CSS Virginia help needed

[Kevin Martin]

I had never seen this sketch before.
Note the positions of the two ship's boats.

Assuming two were also on the opposite side of the casemate, would this would suggest the Virginia carried four boats ?

I've seen some really nice museum models of the virginia with three boats. Two beside the funnel and a smaller one on the port side aft of the larger one.

 

[Kevin Martin]

Calling it a day. I'll tackle it again in the morning.

 

[7th Mississippi Infantry]

Wow !

 

[AndyHall]

Beautiful. How do you do your boats? They even have a tiny mast step!

 

[Kevin Martin]

Beautiful. How do you do your boats? They even have a tiny mast step!

Those boats are supplied by Cottage Industry Models, and are resin. After I have painted them, I apply an oil wash to the insides to bring out the details. They were intended for another project, and I am going to be stripping the paint off and redoing them in white as seen on your 3D model. I like the contrast of the white ships boats with all the dark gray.Virginia.

 

[AndyHall]

I like that olive green interior.

 

[rebelatsea]

I have an old note I made from when I read through Baxter's Introduction of the Ironclad Warship years ago (I do not have the book; perhaps if someone does, they can chime in) that there is a contemporary sketch (@early March, 1862) showing the Virginia with shutters attached; the shutters are rectangular, hinged at a top corner, and with chain attached to the opposite bottom corner.

Well done ,I have the book but had forgotten about that. Reckon they are the shutters Buchanan and Jones said were no good.

 

[rebelatsea]

Here's an easier perspective of that sketch,
View attachment 48962

Interesting she has two boats a side , I do wonder if this was drawn after she was repaired and the date is wrong?

 

[Kevin Martin]

Finished all the deck planking. Hundreds of basswood strips. I then started adding pen represented spikes, four per plank till I wore the technical pen I was using out. Gonna have to head out to Joann's and get another. Started drilling the 60+ holes in the upper casement deck edge for the brass handrail stanchions. I did apply a dark wash to the starboard casement side to bring out the rail details. But wasn't happy with it and repainted it back to original color. I think I want to go for a cleaner, museum like appearance on this one.

 

[7th Mississippi Infantry]

Looking good !

 

[OwenRichards]

It's looking great. One thing is that you need a phone with a better camera so the pics are clearer

 

[Kevin Martin]

It's looking great. One thing is that you need a phone with a better camera so the pics are clearer

You're spot on correct. My Samsung S3 dropped to the garage floor and cracked the LCD. Took it to Verizon for a replacement since I paid a premium price for the insurance. When they handed me the new one, they asked for $155. I was shocked. I am also months from free upgrade/replacement. I had my old Droid reactivated and have been using it for the past few weeks. And hate it.I got a paycheck from a project so I'm going back today to Verizon to get a new phone. See, you ask, I listen, I react!

 

[Kevin Martin]

NEW CAMERA! Today's work. I may have stumbled on the finish I want for my life boats. Light gray hulls interior, natural wood decking. I am right now in process of slicing in the viewing ports for the pilothouse. Next up I will be flipping her over and planking the hull in real copper plates. Gonna have to do some experimentation in weathering of copper using green and white artists oils.

 

[OwenRichards]

I didn't know you were having problems with your phone, I'm sorry!

That is really an amazing model! the decking and the plating is fantastic, apart from the rest of the model.

That is stunning.

 

[Kevin Martin]

Started working on the undersides today. Starting with the rudder. Cut out three pieces from a template and sandwiched them together and final shaped.

 

[Kevin Martin]

I udderly needed to get this rudder done to get this task out of the way. Today I create the two bladed prop. I'm off to the craft store to find a round bead to act as the center of the prop. Wish me luck! I really need to invest in a small hobby lathe.

 

[Kevin Martin]

Oh boy, this is gonna take a few days. I tried using real copper tiles cut from strip. I didn't care for the effect. So I'm going with basswood applied to the hull. I'll then paint copper and weather with oil colors in green and white.

 

[7th Mississippi Infantry]

Good call !

 

[OwenRichards]

I imagine that cutting the real copper into tiles without it bending or warping would be a nightmare.

 

[Kevin Martin]

I imagine that cutting the real copper into tiles without it bending or warping would be a nightmare.

Actually it is a copper foil tape that is used in stained glass making.