​ATLANTIS MODELS HAS RELEASED A HISTORIC 2-IN-1 NAVAL DIORAMA MODEL KIT DEPICTING THE FIRST BATTLE BETWEEN IRONCLAD SHIPS.  IT REPRESENTS THE BIRTH OF MODERN NAVAL COMBAT.  THIS WAS ORIGINALLY A LINDBERG KIT RELEASED 60 YEARS AGO--IN 1962!

BY BILL ENGAR

BRIEF:  ATLANTIS MODELS' MONITOR VS MERRIMAC BATTLE OF THE IRONCLADS AMERICAN CIVIL WAR DIORAMA IS PERFECT FOR SCHOOL PROJECTS, HISTORIANS/COLLECTORS, AND ANYONE WITH EVEN A PASSING INTEREST IN MODEL SHIPS.  THESE ARE SIMPLE YET DETAILED MODELS THAT GO TOGETHER EASILY.  RECOMMENDED FOR MODELERS WHO CAN HANDLE GLUE AND PAINT.  EXCELLENT "FIRST SHIP MODEL."  IT'S AN AMAZING VALUE FOR WHAT WE CONSIDER A "MODELING ESSENTIAL; A KIT THAT EVERY MODELER OUGHT TO BUILD AT ONE TIME OR ANOTHER!

KIT# L77257 -- NUMBER OF PARTS: 48 (MERRIMAC 29, MONITOR 18, PLUS BASE) -- 2022 MSRP: $29.99 -- UNASSEMBLED KIT -- PAINT AND GLUE NEEDED TO COMPLETE MODEL AS SHOWN ON BOX

Kit boxtop shows how the diorama will look when built and painted.  The Monitor (bottom ship) is accurately portrayed in its "clean" battle configuration with stanchions and stacks removed!  We'll explain this more in our bonus features.  What you have here is a historically accurate depiction of The Battle of the Ironclads!  Both ships are the same relative sizes (approximately 1/245).  Even the positioning is accurate; in fact, the two ships were observed to bump and grind together several times during the battle.

The Confederate Navy (CSN; "The South") Merrimac/Virginia parts cover most of this photo at left.  Union Navy (USN; "The North") Monitor parts at right.  Note that two nameplate options are included; in our bonus features, we'll explain why the Merrimac and C.S.S Virginia names are often used interchangeably when referring to the same ship.

The Confederate Merrimac was renamed as the C.S.S. Virginia when rebuilt as an ironclad; for the first time, the kit includes two sets of decals giving the modeler the choice of designating the Confederate ironclad as the Merrimac or Virginia.

A white vacuum-formed plastic base is included to display these full-hull models in a waterline display.  Separate stands are also included to display them in full-hull mode!  Decals provide a choice of Merrimac or C.S.S. Virginia for The South's Ironclad.

Atlantis’ Monitor vs Merrimac set is molded in gray plastic.  A white vacuum-formed water base is included.
 
Parts on both ships have fine raised rivet detail.  The Merrimac has appropriate wood-grain texture on the horizontal decks.

There are some small parts.  The 4-armed Monitor anchor was particularly nicely done; it has the right look and is fragile!  Removing it from the sprue without breaking it might be the trickiest endeavor for the less experienced modeler.  It goes in an under-hull recess, so if it is hopelessly broken, it won't be too obvious on the finished model, particularly if one chooses to use the water-base.

Cannons for the Merrimac/Virginia are forward barrels only.  They have indentations on the front suggesting a bore; these can easily be drilled out to enhance their realism.  The guns on a battleship are often a focal point and this minor customization adds another dimension of realism to your model.  Small drill bit sets specifically for hobbyists are available along with pin-vises to hold them and these items are a great tool for the advancing modeler.

