge kit.
The Alabama had a retractable propeller whereas the Kearsarge's was fixed, so one is definitely wrong, besides which one ship was about 12 feet longer than the other.
The Alabama went to sea after fitting out as a warship in the Azores and continued unchanged until sunk by the Kearsarge. The ship was suffering its constant use by the time it was sunk. I have read somewhere that the Revell Kearsarge is modelled on the ship with a different refit to how it appeared when it went into combat with the Alabama but could be wrong on this point.
It would be nice to see a very accurate, moderately sized kit of the Alabama in view of the extensive research already done about the vessel. Andrew Bowcock's book, CSS Alabama, The Anatomy of a Confederate Raider is regarded as the most comprehensive treatise on the ship. As an ex Cammel Laird employee he had access to the Laird Shipyard's archives on the ship besides his research done elsewhere. He was on a steering committee to fund and build a full sized replica of the Alabama to go on permanent display in the dock where it was built in Birkenhead, Liverpool. Unfortunately the project was shelved indefinitely, but I would imagine that much of his research for the project has been used as the basis for the book. I have a copy and can vouch for how comprehensive it is about the ship and how it was built with numerous plans and rigging details within. A must for anyone contemplating building a model of this ship. A technical manual, so no history of the ship in service. I have another book named 'Shark of the Confederacy' that is a detailed account of the Alabama's service history that is a good read.
