March 2015 MAINE COASTAL NEWS Page 19.


BlueJackets Introduces Models of ALABAMA & KEARSARGE Continued from Page 7.


do the rigging. It turns out that this model has nine different sizes and colors of rigging line.”


With ALABAMA completed, Al is now working on KEARSARGE. He added, “I am drawing the plans. Some of the laser work has already been done, the photo artwork is done, and the casting masters have been done, though there may be some additional ones.”


As with ALABAMA, Al had questions about many aspects of the ship, which proved diffi cult to answer. He explained, “Most of what is available for the KEARSARGE is the 1880s refi t and we’re doing 1864. There is a wicked difference. Originally she was open all the way to the forecastle, and then she had a short forecastle deck, and when they redid her the last time she had a quarter deck that came beyond the mizzen mast, the forecastle deck was extended aft of the foremast, the entire deck arrangement was changed, and the bulwarks was raised a foot to two feet. They even extended the keel down about 2 feet. I had to go back to dated photographs, which there were few, to get the actual confi guration. I am also using the model that is down at the Maine Maritime Museum. I took a lot of photographs and that has helped me out because it was built by a guy who did considerable research. So, based on the model, based on the National Archives plans, based on the photographs I have come up with something similar. The difference is mostly in the placement of certain items.”


One would think that with everything that is on the Internet it would be easier to do this type of research, but it is not. Al said that you fi nd much more misinformation because people no longer go directly to the source. He added, “People today are simply parroting something they have seen before. Sometimes it is right, and sometimes it isn’t even close.” He did say it is easier to fi nd photographs on the web, just be extremely careful of what someone has written. As with ALABAMA there will also be a reveal in KEARSARGE. Al added, “We are doing two things. Originally we were just going to show the chain armor. The more I looked at the original drawing I could see the planking, I could see the diagonal brac- ing, and I could see the ceiling so it is not that big a deal to do it. The frame spacing


Clearance Sale on Parts and Accessories!


WE ALSO DO: · Fiberglass Repair · Detailing · Bottom Paint · Varnish · Repair of All Makes


    


The fi nished model of CSS ALABAMA.


on KEARSARGE is considerably different from the frame spacing on the ALABAMA. I can show the frames, the diagonal spacing, and because there is a ceiling I will not show the coal bunker like I did on the other one.” “The biggest difference on the KE- ARSARGE,” continued Al, “they experi- mented with the turnbuckle instead of dead eyes. They are not your traditional tubular with a single screw in each end. Actually the ends moved rather than the rod. When they rebuilt her they replaced them with dead eyes. Apparently they had problems. The kit has the turnbuckles, which was kind of a beast to create.”


Each kit has excellent instructions and a CD to take you from beginning to end. If they do not help, I am sure a call to BlueJackets would answer any question. Sales have been g oing well. Last May they began accepting deposits and Nic said, “So far the reception has been very good. In fact this morning I was talking to a cus- tomer that had received his kit and he was absolutely delighted with it. He was up till midnight last night working on it.” With the ALABAMA kit done, KE- ARSARGE will follow sometime this sum- mer. Each kit is offered at $739 each and there is a $50 discount if you purchase both, which many people have done. So far each model is selling pretty even with maybe a couple more orders for KEARSARGE. She was the winner of the battle.


So with the constant cold weather and the snow piling up in the yard it is the perfect time to fi nd that new hobby. One that you can do in the warmth of your home and when you are done you will have an absolutely beau- tiful creation you can admire for years and pass down to the next genera- tion.


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