The Dahlgren guns on the Monitor have the correct bottle shape!  Even though the actual 11-inch Monitor guns were bigger than her Merrimac/Virginia rival, between the models, the muzzles on the Monitor's guns are narrower.  But you can still carefully drill them out to add yet another bit of realism.  Use a #1 X-Acto knife with a fresh #11 blade; you can use that sharp point to make a small pilot hole so the drill bit will start the hole in the center of the gun muzzle.  You don't need to drill in very far; just a millimeter or two will give the impression of an opening.
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The sharp "V" shape of the Merrimac's breakwater is accurately portrayed here.

The Monitor had large rivets on its turret, depicted here.

Details on the Monitor's deck are nicely done.  The propeller access panel can be seen at left with air intakes in the middle and exhausts at right.  Stacks protected these openings from flooding during transit, but they were removed for battle!  Even the round skylights are depicted!

These are vintage kits; contest modelers will note minimal flash, some sinkholes and minor seams.   These are fairly simple kits that should go together easily.  They are perfect for a school project!
 
Model glue is required for assembly and the builder will likely want to provide paint.

An 8-1/2X11 two-sided page has excellent historical data about the two ships.

Instructions are laser-printed on a large folded sheet.  Construction is fairly simple.  Inexperienced modelers should have no problems and advanced modelers can add detailing to enhance the models if they wish.

WHAT COLOR WERE THE IRONCLADS?

Sources differ regarding the colors both ironclads wore during the battle--above and below the waterline!  It is well known that both ships were hastily built and heavy weathering would probably not have been seen.  I'd recommend that the builder perform their own research; as one pokes around the Internet regarding these ironclads, many interesting details will be found about the ships and the famous battle.  

Let me also state that I do not claim to be any expert or authority on the Ironclads or the Civil War.  If any readers wish to clarify, add interesting information, or take issue with anything I've provided here, I welcome your comments, particularly if you can cite credentials and references to support your material.

The only issue I'll raise with kit painting instructions is the recommendation to paint the cannons gold on both models.  I believe a semi-gloss black would be a more historically accurate choice.

A closeup view of the heavily armored pilot house-cupola on the Merrimac/Virginia.  Molded-in detail is very nice on this upper hull part; this is the Civil War and heavy rivets were used on the iron plates.  These ships were such a departure from what was customary at the time; if you didn't know better, you'd think they were fictional steampunk fantasies!

The "paperwork" included with the kit.  That's an ad for a Grex airbrush.  The Atlantis "mini-poster" not only shows other kits available, on the back, it includes a special code you can use to buy these great models from Atlantis directly at a discount!  Historical data is on the smaller sheet and the large sheet is the folded instruction sheet.

Here is some information about the colors on the Merrimac/CSS Virginia from the CivilWarTalk.com forum:

"Period descriptions say that she was black. However, this seems unlikely. She left her berth in a hurry (so quickly, according to one account, that not all gunport stoppers had been installed). An alternate description would have her the color of bare iron, already touched by rust. One theory holds that the "black" description may have to do with the initial color of her iron, which had been produced at Tredegar. Tredegar iron properly treated often had a black appearance, which faded quickly. RaS believes she was medium grey: this would match, incidentally, with period descriptions of the ship as being "black", since both colors are easily confused, particularly at a distance."

This post illustrates that there really were no certainties regarding the colors of the two ships.  With debates such as these in mind ongoing, perhaps the mantra, "If it feels good, do it" should be considered.  Obviously, there was no color photography in 1862 and firsthand recollections often conflict.  

Personally, I believe the box art photograph is a pretty good representation of what both ships look like, and I'll probably depict my model that way, except for the aforementioned gold cannons.  Most modelers and historians will probably agree with me that the cannons were black, probably semi-gloss.

Box end uses the classic Lindberg box art from 1962.

Most sources cite the Monitor with a black finish.  The instructions suggest dry-brushing with silver to bring out the raised detail.  This should enhance the model if it is done very sparingly.  Adding some very minor rust details will make a striking display.

Box side has kit specs.  We counted 48 parts.  There is a small amount of history included here; the foldout included in the kit has much more.

