USS Cimarron Civil War gunboat

[ct ertz]

While waiting to see if the itty bitty boat howitzers for the Clyde can be built as is or not, I decided to double down on the little guns and made a model of the Cimarron. This 205 foot double ender had six of those little guns, plus two large guns. I am also going with the fully rigged sails as well, something I have not tried yet. I like this ship, and I think, other then the little guns, it should be a pretty simple build. I have to add the rigging still, and a little more deck clutter. The ship had four foot high solid bulwarks then a high railing above that to support the awnings. So a bunch of small details yet to go.

CT

[Kazziga]

Looks really good!

[jimkrauzlis]

That looks spectacular, Corey!!

I would love to see this one fully rigged as well...by the way, you mention this one was designed to go in either direction...rudder on both ends...do you know whether she was rigged so the sails could be reversed as well, or was it just the propulsion unit that they used for that?

Cheers!
Jim

[chicharrero]

Very interesting model.
The iron and sails.
Ever a good election.

[ct ertz]

Thanks guys.
Jim I do do not know about the sails. The ship appered to have a 6 degree canter to the masts. So I am guessing that the ship sailed in one direction only but you never know. These schooner rigged side wheelers could sail on wind alone but from what I gather they were slow and hard to maneuver. The steam was primary,with sail as supplementary. But i guess if you are low on coal, a little wind is better then nothing!
CT

[jimkrauzlis]

Yeah, Corey, you're probably right, would be difficult to re-rig the masts efficiently, and probably not the best mode of propulsion for the river...most likely the paddle wheels were the reversible mode used.

You're doing a great job designing this vessel, mate!

Cheers!
Jim

[NimitzFan]

I seem to recall that this kind of vessel was double-ended for service in rivers or other narrow channels. The concept was based on ferryboats. They had rudders on both stern and bow and machinery suitable for use on both directions. They were not intended to sail in both directions, just steam in both of them. That way if caught in an ambush, they could easily reverse their way out. The sailing rig was normally furled and strictly for use in an emergency or to extend the range of the fuel supply.

BTW George Fielding Eliot wrote a novel in the 1950's about service in the US Navy during the Civil War that might be relevant. The book is called "Caleb Pettengill, U.S.N." and the hero ends up in command of a double-ender. It is long out of print, but I found a copy at ABE Books a while back and a quick check there shows it still available very cheaply. The writing and story isn't that great, but the author knows the details of his topic very well.

[ct ertz]

Cool. Thanks for the info and the lead on the book. It strikes me that the double ender concept was reinvented later with a number of armored cars! Many had two driving positions and a full set of revers gears so they could drive backwards with ease and speed.

I am actually surprised so many Union ships kept their sails. Most had their top masts removed like on the USS Hartford during most of it's Civil War activity. The masts being used at that point for look outs and rifleman only, with no sails. The double enders were furnished with the full length masts and sails throughout the war. Of corse, about 1/2 of the Navy ships used by the Union were sail driven only, due to the rapid expansion of the fleet. I guess those schooners and sloops were useable for blockade duty on the coast. I need to make and armed schooner with sails only one of these days. I have not done a sailing ship yet.

Anyhow, this boat will be up for grabs soon!

CT

[Royaloakmin]

The sails would have been used for inshore work, not in the rivers, so no need to reverse them. The double enders were built for blockade duty, not river duty, but the reversing ability was a necessity in the bays and inlets and shoal water.

[ct ertz]

I will make this available in 1/250 scale waterline for consistency, but I am also making a full hull model in 1/150 scale as well.:)

[ct ertz]

Here is a page from my 1/150 scale model. I am going to whiten the sails though. All of these signal flags are taken from a number of sources but I have no idea what flag is what letter or number, as they change constantly!

The flag is the 1861-1863 flag with 34 stars. The fleet flag and the commission pendant are correct for the first half of the war as well. I think these details at the large scale will add a lot!

I think this is the right placement for the flags. If I am wrong please let me know. I may add a bow flag mast for the fleet flag though. Not sure.

