| The USS Monitor was the United States
Navy's answer to the CSS Virginia. Designed by John Ericsson, she was the
first of the Monitors. She was commissioned on February 25th 1962 and shortly
after sailed for Hampton Roads, Virginia. No sooner had she arrived then
she was sent into action to go up against the Virginia which had sunk two
US Navy ships trying to blockade the harbor. The attack ended in a stalemate
with neither ship able to sink the other. But the presence of the Monitor
prevented the South from breaking the blockade and their battle forever
changed Naval combat for years to come.
More about the Monitor can be read on the Dept.
of the Navy -- Naval Historical Center website. But you can preserve
your own piece of history with the 1/192 multimedia kit by Flagship Models. |
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| HULL |
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| The hull on this kit is cast as one piece with only a small casting
gate on the bow to remove. The surface detail is very good, with the plate
line boldly etched into the surface. Rivet detail is applied all around
the hull. The underside also features nice casting detail. |
click images
to enlarge
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| RESIN DETAILS |
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| With such a simple ship design, there are very few other resin parts.
A turret, the armored pilot house, and some chocks and bits. The turret
is really cool with some nice rivet details all over the exterior. The
interior has detailed floors to mount the main guns. The modeler will have
to finish opening up the gun slots so the guns can protrude through. The
bits and chocks have a bit of flash and will need some touch up. |
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| METAL FITTINGS |
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| Two canons, and their carriages are cast in white metal. The propeller
and rudder look crude, but then this is the way they were on this ship.
Again a little flash to clean up. There is also a length of real chain
for the anchor, and brass and plastic rod to supply other parts. |
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| PHOTO ETCH |
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| A new relief etch brass photo etch sheet is provided to supply the
finer parts. The turret top is etched with really nice open grate detailing.
The relief etching allows you make out the supports under the grate. Boat
davits, stantions, and canon parts make are also included on this fret. |
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| DECALS |
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| A simple US flag decal is supplied in paper. |
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| INSTRUCTIONS |
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The Instructions two pages with assembly notes. These seem
to cover all the bases and should be more than enough to complete your
ironclad.
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| CONCLUSIONS |
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With the recent release of the CSS
Virginia, it only seems natural to have the Monitor too. This new kit
will prove a worthy adversary to the Confederate Ironclad. This is kit
#FM19204 1/192 USS Monitor listed for $60.00, available direct from
Flagship
Models via it's online ordering system.
With such a simple shape the painting and weathering be what makes this
kit standout. Not to worry, as Flagship has a line of How to CD's that
will help you out in many topics from Building
Resin Ships and Working with Photo
Etch Parts to Making Realistic Water. |
