CHECK OUT MY LINK
"IRONCLADS". A Middle School Student Class Project about the
ironclads using my kits as a learning tool. This is a great example of what
these kits were designed to do, have hands on fun while experiencing American
History. My thanks to ALL the studentsand Mike Smith, History department
head, Upper Lake Middle School, CA. 5/11/00
The
CSS
Arkansas is here! The USS
Onandaga and CSS Richmond are next in line.
Wood kits have been indefinately delayed due to unavailability of appropriate
ship fixtures. (Time to get creative.)
For the first time a comprehensive collection of Civil War
Ironclads will be
available in two forms,wood and paper.
The projected modeling scale
will be 1/185. This scale is convenient for size of the models and materials
available (a 200 foot long ironclad would be just shy of 13 inches). My primary
interest is in the ironclads of the South since their construction was undermined
not only by lack of materials and skilled manpower but
by fierce inter-service
rivalry. With the profound effect that the Merrimac (CSS Virginia)
had at Hampton Roads and the North's subsequent change in war plans because
of the perceived threat the CSS Virgina imposed, there is little doubt
that if the South were to have completed their new warships in a more timely
fashion the Union blockade would not have been as effective. The top right
photo is of the
CSS
Tennessee. This ship is one of the best documented Southern Ironclads
and is also one
of the most formidable. She held off a vastly superior Union force at Mobile
Bay commanded by David Farragut. She was finally captured only after
she could no longer maneuver and was unable to return fire.
Interestingly the CSS Tennessee was commanded by Franklin Buchanan
who also was the first commander of the CSS Virginia. This ironclad
will be one of the first available from me. To the right are two more images
of the CSS Tennessee.
Click
here to see a completed kit.
Interested? I have been since I first learned of the great battle
between the ironclads as a youngster in school. I suppose that's why I became
an Industrial Designer. These kits are the fruit of this interest. You now
can have a piece of American Naval History. The Ironclads of the Civil War
were the forerunners of the modern battleship. Paper model kits (actually
card stock material) will become available first with basswood kits to follow.
Inside each kit you'll learn the history behind each Civil War Ironclad and
the role it played in this conflict. For more information about the kits and their availability please
contact me (Bill Mahmood) at WFMarabknt@aol.com or click
(here)below. Constructive comments are always welcome. Thanks.
List of currently Available
Kits.
Click on kit name to see a completed
kit.