USS Monitor 1:100

[Kevin WS]

Originally Posted by jimbean

I am thinking of making another turret as external surfaces only and mounting that on the deck, along with the stacks and pilot house armor. Then mounting the deck behind and above the hull as if it was opened on a hinge. This would display all of that beautiful framing and the deck top could still be visible if the case has a mirror back.

Great idea Jim. Should work fine...

[jimbean]

Some small progress. I decided to put in the crew entry ladder, but how to do it.
The two deck beams are mocked up by the normal beams inverted.
This supports the top of the ladder. I also think it gives a sense of the deck above.
The second turret is for the deck top so just the exterior. There is another ladder
going to the turret via the slot in the deck. Not sure how to handle that.

Getting close to the end.
cheers Jim

[Michael Mash]

Sounds like a clever display idea Jim.
Go for it.

[FRD]

Nice job on the ladders Jim!

[jimbean]

Thanks Mike and FRD,
The deck, which is really a subassembly, is finished.
The two crew access ports are uncovered and the anchor well.
The model provides two versions, the famous battle and later improvements.
I chose the later which includes the stacks and the improved pilot house.
Perhaps the stacks should be painted black on the inside. Just thought of that.
Maybe too messy.
cheers Jim

[Kevin WS]

Great work Jim!

[jimbean]

Thanks Kevin,
Back to the turret access ladder. I was thinking about putting in another set of beams
but that seemed to be too cluttered and would block the view into the crew space.
Finally I settled on a simple black wire the same as the ladder in the engine room.
The turret has two slots in its deck for access from below. These can be aligned
with a slot in the deck under the turret. This ladder goes up to that slot.
The black, maybe iron, door next to the ladder is probably for gunpowder storage.
cheers Jim

[Kevin WS]

Good solution Jim. Maybe paint the threads to the ladder white or cream as an indication they are different to a cable?

[jimbean]

hi everyone, the Monitor is finished at last.
It has been a month. I was waiting on the display case.
They tell me that there is a shortage of acrylic.
Perhaps due to all of the barrier panels being erected in shops.
The final pictures are below.


The first pic is the complete hull interior.
Next is the bow section with the anchor windless, the steering station
and the rudder cables.
Third pic is officer country with the captains cabin to stbd and, I think,
the wardroom to port. Aft of that are cabins for 8 officers/NCO's and
probably the dining area.
Next is the crew space with lockers on both sides. They probably used
hammocks. The ladder between beams is the main entry to the ship. The
ladder aft of that is for entry to the turret from below.
Fifth pic is the front of the engine space with the boilers and the turret
turning mechanism. Not visible below that is the galley with the stove.
Next is the rest of the engine space with the engine, the condenser and
two ventilation blowers. Coal storage is on both sides.
Finally the aft section with the screw propeller and the rudder control.
Next pic is the interior of the turret.


The display has the hull with the turret interior on a post next to it.
The deck is displayed vertically behind the hull.
The top of the deck is visible in a mirror. The pics are badly lighted
and don't show it very well.

[Michael Mash]

Congratulations Jim.
This is quite a display of interior monitor detail.
It has been fun and instructive exploring the cabins and mechanical rooms of your ship.
Mike