Corey

[jimkrauzlis]

Here is a page from my 1/150 scale model. I am going to whiten the sails though. All of these signal flags are taken from a number of sources but I have no idea what flag is what letter or number, as they change constantly!

The flag is the 1861-1863 flag with 34 stars. The fleet flag and the commission pendant are correct for the first half of the war as well. I think these details at the large scale will add a lot!

I think this is the right placement for the flags. If I am wrong please let me know. I may add a bow flag mast for the fleet flag though. Not sure.

Corey
Looking great, Corey!

Actually signal flags at least as they are used today are base on standard phonetic symbols which are fairly constant and international in nature, used for conveying various meanings when used singly or in combinations. Navies use them to convey a series of coded messages to the fleet using a preset code book when radio silence is desired. I know the type and nature of some flags have evolved over time, replacing pennant shaped with rectangular, and borrowing flags from various nations into the internationally used set, the premise for communication between international ships sort of requires they have standard meaning to be of any real use. I'm sure the old Navy salts out there can clarify and correct me, but this is my understanding as a merchant mariner.

You might find this page of some interest on this subject: http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/xf~sfh.html#history

Cheers!
Jim

[ct ertz]

Cool, thanks James.
This is going to be page heavy at 1/150 scale but worth it I think. A lot of great details. The 1/250 scale version is going to appear simplified. I hope everything fits!

[sporticus]

That's the down side to 1/150....not being able to fit many of the parts on one sheet!

[ct ertz]

A few pics of the test build from Joe!

[Oldenburger67]

Hello Corry ,

my appreciation, it is a good looking modell.
Beside that, it is quite difficult to design a full hull model.

My Admiration to you and your Design

Best wishes from the other side of the big Lake ;-))))

Thomas

[ct ertz]

Getting closer! Back at it. Should be ready soon... :)

[Don Boose]

Looks like an excellent model, Corey.

Don

[bjosey]

Looks great!

[bumbury]

its been my experience that when working the rigging you have to take into consideration the way the sails were deployed because it affects the way the dead eyes, turn buckles and rigging equiptment were attached to the bulworks, deck and yard arms..

[ashevilleangler]

Great looking model Corey! It's nice to see you back in design mode.

Curt

[Uyraell]

I may be incorrect in this (those with more and better knowledge of the topic please correct me), but as I understand it: In Signalling via flag, Instructions or Orders to individual ships are flown from the Port foremost yardarm, whereas Instructions or Orders to the entire Squadron or Fleet are flown from the foremost Starboard yardarm.

This was the case in the Royal Navy up to and including WW2, and I have no reason to believe the US Navy would have been very different in this in the preceding century.

Corey, it is really good to see you designing and building again My Friend. :)

Kind and Respectful Regards, Uyraell.

[Lighter]

I have no reason to believe the US Navy would have been very different in this in the preceding century.When preparing the signal flags for my USS Commodore Perry I found that there were no particular standards in the USS navy during the Civil War. Each Admiral and/or Commodore (as well as Generals where the Army had control of the boats/ships.) had their own methods for signals and they were frequently changed so that the CSS Navy/Army couldn't use the signals from the USS boats and ships. I used a prototype photo of the Perry and rigged flags accordingly. The actual artwork for my flags was 19th century English because I found crisp artwork. I hope I haven't signaled something icky!

[ct ertz]

I have sent this 34 page model off to ecards! Over 430 parts! Available soon.

[ct ertz]

OK, it's available! Only $5.00 folks for a massive model! Enjoy!

1/150 USS Cimarron Gunboat Paper Model (http://www.ecardmodels.com/index.php/1-150-uss-cimarron-gunboat-paper-model.html)

[Wyvern]

Corey's back!

Wyvern

[ct ertz]

Back again. Almost dead but almost is almost. Back to modelling!

[THE DC]

That's a very attractive ship!

[Voldemarus4872]

Еxcellent model

[ct ertz]

Еxcellent model

Thank you. It was a fun design.:)

[Paperman49]

Very interesting model.

[ct ertz]

Thank you all.:)