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CSS VIRGINIA model
Our CSS Virginia model
was built with an
extensive assistance from a civil war book author. Originally
commissioned by the
Texas Civil War Museum, this
exemplified model has no peers in the marketplace.
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The 275' CSS
Virginia was constructed from the partly burned steam frigate Merrimack at Gosport
Navy Yard. After nine months in dry dock, she emerged as
a massive ironclad that projected a powerful 1,500-pound
iron ram on her bow.
On March 8th 1862,
Virginia
left dock to attack the Federal squadron in Hampton
Roads.
Around 2:00 p.m., she struck the frigate
USS Cumberland with her ram, smashing its wooden
hull. The mortal blow entangled the attacker to the
victim and the Virginia was at risk of being carried
down. She managed to dislodge herself from the frigate's
side, but in doing so the lethal ram broke free.
The CSS
Virginia now turned her sights on the nearby
USS Congress (52 guns), which, having witnessed
Cumberland's fate, purposely ran aground. Virginia
maneuvered to pound the frigate with deadly broadsides,
forcing the enemy to strike her colors an hour later.
The Southern ironclad threw shot and shell into Congress
with terrific effect, while the shot from the Congress
glanced from her iron-plated sloping sides without doing
any apparent damage. During this time, Virginia's
captain Buchanan was wounded by musket fire. With
daylight waning, Virginia broke off her attack.
The next
morning, CSS Virginia (commanded by Catesby Jones),
prepared the ironclad for another assault, now against
the 265' USS Minnesota. Virginia steamed from the area
of Craney Island and appeared into view of Minnesota’s
lookouts at 6:00 on 9 March 1862. As the range closed to
one mile, Minnesota opened fire with her stern guns and
signaled USS Monitor to attack.
As the
Virginia approached the Minnesota, she noticed a strange
raft-like vessel defending the wooden frigate. That
odd-shaped thing soon turned out to be her nastiest
opponent - the USS Monitor.
USS
Monitor steamed between Minnesota and Virginia and the
two ironclads fired into each other. The captain of
Minnesota, Van Brunt, compared the effectiveness of the
two ship’s bombardment against their reinforced hulls to
“so many pebblestones thrown by a child.” Minnesota’s
gun deck, spar deck, and forecastle pivot guns
repeatedly hit Virginia, but the Confederate ship
emerged from the smoke and relentlessly attacked the
Union ship. Monitor again positioned herself between
Virginia and Minnesota and protected the frigate.
Virginia shifted her position to continue the battle but
grounded. The Confederate steam battery eased herself
off the mud bank and stood down the bay. Monitor
pursued, but Virginia came about and rammed Monitor and
they fired a furious cannonade into each other.
After
several hours of close combat, Monitor disengaged and
headed for the safety of shallower waters, with her
commander temporarily blinded by a shell that exploded
near the viewing slit of the pilothouse. Virginia, short
on ammunition and conscious of the retreating tide,
retired to Norfolk. The first battle between
steam-powered, ironclad warships had ended in a draw.
The USS Monitor and
CSS Virginia were not the world's first ironclad ships,
but their epic clash at Hampton Roads on March 9, 1862,
marked a major turning point in naval warfare.
The damage to Minnesota
and the other wooden ships, and their failure to damage
Virginia, underscored the vulnerability of wooden
vessels against ironclads.
On May 10,
1862, advancing Union troops occupied Norfolk. Since
Virginia was now a heavy steam-powered, she was no
longer seaworthy enough to enter the Atlantic, even if
she were able to pass the Union blockade. Virginia was
also unable to retreat further up the James River due to
her deep 22-foot draft. In an attempt to reduce weight,
supplies and coal were dumped overboard, even though
this exposed the ironclad's unarmored lower hull; this
was still not enough to make a difference. Virginia's
new captain reluctantly ordered her destruction in order
to keep the ironclad from being captured. This task fell
to Lieutenant Jones, the last man to leave Virginia
after her cannons had been safely removed and carried to
the Confederate Marine Corps base and fortifications at
Drewry's Bluff. Early on the morning of May 11, 1862,
off Craney Island, fire and powder trails reached the
ironclad's magazine and she was destroyed by a great
explosion. What remained of the ship settled to the
bottom of the harbor. Only a few remnants of Virginia
have been recovered for preservation in museums.
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We build this authentic CSS Virginia model
in three sizes:
46" long x 9" wide x 12" tall
$2,890 
Shipping and insurance
in the contiguous US included. Other places: $400
flat rate.
This model is in stock
and can be shipped within 5 business days.
33" long
(1/100 scale)
$2,340.
This model is
built per commission only. We require only a small
deposit to start the process
$500 
The
remaining balance won't be due until the model is
completed, in less than 6 months.
23" long
(1/144 scale)
$1,940.
This model is
built per commission only. We require only a small
deposit to start the process
$500
The
remaining balance won't be due until the model is
completed, in less than 6 months.
Check out our beautiful
CSS Tennessee,
USS Cairo,
USS Monitor, and
USS Tecumseh model
Other ship, different size? Just let us know by clicking
on this link: Commissioning. The
process will be easy and stress free.
"Good morning
gentlemen from Covington Washington. I have just
looked at the photos provided, and have completed
the purchase of this model of the CSS Virginia. I am
thrilled at what you have created! What a model! I
am very, very pleased! Very sincerely, John O"
"Your
company makes extremely fine and great quality
models-I would love to have one of this boat German
S-100 torpedo boat for my collection.
John O"
Learn more about the
CSS Virginia here:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CSS_Virginia
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