USS Alexandria small gunboat

[ct ertz]

In my effort to boost the number of my Union ships I took a few minutes to do this one, the USS Alexandria. It was just over 80 feet long and do to it's narrow hull (15 foot beam), it sat deeper then one would expect of a ship that size, with a draft of 4 feet. Armament consisted of a 24 pound bronze smooth bore and a 12 pound boat howitzer.

This ship was actually built for the Confederate navy in 1862, but was captured in 63 by the Union's combined Army and Navy expedition. Although small, unarmored, and slow (making 3-4 knots) the Union took her into service, first as an non-commissioned service steamer, then as a commissioned war ship. It served with the Mississippi until war's end, and was sold in 1865 at auction.

I still need to at the guns, and masts. The hexagonal pilot house is incredibly small, but provided good visibility.

CT

[Knife]

Looking very good. I just wish I had some time to design and build. You always find interesting subjects to model. Looking forward the the progress on this one.

[ct ertz]

Thanks Knife,
I have to redo the pilot house, it was probably octagon, not hex. And some of the basic ship lines are off slightly but I do not know if it will matter much at 1/250 scale or not.

[ct ertz]

I added the teeth to the gunboat, such as they are. The large brass gun, possibly a 20 poynd rifle or 24 pound smoothbore is on a slidey pivot thingys. The USS Miami had like 4 of these to augment it's big guns. On the aft section, their is a small boat howitzer on a field carriage. Great for tossing deadly canister into the brush to discourage sharp shooters, but otherwise it is a small piece.
CT

[ct ertz]

Interestingly, this type of noes pivot slide carriage is an odd choice for a bow gun. Although it works great of broadsides, this set up give the large gun about an 80 degree field of fire. Thats all. Any more movement to the side would put the tail overboard, and possible dismount the heavy gun on recoil. A center pivot on the slide in a gun ring would give the piece 180 degree movement, excepting the deck house. Odd. But, they didn't ask me when when they made it.

[Pat_craft]

Really nice model !

[Paperwarrior]

Looks great, CT!

[ct ertz]

Thanks guys. By the way Pat Craft, your English is better then my French! No worries.
CT

[jmr248]

It would seem to me if you had any fear of enclosed areas you had best not be the pilot of this vessel. Pilot House just looks small and cramped. Great looking design CT. I look forward to adding it to my stack of stuff.
Joe

[Vermin_King]

The pilot probably felt like he had a big target painted on his chest

[ct ertz]

Every thing about this boat seems small. All the parts are fitting on 1 page at 1/250 scale. I think it will look good but yes it is small!
CT

[ct ertz]

And their gone. Crap I am just having bad luck lately. The who page is deleted. Now I have to start over unfolding, coloring and so on. This so totally suck.

[ct ertz]

OK, this time it's done and saved and I am looking for a tester! This model may not be build-able do to insanely small parts. But I need someone to give it a try.
CT

[Hudsonduster]

12:08AM: hand goes up, eyelids go down. I'll look again tomorrow.
'Duster

[Hudsonduster]

<yawn> ...G'Morning! Okay, in the cold light of day I'm still committed. It's not all that small--it wouldn't fit in my coffee cup. Not that that's a real practical display setting in any case.

Gonna limber up my knife hand on some Insanely Small Parts after breakfast. Stay tuned.

'D

[ct ertz]

Cool. Good luck. I didn't include full directions on the draft because I am still working on them!

[ct ertz]

A couple reference sketches for this ship.:) Thanks Kaz.