Hi all, I have started work on the Modelik USS Akansas. I did a quick review of the model here,http://ift.tt/1O2mg7t
The USS Arkansas and three other monitors were ordered in response to the Spanish naval threat just prior to the Spanish-American war. The navy didn't want them, but politicians in ports and cities up rivers feared the Spanish steaming in and bombarding them, and put pressure on the government to do something to protect them. Battleships were used for a while, but as this was a waste of resources, construction started on the monitors. Although they had 12" guns like battleships, the rest of the design was half-hearted. They were designed to placate the public while not wasting too much money.They were also given names of states, as were battleships at the time.
By the time they were finished the threat had passed, and none of them did anything of significance.They later had their state names taken off them. The Arkansas became the Ozark. They spent most of their careers as training ships, and later submarine tenders. They were suited to this because of their extremely low freeboard.
I like this quote about the Arkansas class monitors by Alexander C. Brown, writing in the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers Historical transactions,
"Monitors found their final employment as submarine tenders in World War I for which their low freeboard hulls made them well suited. It is significant to note, however, that in this humble capacity they were ministering to the needs of that type of craft which had logically replaced them for as initially envisaged monitors were designed to combine heavy striking power with concealment and the presentation of a negligible target area ..."
I have decided to make this a waterline model, to emphasise the extremely low freeboard. Even my wife noticed it as she passed by the table I was working at. I have replaced the plated deck with planks, but otherwise I plan to build more or less as provided, adding a few extras if I can sustain my interest. I like researching the history of the models I build, and as the history of this class of ships is so dull, it is a bit hard to get excited, I have discovered.
Detail is simple, which is fine. Accuracy doesn't seem so great at the moment, such as door placement. but I wont let that bother me on this build.
Here is where I am up to. Fit of parts has been excellent so far.
Robert
The USS Arkansas and three other monitors were ordered in response to the Spanish naval threat just prior to the Spanish-American war. The navy didn't want them, but politicians in ports and cities up rivers feared the Spanish steaming in and bombarding them, and put pressure on the government to do something to protect them. Battleships were used for a while, but as this was a waste of resources, construction started on the monitors. Although they had 12" guns like battleships, the rest of the design was half-hearted. They were designed to placate the public while not wasting too much money.They were also given names of states, as were battleships at the time.
By the time they were finished the threat had passed, and none of them did anything of significance.They later had their state names taken off them. The Arkansas became the Ozark. They spent most of their careers as training ships, and later submarine tenders. They were suited to this because of their extremely low freeboard.
I like this quote about the Arkansas class monitors by Alexander C. Brown, writing in the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers Historical transactions,
"Monitors found their final employment as submarine tenders in World War I for which their low freeboard hulls made them well suited. It is significant to note, however, that in this humble capacity they were ministering to the needs of that type of craft which had logically replaced them for as initially envisaged monitors were designed to combine heavy striking power with concealment and the presentation of a negligible target area ..."
I have decided to make this a waterline model, to emphasise the extremely low freeboard. Even my wife noticed it as she passed by the table I was working at. I have replaced the plated deck with planks, but otherwise I plan to build more or less as provided, adding a few extras if I can sustain my interest. I like researching the history of the models I build, and as the history of this class of ships is so dull, it is a bit hard to get excited, I have discovered.
Detail is simple, which is fine. Accuracy doesn't seem so great at the moment, such as door placement. but I wont let that bother me on this build.
Here is where I am up to. Fit of parts has been excellent so far.
Robert
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