Many sources state that the Monitor had the hull below the waterline finished in red primer paint.  This would be a brighter red than standard red-brown antifouling paint common on later ships.  We'll cite the full sized, dry-berth replica of the USS Monitor that can be seen at the Mariner's Museum and Park in Virginia (photos will be included in our bonus section!) as a good color reference for your Monitor model.  This "ship" is painted red below the waterline.  In fact, where the hull splits on the model happens to be a good place to divide between upper hull and lower hull; before joining the hull parts, paint the upper hull black and the lower hull--including the propeller--red!

Skill level states ages 14+, but younger modelers with some experience or help from mom and dad should have no trouble building this kit.  You'll want paint and glue ready before starting.  Don't forget your favorite river-water colors; you'll need some to paint that sea base!

Another important diorama color to consider is the water!  Hampton Roads, where the first battle of the ironclads took place, is an unusually large natural harbor located near the mouth of Chesapeake Bay on the East Coast of the United States.  A number of rivers converge at the harbor.  The water is likely to be some combination of green, brown, and maybe a little blue depending on time of year and direction of the sun.  To enhance the realism of your diorama, I'd recommend taking this into consideration when mixing the paint for your "water," perhaps taking the realism of the model up a notch over the kit box.  The boxtop does show some subtle dry-brushing of white paint, which will add a suggestion of turbulent water as might be expected if it were splashed by a cannonball.  Use this technique sparingly and it will add a dimension of drama to your 3D story of the ironclads!

​My expectations were exceeded when I opened this kit, particularly after I did a little additional research on both ironclads.  It's worth a look even by the most advanced modelers who perhaps haven't yet experienced it.  Make no mistake, it is not a state-of-the-art product having been around for a long time, and the AMS crowd might take issue with accuracy of certain details, but what's there provides a nice display of an important event in naval history. 

Atlantis has added a new option to the decal sheet (CSS Virginia designation for the Merrimac--its Confederate name) and as usual gives this release the overall high quality you've come to expect from one of their kits.

The kit has some very nice features and is an excellent value.  Modelers can expect an easygoing, satisfying build whether they want a weekend project or desire to add corrections and extra details.  The kit was originally made during the centennial year of the Battle of Hampton Roads.  Having been around for sixty years at time of posting, the kit itself is historic and we believe it has been under-appreciated by the modeling community.  We don't classify too many kits as "modeling essentials," but with all the features this kit has and the historic significance of the scene portrayed and the kits themselves, we give this one that special consideration.  We'd recommend those who haven't yet bought one to give it a try!

The 2Modeler.com guys give this one an enthusiastic four thumbs up!  

WE'D LIKE TO THANK ATLANTIS MODELS FOR PROVIDING THIS MODEL KIT TO REVIEW AND ENJOY!

BONUS FEATURES
THE MERRIMACK / MERRIMAC / CSS VIRGINIA

Our purpose here is not to present any comprehensive history or commentary on the American Civil War; the reader should know that there are many sources available on this topic and we heartily recommend further research.  Our desire is to present information relevant and of possible interest to the modeler, particularly those interested in the Atlantis Models Monitor & Merrimac ironclad ships diorama model kit.

The Merrimac was a U.S. Navy screw-frigate (steam powered, with sails) launched in 1855.  She was named after the Merrimack river in the state of New Hampshire, which flowed through Merrimac, MA, which is the reason the ship is referred to with both spellings.  “Merrimack” was actually the proper name of the ship.  Technically, her Confederate name is the Virginia and her Union name is the Merrimac.  Of course it is up to the builder of the Atlantis Monitor vs Merrimac model kit which of the name plaque decals to use on the display base.

As a youngster, I always remember the ship referred to with the Union name, Merrimac.  It only seems to be more recently that the Confederate name is used to refer to the ship in its ironclad incarnation.  Forgive us for using them interchangeably!

The Merrimack.  The only thing visible in this painting that carried over into the C.S.S. Virginia's design is that smokestack!

