CSS Manassas build 2019

Tut11

Sergeant
Joined
Jan 24, 2018
I have been doing research into building the CSS Manassas per the CWT blogs on her. I have concluded that "Flagships" model will work as a basis for the build. The comparison images show differences in the designs but as you can see, will work fine for a bash kit to get the blog outcome from @OwenEgan design. The model will be about 9 1/2" length at 1/192 scale approximately.

Will have some more info on this build soon. Model and parts have to be ordered along with some discussion with @shipmodeler . (Flagship models) I have researched this extensively for the build and considering cost factors along with a scratch build possibility, this is the way I will produce Owens design representation as close as possible. As the H.L. Hunley model of mine this one will have to be shaped accordingly using green putty. Depending on N scale for railroad tracks, I might be able to use actual tracks for the armor plating. We'll see.

Drawings provided from Flagship and @OwenEgan . Images scaled to each other for build note comparison done by myself.

k16tikz t comparison.jpg


Model side by side comparison.jpg

k16tikz back front comparison.jpg
 
Can't wait to see you do that one, I've been curious about Flagship's models of the CSS Texas, CSS Chattahoochee, Maury gun boat models. I've never tried my hand at modeling, but your thread on CSS Alabama has got me to thinking....

As for CSS Manassas I've heard stories of her wreck, namely that she's under a levy largely intact considering what happened to her after her little run in with the USS Mississippi, and have heard stories of people swimming around her wreck way back in the day. Manassas had to be the ugliest ship of the war, but I reckon that can be forgiven, she one of if the first ironclads in America, and she was the first to see combat. Not a bad legacy, if the stories I've heard are true she really ought to be raised.
 
Can't wait to see you do that one, I've been curious about Flagship's models of the CSS Texas, CSS Chattahoochee, Maury gun boat models. I've never tried my hand at modeling, but your thread on CSS Alabama has got me to thinking....

As for CSS Manassas I've heard stories of her wreck, namely that she's under a levy largely intact considering what happened to her after her little run in with the USS Mississippi, and have heard stories of people swimming around her wreck way back in the day. Manassas had to be the ugliest ship of the war, but I reckon that can be forgiven, she one of if the first ironclads in America, and she was the first to see combat. Not a bad legacy, if the stories I've heard are true she really ought to be raised.
Thanks, Flagships has some great models.
We had discussed that possibility here at CWT on one of the blogs about what it would cost to raise her or another Ironclad down in Louisiana. Which would cost millions to do a proper job for preserving any artifacts which were found.

Location possibilities of the wrecks locations:
http://www.numa.net/expeditions/november-1981/
Manassas location.jpg
 
Thanks, Flagships has some great models.
We had discussed that possibility here at CWT on one of the blogs about what it would cost to raise her or another Ironclad down in Louisiana. Which would cost millions to do a proper job for preserving any artifacts which were found.

Location possibilities of the wrecks locations:
http://www.numa.net/expeditions/november-1981/
View attachment 214535
I don't think Louisiana could ever be recovered but a would love a full survey with all modern methods. It would maybe answer some of the multitude of questions still unanswered.
 
I have been doing research into building the CSS Manassas per the CWT blogs on her. I have concluded that "Flagships" model will work as a basis for the build. The comparison images show differences in the designs but as you can see, will work fine for a bash kit to get the blog outcome from @OwenEgan design. The model will be about 9 1/2" length at 1/192 scale approximately.

Will have some more info on this build soon. Model and parts have to be ordered along with some discussion with @shipmodeler . (Flagship models) I have researched this extensively for the build and considering cost factors along with a scratch build possibility, this is the way I will produce Owens design representation as close as possible. As the H.L. Hunley model of mine this one will have to be shaped accordingly using green putty. Depending on N scale for railroad tracks, I might be able to use actual tracks for the armor plating. We'll see.

Drawings provided from Flagship and @OwenEgan . Images scaled to each other for build note comparison done by myself.

View attachment 214399

View attachment 214400
View attachment 214401
Glad to see you depicting the funnels as vertical and not slanted. The cross-bracing served more than one function. In January of 1862 Manassas was sent down river to recon Head of Passes and burn the lighthouse. There were a number of low trees along the banks just above the Head and while the vessel was moored there, a ladder was placed up on the bracing so that a look out could be placed above the trees.
 
May we see progress posts, as your model is being built?
Yes, of course. When I have all the associated parts and model basics in hand I'll start the build posts. I started this one early for the comparison images plans, so if some of the other experts here felt Manassas model needed anymore fine tuning we could hammer it out. I feel so far that everyone is in agreement of Owens rendition as a excellent representation of what the Manassas looked like.
 
As promised I have the kit inbound from Rusty at Flagship models so the build will start soon. This is a smaller kit so won't take that long to put her together...stay tuned ya'll!
 
Thanks, Flagships has some great models.
We had discussed that possibility here at CWT on one of the blogs about what it would cost to raise her or another Ironclad down in Louisiana. Which would cost millions to do a proper job for preserving any artifacts which were found.

Location possibilities of the wrecks locations:
http://www.numa.net/expeditions/november-1981/
View attachment 214535
Just a thought. One of the reports on the sinking of Manassas below the forts stated that she went down after the carronade charges stored under Warley's bunk went off. Porter mentioned hearing the small explosion. Eyewitnesses of the time stated that she went down off The Jump, a shallow channel running from the bay to the west of the river into the river. The report that she ended up on the bar (SW Pass) is incorrect. Sketches made of the wreck on the bar strongly suggest it was the floating battery from New Orleans. The shape of the portion above the water is very similar to the ironed housing to protect the battery's steam pumps on the floating battery New Orleans when she was scuttled upriver at Island No. 10.
 
