Paper C.S.S. Palmetto State ironclad

[paperboy]

Hi All
It's been a while since I've posted anything here and indeed I don't even get the opportunity to look alot. When the forum changed sites my work computer won't allow me to access the site and that is pretty much my free time. I was going to start on the Andreij Pervozwannej from GPM but chose to scratch build one of my early passions ..ironclads, in specific the ships of the Charleston Squadron. I bought plans from the National Archives for a Richmond, Columbia class, the Arkansas and the Fredricksburg and have been sitting on them. From somewhere I bought the William graves plans for the C.S.S. Charleston also. When I discovered card modeling the idea arose that I might be able to make models of these ships a reality and now with my daughter off in the U.S. Navy I have a little time to work on them.

So i've posted some pictures of the early efforts on the CSS Palmetto State which I plan to build as it met the US Navy blockade force off Charleston in January 1863 new and powerful.

The Chicora and Charleston I want to build as seen in the Conrad Wise Chapman painting " Charleston bay and city" which are more weathered. The CSS Columbia will also be relatively new looking as it had but a short service history with the Confederate Navy.

I hope you all enjoy the pictures and if you have questions I will be glad to answer them.

Vernon L. Sheppard Jr

 

[Elliott]

This is great. I've always been fascinated by ironclads. Any chance of plans for the iron and tinclads used on the Mississippi River (the Carondolet, Arkansas, Cairo, etc)?

Looking forward to your build. Welcome back! :thumb:

Rlliott :mrgreen:

 

[paperboy]

I plan to build the Arkansas and probably the Tennessee and Mississippi as she would have looked if completed. there are so many that would be great to look at. The Muscogee, aka CSS Jackson whose hull lies at Columbus Ga. is another that I've been interested in.

here's another picture of the Palmetto State as i begin to build the shield for the casemate.

 

[cgutzmer]

Looks great so far! Thanks for sharing
Chris

 

[Gregory Shoda]

Wow! Construction is proceeding quickly. I have always thought the US Civil War subjects are under represented in modeling. They are very interesting historical subjects.

Good luck on your build!

 

[paperboy]

Its Saturday morning and I've been able to do more with my model. It is pretty much skinned to show its shape and I plan to complete it in one of 2 ways.
I will either make sections of 65 lb card using templates and draw in the armor plate, emboss it with the strips and bolt heads and apply it over the model or cut strips of card to size and emboss the bolt heads and apply them to the model.
Anyway, I've made the stack and am working on the gratings over the casemate and pilot house for the model. I've posted some pictures so show progress to this point.

Vernon

 

[shrike]

Talk about designs moving in circles. Without the funnel, I wonder what the radar cross-section would be?<G>

 

[SCEtoAux]

The same thought crossed my mind, Shrike.:thumb:

 

[B-Manic]

That is coming along very nicely. I look forward to more pix.

I plan on scratch building an ironclad myself but can't decide which one.

 

[Elliott]

She looks good Vernon. Once you get the plates on she should begin to look alive!

How has the build been to this point: easy, middlin', hard?
At what scale are you building?

Elliott :mrgreen:

 

[paperboy]

The build has not been hard but I work in little spurts as time is available.
As you guys can see the ship would sit for periods while the dockyard workers were on strike. I've made the plate sides and attached the casemate octagonal ends and the foreend upper knuckle plating. I also assembled the ventilator and made a 2 blade propeller from photos of the one that exists at the old Confederate Naval Museum in Columbus Ga. I'm trying to make the grating for the casemate roof so thats my project now.

Anyway I've added some pictures to show progress. Oh the scale is 1/125, I came up with that to make the models the size that I wanted.

Vernon

 

[paperboy]

I've posted a few more pictures today of the ship as I've put on the plating all around. I'll make any adjustments to it and detail it soon. I glued on the propeller and am making the rudder. I didn't pierce the casemate in all positions and will cover some of them just with gunport plates as closed.

Vern

 

[Coot59]

Wow!

 

[paperboy]

Thanks Coot
When I look at what I've been able to make I'm awed. I'm a rank amateur compared to some who build and post here but card modeling is theraputic for me as I'm sure it is for others. I also want to thank the guys who designed the Cottage Ind. and Flagship models of the CSS PALMETTO STATE.

I've been detailing the casemate and cutting thr spar deck gratings. As well I was able to complete 2 long boats and cut and put in place 2 of the boat cradles. And I've posted a few more pictures to show progress.

thanks
Vernon

 

[RyanShort1]

Very nice! - Have you been making two copies of everything you cut so others might be able to build it as well?

Ryan

 

[paperboy]

Sort of ...I have templates that I made of the basic hull and casemate because I plan to build the Chicora and Charleston, which in ways are similar to the Palmetto State. The illustration that was the seed of inspiration was
Flagship Models Palmetto State.

Vernon

 

[paperboy]

Getting closer now to launch time With all the boat cradles on and the ventilation grates put on. I also was able to add the gunport shutters. I have 3 ships boats built and I want to leave the 4th position empty. Hopefully this weekend I'll get the signal flag hoist done, the braces for the stack and get the provision mast built. and of course I made some pictures to show progress.

Vern

 

[Elliott]

This is really nice work, Vern. Well done!

If you could put templates, other parts, some instructions and perhaps some pictures together into a file, we'd be pleased and proud to post it in the Downloads area for other members to build. If you need help just holler.

What do you think?

Regards,

Elliott

 

[Coot59]

Just keeps getting better and better!

Double WOW!

 

[dansls1]

I think something wonky happened here - although I suppose there's nothing wrong with having 2 cool ship builds in one thread
I had skimmed the photo's of the Ironclad before and somehow missed that you are designing / scratchbuilding this one. Great job!