The salvaged hulk of the Merrimack was rebuilt as the ironclad CSS Virginia.  This 1/64-scale model was built by Alexander Lynch in 1939 and placed on display at the Los Angeles Museum.

As the state of Virginia seceded from the United States and U.S. Navy personnel evacuated the Norfolk Navy installation there, the Merrimack was blocked by secessionist action and had to be burned in order to avoid capture.  The ship sank after being burned to the waterline.
 
The northern (Union) Army created a naval blockade of all Southern (Confederate) ports.  While nowhere near 100% effective, the blockade contributed to a scarcity of resources for the Confederate military.  To thwart the blockade, it was determined that an ironclad ship could dominate traditional wooden warships used by the Union navy to enforce the blockade.  The paucity of resources meant that resourcefulness was in order; hence the decision to raise the Merrimack and rebuilt it as an ironclad casemate vessel.

A 1906 painting of CSS Virginia depicts early events in The Battle of Hampton Roads.  The Monitor has yet to arrive on the scene.

With virtually no freeboard, the Virginia's decks were normally awash.  The seagoing ability of these ships was questionable at best.

The hull timbers were actually cut below the waterline and an all-new angled casemate-style upperworks was created with an added fantail.  This completely changed the appearance of the ship.
 
The upper casemate was composed of a 24-inch layer of wood timbers covered with two one-inch layers of iron.  Merrimack’s steamworks were in poor condition even before the sinking and the best maneuvering the ship could perform was a one-mile turning radius taking a half hour to change directions completely.  The finished ship was dubbed the C.S.S. Virginia and reported for battle on March 8, 1862 where it quickly sank the 50-gun sail-frigate USS Cumberland by ramming her.   As the fatally wounded Cumberland went down, surviving sailors reported hearing guffaws of laughter from the Virginia crew coming from the gun openings.  The USS Congress was attacked by the Virginia as well; it probably escaped sinking when the captain elected to ground her.

While the Cumberland was quickly dispatched via ramming, more damage was inflicted on the Virginia through this action than four hours of intense cannon battle with Monitor and other ships the next day.  As a result, the strategy of ramming was deemed not as effective as cannon battle and discontinued.

The Union Navy's 50-gun Cumberland would be considered one of the mightiest wooden warships during the early Civil War.  She fired in vain on the CSS Virginia and was quickly sunk after being rammed.  1884 painting.

THE MONITOR

Construction of the Monitor commenced when it was learned via espionage that the Confederate Navy was building an ironclad.  It was accomplished in only 100 days.

The USS Monitor was a clean-sheet design and was very different from the CSS Virginia.  The ship was designed around a single revolving 2-gun turret 20 feet in diameter and nine feet high.  While the ship was not a submarine, it was very nearly so with only a small portion of the hull above water making it very difficult to hit with gunfire.  A “raft” of essentially dead space around the ship prevented sinking by ramming and protected the vulnerable propeller and inner hull.

Drawings for the Monitor.  The need for rapid construction of the Monitor meant that may shortcuts had to be taken, not the least of which was hull design and construction. The result was simple planes and curves (this is most apparent in the straight lines on the lower hull surfaces seen in the profile drawings).  In spite of this compromise which limited seagoing performance, the Monitor could still out-maneuver the Virginia.

With the decks often awash when steaming on the open ocean, the ship had four stacks to keep water out of the air intakes and engine exhausts.  Depictions of the ship show that these were removed during battle in order to give the guns a wider firing arc.
 
The mechanism to spin the turret was very slow, and it could only move one direction.  During the nearly 4-hour battle at Hampton Roads with the Virginia, the turret system malfunctioned and was left to free-spin slowly.  The Monitor was actually more nimble than the Virginia and the combination of slowly rotating turret and positioning the ship was used to fire on the Virginia.

An 1862 painting shows the Monitor in battle.

This more modern depiction illustrates the pummeling that both ships withstood at close range.  The battle was a draw but naval warfare changed forever on this day.