Arrival of the kit. here's the basics which I will be sanding down prepping for the green putty work. Rusty was kind enough to also include a couple smaller stacks so I can have a double stack Manassas.

20190111_160400.jpg


20190111_160420.jpg
 
Ya'll probably thought i dropped this one but I haven't. Been getting some parts for it and more green putty to work with. I will be sanding the upper deck down completely smooth then adding 1/32 x 1/32 square bass wood planking on top to represent the RR track used for it's armor. Still waiting on a couple more items and this one will start taking shape. Also she will have a copper bottom and have been researching some technics to do it with rivets also. Won't be a large model but should turn out nicely. Stay tuned.
 
Just to encourage Tut, a blog post on a Maynard carbine taken from the CSS Manassas.

The carbine has a silver plaque inscribed, “H.W. Loring,/ Trophy taken from Rebel Ram/ Manassas,/ at the capture of New Orleans,/ April 27th, 1862.” It was donated in 1962 to the Duxbury Rural and Historical Society by Dunkin Adams, with the additional information that the gun was from the possessions of Capt. George Lamb. Some additional research has revealed that George Lamb and H.W. Loring [Henry Ward Loring] served together as Acting Ensigns aboard the ship Pequot, part of the Atlantic Squadron, in 1865.[4] The Pequot was only commissioned in 1863, after the battle of New Orleans in 1862, so it cannot be assumed the men served together in New Orleans, but their time on the Pequot indicates that they did have a record of Civil War service together. One can then surmise that Loring obtained the carbine as a prize from the Confederate ship Manassasduring the Battle of New Orleans in 1862, and at some point (either during or after the war) gave the gun to his fellow naval officer, George Lamb.
 
Just to encourage Tut, a blog post on a Maynard carbine taken from the CSS Manassas.

The carbine has a silver plaque inscribed, “H.W. Loring,/ Trophy taken from Rebel Ram/ Manassas,/ at the capture of New Orleans,/ April 27th, 1862.” It was donated in 1962 to the Duxbury Rural and Historical Society by Dunkin Adams, with the additional information that the gun was from the possessions of Capt. George Lamb. Some additional research has revealed that George Lamb and H.W. Loring [Henry Ward Loring] served together as Acting Ensigns aboard the ship Pequot, part of the Atlantic Squadron, in 1865.[4] The Pequot was only commissioned in 1863, after the battle of New Orleans in 1862, so it cannot be assumed the men served together in New Orleans, but their time on the Pequot indicates that they did have a record of Civil War service together. One can then surmise that Loring obtained the carbine as a prize from the Confederate ship Manassasduring the Battle of New Orleans in 1862, and at some point (either during or after the war) gave the gun to his fellow naval officer, George Lamb.
Interesting. The testimony of Lt. Warley later in the war was that her long arms were 4 shotguns and some long cane cutting knives. There are no reports of marines assigned to Manassas, but a number of crew were first designated as "landsmen". Some were re-designated in standard positions for a naval table of organization. The Confederates were aware that the ram was vulnerable to an assault by a Union boat party when moored and allegedly a steam hose was available to sweep her decks if necessary. Several items were removed from Manassas below the forts when she was boarded by a party from one of the mortar schooners. You would think that a crew abandoning ship with the vessel on a river bank under fire would have attempted to take personal side-arms with them. The report of the boarding party from the USS Mississippi did not mention removal of items, but does not preclude individual crewmen taking up items, but they may not have had time as Mississippi appears to have recalled the party fairly quickly.
 
Interesting. The testimony of Lt. Warley later in the war was that her long arms were 4 shotguns and some long cane cutting knives. There are no reports of marines assigned to Manassas, but a number of crew were first designated as "landsmen". Some were re-designated in standard positions for a naval table of organization. The Confederates were aware that the ram was vulnerable to an assault by a Union boat party when moored and allegedly a steam hose was available to sweep her decks if necessary. Several items were removed from Manassas below the forts when she was boarded by a party from one of the mortar schooners. You would think that a crew abandoning ship with the vessel on a river bank under fire would have attempted to take personal side-arms with them. The report of the boarding party from the USS Mississippi did not mention removal of items, but does not preclude individual crewmen taking up items, but they may not have had time as Mississippi appears to have recalled the party fairly quickly.

Manassas was in an intense battle, heavily damaged, and the crew abandoned her in haste; no doubt it was pretty chaotic.
 
Just to encourage Tut, a blog post on a Maynard carbine taken from the CSS Manassas.

The carbine has a silver plaque inscribed, “H.W. Loring,/ Trophy taken from Rebel Ram/ Manassas,/ at the capture of New Orleans,/ April 27th, 1862.” It was donated in 1962 to the Duxbury Rural and Historical Society by Dunkin Adams, with the additional information that the gun was from the possessions of Capt. George Lamb. Some additional research has revealed that George Lamb and H.W. Loring [Henry Ward Loring] served together as Acting Ensigns aboard the ship Pequot, part of the Atlantic Squadron, in 1865.[4] The Pequot was only commissioned in 1863, after the battle of New Orleans in 1862, so it cannot be assumed the men served together in New Orleans, but their time on the Pequot indicates that they did have a record of Civil War service together. One can then surmise that Loring obtained the carbine as a prize from the Confederate ship Manassasduring the Battle of New Orleans in 1862, and at some point (either during or after the war) gave the gun to his fellow naval officer, George Lamb.

@Story thanks for the info and will try to get this one started soon. Alabama has been taking up my time along with summer chores and life in general, but winter is coming up and then it's models a building i go.
 
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