ACW Steamboat

[shandy]

Hi!

For the Combahee River Raid scenario, I need at least one steamboat, so I made an effort building one from scratch.



It's not as detailed as the splendid 28mm steamboat by Clawed_Greengrass (which can be seen in another thread), but it will do for my 15mm games.
For a short tutorial and more images, visit https://wargamingraft.wordpress.com/2016/02/19/building-an-acw-gunboat/

Cheers,
Shandy

[Marine0846]

Well done. Like it a lot.
Will be great for your game.

[Drachenklinge]

Looks nice, indeed. Love that sort of productive creativity.

Question, please.
Is this completely covered wheel a trick for not having to build it or is it more real than suspected, due to protect it from gunfire in wartimes?

[shandy]

Thanks for the kind comments!

Is this completely covered wheel a trick for not having to build it or is it more real than suspected, due to protect it from gunfire in wartimes?

In period illustrations, you see a lot of wheels that are covered almost to the surface of the water. Until now, I never asked myself why they built it that way… I guess protection from gunfire was the main reason, the notion 'timberclads' was at first an ironic pun on 'ironclads', but those boats were quite sturdy.



This is the Tyler, together with her sister boat the Lexington she was involved in numerous fights, even supporting the Union troops in the Battle of Shilo. Also, in the later years of the war, Union steamboats were constantly threatened by snipers and hidden batteries, so additional protection for the paddle wheels makes sense.

[Drachenklinge]

I liked both versions, but thanks for the insight. 

Any plans for more of it, a biggie even?
Or is it meant for a smaller watersection in a gaming table?