The Monitor was intended to have 12-inch guns, but none were available.  11-inch guns were appropriated from the Dacotah.  An 11-inch cannonball is larger than a basketball.
 
The ship’s thick-armored pilot house was tiny inside, about the size of a washing machine.  The captain would have narrow slits with which to observe surroundings and navigate the ship.
 
The crew hatch was accessible only through the turret, and the turret had to be in a neutral position in order for the crew to evacuate the ship!

Behind the turret, you can see the deflector later installed on the pilot house.  One cannon was probably moved back inside the turret where it would be in loading position.

The Monitor and her Union crew.  The parasol kept rainwater out of the turret and probably provided a measure of comfort.  Interior of the ship was unbearably hot.  I believe the parasol and likely the stanchions for it were removed during battle.

After the Battle of Hampton Roads, the Monitor’s pilot house was modified with angled plates to deflect cannonballs.  The pilot house was hit twice during that first battle; the final hit seriously injured the captain.
 
During the battle, each ship received numerous direct hits; any of which could have devastated a conventional wooden ship.  97 indentations caused by the Monitor’s guns and other ships participating in the battle were counted on the Virginia/Merrimac, but it was never disabled.

EXPERIENCE IT

The USS Monitor Center at The Mariner's Museum & Park in Newport News, Virginia has a full-sized, dry-berthed mockup-replica of the USS Monitor as its signature exhibit.  Visitors can walk the decks of this ship.  The museum has many artifacts relating to the early ironclads including a number of significant pieces recovered from the USS Monitor wreck site.

The full-sized replica of the USS Monitor at the USS Monitor Center.  Note that the line between black upper hull and red below the waterline corresponds pretty well to the hull-split on your Atlantis Monitor.  This will make painting a cinch!  And of course we have to point out that the paint color here is a pretty bright red.  The hull of the Monitor (and the propeller) were painted primer-red, not anti-fouling hull red, which has a lot more brown in it.

My guess is that railing rope and stanchions depicted here were also removed during battle as they would have interfered with observation and firing the guns.  On this replica, a number of extra lines are in place probably to keep small children from wandering off the edge of the ship.  Note that in the left picture, the parasol has been removed.

​A COMPARISON BETWEEN THE LINDBERG AND PYRO KITS

Some modelers (this one included!) have been confused regarding two different kits depicting the Battle of the Ironclads.  Pyro Models and Lindberg actually tooled separate models of each ship.  Where it gets really confusing is that Lindberg actually took ownership of the Pyro tooling and has released both kits!  We'll provide the scoop on these to kits and discuss their differences!  Spoiler:  You'll probably want both kits.  We hope that Atlantis Models has the tooling to the other set and that they choose to release it some time in the future!

At left is Lindberg's 1962 box art for their debut of the Civil War Ships Monitor and Merrimac set.  Of note is this model was released 100 years after The Battle of Hampton Roads on which the kit is based.  In 2007, Lindberg re-released the set.  Instead of an electric motor for the Merrimac, they added a blue plastic vacuum-formed base.  It's this box art which returns for the 2022 Lindberg set.

This Pyro Merrimac debuted by itself in 1956.  Scalemates photo.  Scale was 1/297.

In 1963, Pyro released its own Monitor and Merrimac set.  But the Monitor, in 1/210 scale, was not in a consistent scale with its older companion.

My brother Dick built the Pyro set back in the 1960’s and it was this pair of models which stoked my interest in the American Civil War and the role the ironclads played.  For many years, I assumed they were accurate representations.
 
