Blockade Runner

[785boats]

Good morning to all.
I'm new to this site & new to the world of paddle wheelers. I usually build modern stealth warships & fast electrics, so this is a real contrast for me. I am, however, enjoying it immensely.
I've been building a double size G.G. Phantom Blockade Runner & have some questions I hope someone may be able to answer. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
1) What style of anchor was common to these vessels?
2) Were the handrails solid posts & rails or did they use staunchions & wire rope?
3) Did the staunchions or posts have any kind of ball or post top on them.
4) Is there any information on the basic layout of the rigging & funnel stays.
I know it's a semi scale model, but if I have the opportunity to make some things authentic then I believe that I should at least try.
Here's a link to the build on R/C Groups to give you some idea of the progress.
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=773432

Cheers.
Paul.

[Dinosaursoupman]

Welcome to the group Paul.
The web site, "Ironclads and Blockade Runners" has a few pictures of some of the blockade runners of the time. Most photos were taken after the North captured them and converted them to U.S. navy vessels. (I guess the Confederate navy didn't have the finances to buy a camera) There is a section on "Famous blockade runners" and a couple of pictures may be of use. Although they are not of the Phantom they are of ships of the same time period. A picture of the U.S.S. Clyde shows a little of the anchor, a typical steel shank and fluke type.  A picture of the C.S.S. William C. Hewes, photo# NH91416 shows Admiral David Dixon Porter standing at the rail of the U.S.S. Malvern, (ex-C.S.S. W. C. Hewes). Hopefully this can help with a general idea of what was used during that time. The rest of the site is pretty informative with other types of vessels, including paddlers, from both sides of the conflict, with pictures, and numerous links.
Here is the address, http://www.wideopenwest.com/~jenkins/ironclads/ironclad.htm

Randy the Dinosaur Soup Man

[785boats]

Thanks Dinosaursoupman.
I did scroll through that site early in the project but did'nt see those images of the anchor & the rails. Thanks for pointing them out. After paying closer attention to the images on that site, I'm sure that I can now set up some passable rigging lines. Simplified somewhat of course. Maybe even some removeable sails.
Your efforts are greatly appreciated.
Kind regards.
Paul.

[Hankwilliams]

Hello Paul,

next week I will put some photos of my 1:48 "Hope" to the forum (in the moment a don`t have a scanner).
I build it from Mc. Gregor plan, the plan seems rather exact. In this the funnels were stabilised with 6 rails of chains.

The handrails in the plan are quite normal. The stanchions were crossed by the wires, you can use easily the stanchions which are sold in modell shops and make the handrail with brass wire. As I know, all wooden parts of blockade runners  except the deck were paintet white or grey.

The ships were quite purpose build, probably the paint even depends on what was availible, generally the hull was paintet in light grey shades, so that it was adaptet to the coulors of the sea.
In the situation of the Confederates there were not much time and occasion to maintaine the ships, therefore it would be interesting to make the models surface old and rusty at appropriate parts.
My "Hope"  now is 13 years old and has got (even because it is steamdriven) a rather naturalistic patina in the waterline and at parts of the superstructure which i will not wash off. The paddlewheels I `ve paintet black and rusty brown.

More next week!

Regards

Thomas

[785boats]

Thanks for the info Thomas.
I look forward to seeing the pics.
Regards.
Paul.

[785boats]

Hi there.
Just a note to let you know that the Phantom has had its first sea trials. Unfortunately I dont know how to reduce photos to be able to post them here yet. The limit being 400kb.
If anyone is interested there are photos on this page at R/C Groups.
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=773432&page=6#post9388232
Hope you like them.
Regards.
Paul.

Hello Paul, to make it easier to add pictures in future just give a shout to a moderator. Pictures added below.

build and well worth the showing here.

cheers

Jim

[Red_Hamish]

Hello all, as mentioned above these photos are really worth the showing on Paddleducks. I checked out the rcforum obviously, where there are more, and was impressed that you got a response from the originator of the plans Mr Glynn Guest  For those who wish to add photos to their posts rather than contacting the Moderators the task of resizing can be achieved quite easily  by following the topic here.

http://www.paddleducks.co.uk/smf/index.php?topic=2656.0

Thanks for sharing this wonderful upscale build it has been an inspiration.

cheers

Jim

[785boats]

Thanks for your kind words & the instructions on reducing photos.
I will admit, I was pleasantly surprised & humbled by the comments posted by Glynn guest himself. I'm a great fan of his designs & articles in the magazines.


I ended up downloading 'Photorazor' which was linked by Walter Cooper on the site you posted above. Even my limited computer skills could work it out. Only 3 steps to reduce a whole file of pics into a sub file within that file without altering the originals. Brilliant.
So now I'll try & post one to see if it works. This is a photoshoped image of the last image you posted. It was done by a friend from work & sent to me. Still working on the hand rail, anchors & rigging etc.
Buy for now.
Paul.

[herrmill]

Paul,

Great to see your build over here. She looks fantastic on the water!

Chuck

[785boats]

Thanks Chuck.
Sorry this is a bit late but I haven't been here for a while . Still haven't done the video yet. Will get to it soon.
Cheers.
Paul.

[Hankwilliams]

Hello Paul,

very nice appearance of the elegant ship. Your model ist well built and it seems, also the stability when running in the water
is sufficient.
I would like to introduce one more of my models, but with my limited computer skills I have problems of scanning the pictures.
By scanning the pictures of "Hope" and "Welf" a friend helped me, but in moment he isn't avaailiable. I hope this will be solved soon.

Regards

Thomas

[785boats]

Thanks for the kind words Thomas. You'll soon get the hang of the scanner. We all need to see pictures...and videos.
Yes I've finally done it. A video. Still haven't done the handrails though.
Love the sound of the paddles. Don't like the sound of the ESCs though.
Enjoy.
Paul.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fnLuiwpFDAg

[Hankwilliams]

Hello Paul,

I've enjoyed your nice video! Very nice presentation of your model. Thank you very much, Paul.
I hope, I ca introduce my models soon.

Thomas