CSS NORTH CAROLINA II (Wilmington)

**rebelatsea** · #1 09-20-2011, 03:43 AM

I completed Corey's kit as I think she would have completed for sea and took some photo's of the result. The spotting tower came form the Georgia kit.

**ct ertz** · #2 09-20-2011, 04:56 AM

That came out really great!

**jmr248** · #3 09-20-2011, 09:26 AM

Great job. Looks very similar to the Wilmington that CT offers.

**Michael Mash** · #4 09-20-2011, 10:12 AM

Interesting configuration. One can certainly see the beginnings of early battleship design in her.
Mike

**Darwin** · #5 09-20-2011, 10:31 AM

Mike, my thoughts exactly. When I first looked at it, my first thought was that this vessel grew up to be a dreadnaught. Looking forward to this one hitting ecardmodels.

**rebelatsea** · #6 09-21-2011, 04:16 AM

Gents, this is Corey's kit from Ecardmodels!
"Wilmington" was never the official name for this vessel, she was armored with the iron from CSS North Carolina ,and would have taken the name at launch.
Converted on the stocks at Wilmington NC from a 150ft ironclad gunboat, John Porter had her lengthened to incorporate the new fishtail fantail and upswept "Pierce" knuckle. Her gunhouses were sunk into the weather deck, which was cambered by two feet,and she had two engines geared to twin screws. Intended to chase wooden blockaders and escort runners into port, she was not intended to fight US ironclads.

A larger half sister was constructed at Richmond VA, originally intended to mount two of John M Brooke's proposed 12.25" rifles, the vessel was altered at his suggestion to mount 4 smaller weapons. A version of this design is available from Ecardmodels.
Note that there is an alternative version of this design, which I have attached for reference.

At Charleston SC,an order for one of William Graves' double enders ( also available from Ecardmodels) was amended to conform to the "Wilmington" plan, presumably because it was more suitable for Charleston. The vessel was never started, although a building slip for it was built.

I have completed the kit, showing her ready for sea in all respects. she has four boats for boarding and inspection purposes, and a lookout tower, it's all very well having a low profile, but it severely limits range of vision. Very necessary in her role.

No doubt, had the Confederacy survived, this design could have been developed further.