Both Pyro models have very nice details.  The Monitor has the four stacks which depict the ship as when underway between battles.  The Merrimac appears to be a tad short for its width.  It has curved breakwaters fore and aft; the Merrimac is widely believed to have had a single, menacing V-shaped bow breakwater much more like what is portrayed on the Lindberg/Atlantis kit.  Pyro’s Merrimac has anchors; the Lindberg/Atlantis Merrimac does not.  The enterprising modeler should be able to scratchbuild a pair for the Atlantis kit without too much trouble if desired.  The Pyro Merrimac also has four lifeboats; most depictions of the ship show two.  The turret on the Atlantis Monitor is accurately offset slightly from center as seen in original Monitor drawings; on the Pyro kit, the turret sits just a tad too far forward.

Also significant is that both ships in the Atlantis set are in the same scale and thus the proper relative size when together on the vacuum-formed water base included in the Atlantis kit.  Between kits, the Lindberg/Atlantis models get the nod for accuracy.  But the Pyro version is a fun representation and gives me an incentive to have both models when the opportunity next presents itself.

Here's the box art for the 1975 re-release of the Pyro models under the Lifelike brand.  Note the correct V-shaped breakwater!

Pyro's Monitor & Merrimac in a Lindberg box from 1986.  These models have not been re-released since then (Scalemates).

Where it gets really confusing for modelers is that Lindberg Models released the Pyro Monitor and Merrimac as a set in 1986.  So both sets have been in a Lindberg box at one time or another!  We don't know where the Pyro molds are; Atlantis Models bought some Lindberg tooling from Round2 Models and they could be with either company.  Perhaps some day, we'll have the "Battle of the Ironclad Model Kit Sets" Internet showdown.

Atlantis Models released this wood Monitor and Merrimack set a few years back!  Unfortunately, it's no longer available.  But it's not the only Monitor/Merrimac set we've seen from Atlantis!

This is what will greet you when you open the box of your own Atlantis Monitor and Merrimac set (the new styrene version!).

LINDBERG'S GREAT MOMENTS IN HISTORY SERIES AND ATLANTIS MODELS' S.T.E.M. KITS

Lindberg models released a number of model kits that had great educational value and Atlantis is continuing that legacy.  Lindberg had an awesome Great Moments in History model kit series, each of which had a nautical theme and included a vacuum-formed plastic water base.  All were made from kits released long prior to the Great Moments series.

The set of Lindberg's Great Moments in History model kits.  Atlantis Models has recreated the Battle of the Monitor and Merrimac kit quite closely, using the same box art.

Perhaps the best kit of the batch was the Monitor and Merrimac set, now re-released by Atlantis Models.  The Ships of Columbus series included three Pyro models; a minor problem was that all three ships were different scales.  Still, it was a fun model and has been re-released in recent years by Round2.  The Surrender at Pearl Harbor included an old 12” (30 cm) version of the USS Missouri.  Being a lone ship, it wasn’t a particularly dramatic display.  The Attack at Pearl Harbor set was a cool concept but the Arizona model was particularly crude and two identical models were supposed to pass for the USS Arizona and USS Nevada, which though superficially similar, were from two completely different classes of ships.

New at time of posting, The Amoeba has some fun possibilities beyond its educational potential (Blob, anyone?).  If you have a child or grandchild considering any type of career in biology or medicine, this kit is a must-have.

This model kit is an extremely detailed Curtis-Wright Cyclone radial aircraft engine.  Learn more about how many aircraft were powered during World War II from this kit.

Atlantis Models has a great set of educational models.  While the Monitor and Merrimac set isn’t officially a S.T.E.M. model kit (Science-Technology-Engineering-Math), it has high educational value for its depiction of an important Civil War and nautical history event.  Aside from their educational value, each of these models has a high “fun” factor and we’d recommend that you try each one.

Similar to the Atlantis Curtis-Wright Cyclone kit, this Allison Prop-Jet Engine model reveals the inner workings of a turboprop engine.  When this kit was first tooled in 1960, who knew that the C-130 which it powered, would still be in production in 2022!  The C-130, which was first built in 1954, is still being made--nearly 70 years later at time of posting.

