The CSS Virginia in 28mm

[Sp0n]

Having recently spent quite some time drooling over the Perry ACW plastics, and after buying and painting my Iron Dwarves for Uncharted Seas, I found my self searching the web for pics and information on the CSS Virginia. I've found it rather difficult to find any precise information, and almost every picture of it differs from the next. Since this is intended for 28mm, this didn't put me off as I'd have to tweak the proportions anyway...
In the end I let the size of my foamboard decide the length of the shit and the size of a random models base, plus my sense of what would look good, decide the beam (width of a ship, right?).
I started out by making a sketch of the front and rear of the ship:


This was placed on the foamboard, and the basic shape of the hull was cut out, measuring 70x15 cm (You'll notice that I changed the rear of the ship before cutting it out):


I then cut out the basic shapes of the top part of the ship (the casemate? I REALLY need a Danish-English naval dictionary ):


I glued them to the hullshape, which warped it slightly, but nothing that can't be fixed at a later point:


Then came the fun part: Figuring out how to make the curved armourplating at the front and rear. I ended up just guessing and then trimming to fit, which turned out quite nice:


So this is where I'm at right now. The armourplates will consist of two or more layers of plasticard for extra strentgh - I'm using some quite thin stuff for each layer to help with the bending. Being absentminded, I forgot to make the gunports in the armour glued to the front, but I'l hopefully be able to fix it with out to many problems at a later point...
During the construction, I had my little helper running around, sorting my paints and he actually (almost) got them to fit in the suitcase:

[dijit]

THats looking really good, I'm very impressed. It's going to be interesting to see how this develops. You 'just' need to build an USS Monitor now....

[Sp0n]

...and a really large table and I could replay the Battle of Hampton Roads 

[Dr. The Viking]

Waouv!

I'm amazed that you'll undertake such a thing!

I hope you will be able to finish it... 

[Sp0n]

I need to - The victorious CSA forces will need somekind of ship to go unobtanium hunting in the southeast Asia, right? 

[Calimero]

Nice project!
I had the same "urge" to build an ACW US Ironclad myself about 10 years ago…
I traced the template on a thin piece of wood… and it’s at the same stage since then…

[aircav]

Looking good so far, shame you didn't sdtart it a month ago it would have made a great entry to the build something contest 

Keith 

[gamer Mac]

Looking good so far, shame you didn't sdtart it a month ago it would have made a great entry to the build something contest 

Keith 

Totally agree
Looking forward to seeing the progress.

[Svennn]

" I ended up just guessing and then trimming to fit, which turned out quite nice:"

Is there another way?

Great project, looking good.

[Sp0n]

I tried really hard to get going in time for the Build Something-thing, but failed. But in the end the competion was all about getting people to build something and all the great entries was part of the motivation I needed to start building this.
I just finished putting the bottom layer of armour on one side and took some pics with a 28mm heroic GW guy for reference:



And now I've got to clear the desk, since all this was done on El Jefe's desk and she'll be home soon  

[Dr. The Viking]

Yes! Jesper this is an amazing idea.

I've already built two prussian ships.

We've gotta have a sea battle. Your ship is large enough for boarding. 

[archangel1]

Don't think small, do you? Even at 70cm, you're in just over half-scale! The Monitor would come in just under 3 feet but it's a lot more boring.

I believe you're right with casemate, by the way, although I don't think Virginia was considered as casemated.  I could be wrong, though.

As much as I like ACW ironclads, most of them are unfortunately rather plain in appearance.  I would rather build something like a cottonclad or timberclad, myself, although they'd probably be even bigger in scale.  Bulkier, at least.

[Dewbakuk]

Very nice. Looking forward to seeing this completed, I've wanted to make a similar ship as a nef but I'm not allowed to build the ships I've already started due to lack of space

So, after this one gets done, you fancy making this?

[archangel1]

USS Choctaw?

[Sp0n]

Don't think small, do you? Even at 70cm, you're in just over half-scale! The Monitor would come in just under 3 feet but it's a lot more boring.

I believe you're right with casemate, by the way, although I don't think Virginia was considered as casemated.  I could be wrong, though.

As much as I like ACW ironclads, most of them are unfortunately rather plain in appearance.  I would rather build something like a cottonclad or timberclad, myself, although they'd probably be even bigger in scale.  Bulkier, at least.

It's the other way around, right? The Monitor was shorter, but slighty wider than the Virginia...

I'd never heard of cotton- or timberclads, so had to look it up and what a wondelful world of weird stuff  This page gave me a nice look at the different types and I'm quite tempted 
By the way: The 'plain' look makes it quite easy to create the model, despite it's size...

@Dewbakuk:
What is that thing? Computergamething or something thought up by some random guy with Sketchup? It's not a real life ship, right?