Saturday, May 19, 2012

Confederate Ships Launched

A while back a Works in Progress post showed two ACW ship models near completion. I'm happy to report that they are now launched and beginning a very brief shakedown cruise before they engage the enemy in my ACW Bluffsburg email campaign.

Both these models are 1/600 scale ships from Thoroughbred Models. I had a great experience with proprietor Toby Barrett, who shipped my order promptly and without hassles. The models are finely sculpted pewter and quite lovely. Here is TS13 Confederate Cottonclad (River Ram & Gunboat) taking to the water as the CSS Maccabbee, steaming upriver to defend Bluffsburg.

Close behind is model TS75 CSS Missouri (Western River Ironclad) in its campaign role as the CSS Joshua, the flagship of the small armada protecting Bluffsburg. Just a little bit of rust on the casemate, especially around the seams and gunports.

For the bases I used thin plasticard, painted green as per this video showing two fine fellows cruising on the Kentucky River.

For the smoke I used steel wool, spray painted black, over a bit of paperclip, the end of which was glued into holes drilled into the funnels. My technique with the Dremel tool was none too steady, I fair came close to wrecking the funnels and had to quickly repair them. Mrs Padre asked me a very good question, are these ships buring coal or wood? If wood, she thought the smoke would be whiter. Coal, I hastily answered. They're burning coal. I am not entirely sure what coal supplies would have been on the Mississippi, especially for the CS, so I hope I'm right.

The bow waves and churned water by the paddlewheels and at the stern were made using Golden brand artist's moulding paste. I see I slopped a little onto the side of the Joshua, I'll have to go back and retouch that. I tried to be sparing, but I think I caught the sense of movement through the water.

So these are the first ship models I've built and painted in ages. There are some more ships on the slipways for the Union, and they should appear here soon.

Anchors aweigh, y'all!

9 comments:

  1. Nice models. I haven't seen too many "Timberclads" in model form.
    BTW, the Yankees had the coal, I believe, especially since the good stuff (anthracite) came from around my birthplace.

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    1. Thanks, John. The Thoroughbred US tinclads I'm currently working on are pretty cool models as well. Where was your birthplace? Pennsylvania, I'm guessing.

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    2. Hazleton in Luzerne County... also the birthplace of Jack Palance, who is in much better physical shape than myself, and he's dead!

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  2. Very nice models. Great work.

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  3. I pity the ozone layer!

    Nice work Mike.

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    1. Thanks Rodger and Paul, much appreciated. Oh dear, the carbon footprint on these models! I imagine that the post of Environmental Officer was not filled in Victorian navies. :)

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  4. Whiter smoke might not overpower the look of these great models. A look a few period prints might show how light or dark the artists portrayed the smoke. I use a hand powered pin vice to do small drilling rather than an electric drill. This might help with you stack holes. Really nice models! Steel wool really beats the use of cotton balls.

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    1. Many thanks Scott. I really need to invest in a pin vise. The dremel is a nice tool, but even the finest drills, I find, can do damage in just a second or two of misplacement. I will take your advice and look at some period prints, then I may go back and brush some gray onto the smoke. Good thought.

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  5. Super work Mike.
    SCott beat me to my suggestions. A pin vise is a must. I use mine more often than my dremel, better control. And dry brushing some grey on the smoke will give it some depth and make the clouds less stark and overwhelming.

    But nifty that they can be removed so you can see if they have steam up or not, an important tactical consideration in steam navies.

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