Atlantis Models re-released Lindberg's USS Nautilus N571, the first nuclear-powered submarine.  Crazy Trivia Fact:  We contributed to this kit!  We provided a scan of the Lindberg instructions and helped to develop the decal sheet for this model.  That's our built model on the box sides!

Friendship 7 was the first American manned spacecraft to orbit the earth.  Atlantis Models recreates this phenomenal 1962 kit in every detail!  The fully-detailed launchpad is simply amazing!

​HISTORY IN PARTING:  OTHER MODERN WEAPONS FIRST USED IN THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR 

REPEATING RIFLES

Muzzle-loading rifles were the standard small-arms cavalry weapon most widely used during the Civil War.  At best, two or three rounds per minute could be fired with the soldier required to pack powder and ball down the muzzle of the rifle using a ramrod.  Several types of muzzle-loading rifles made by Springfield Arms were widely used.

A Springfield Model 1816 .69 caliber flintlock musket was a typical infantry weapon that could fire 2-3 rounds per minute.

Christopher Spencer invented the repeating rifle.  Instead of stuffing powder and a ball down the muzzle of the gun, rounds were contained in a metal cartridge holding bullet, powder, and primer.  With the capability of holding several cartridges, the gun could be fired as fast as the soldier could actuate a lever, cock and pull the trigger.  Instead of 2-3 rounds per minute, 14-20 rounds could be fired.  The Union Army was issued these rifles as fast as they could be made.  First used at the Battle of Gettysburg, they didn’t become common until late in the war.

This Spencer M1865 rifle was capable of ejecting spent cartridges and loading another thanks to its lever-action mechanism.  In addition to actuating the lever, the hammer needed to be pulled back manually to cock the gun for the next shot.  While semi-automatic guns were some years away, the cartridge system is ubiquitous today

SUBMARINES

The Union naval blockade stifled Confederate supply lines.  Like the ironclad CSS Virginia, additional innovative methods of attacking Union warships was needed.  The CSS Hunley was the first submarine used to sink a warship, the USS Housatonic.  The propeller on the Hunley was connected to a crankshaft powered by eight crewman.  A ninth steered the submarine.

The CSS Hunley was the first operational military submarine.

The Hunley’s weapon was literally an explosive on a stick.  It posed nearly the same risk to submarine as the target when detonated.  The Hunley was dangerous; three sinkings killed 21 crewmen.  Like the Monitor and the Merrimac, the Hunley itself had a negligible effect on the outcome of the war, but the potential of the submarine was demonstrated.  A half-century later, the submarine came into its own during World War I.

The Hunley had an 8-cylinder motor--each crewman was one cylinder turning a crankshaft connected directly to a propeller.

Atlantis Models was a distributor for Micro Mir, a Ukrainian company that had a line of historic submarine models including the Hunley.

This replica of the Hunley can be seen in Charleston, SC near the intersection of John and Meeting Streets!

Micro Mir's Hunley is a 1/35-scale Micro Mir kit.  Unfortunately, it is out of production.

AIRCRAFT

The Intrepid was a battlefield reconnaissance balloon.  Tethered to the ground, It used hydrogen as the lift gas and was equipped with a telegraph to report battlefield data in real-time.  AMT Models actually made a model of the Intrepid!

Sulfuric acid and iron filings were used to generate hydrogen.  Don't try this at home!

AMT had a small series of lighter-than-air craft including this Intrepid Civil War Balloon, the Akron/Macon, and Hindenburg.  The Civil War Balloon kit has yet to see a re-release.

TANKS

The adjacent photo shows an authentic civil war tank, at right near the top of the picture.  It would have been used to store water needed to generate steam in a train locomotive.  No, motorized tanks did not appear in the American Civil War.  Steam engines were suitable for vehicles on rails such as trains, but they simply were not powerful enough for their weight to be able to move a vehicle over uneven ground.  Sorry, military tanks did not appear in battle until World War I.

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Other weapons that were innovated during the American Civil War include the multi-barrel Gatling gun and the hand grenade.

An authentic Civil War tank, at top right.

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