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A FREE PAPER MODEL TO DOWNLOAD AND CONSTRUCT

Paddle Steam Ferry COMMODORE PERRY

USS Commodore Perry was one of many ferries and other civilian craft that were converted to serve in the Union Navy. In late 1861 it was rebuilt into a gunboat, carrying heavy cannons on the open decks. That armourplating had been added to the sides is evident from contemporary photographs. In this model the ship appears likeit did in1864, assigned to the squadron that watched the James River. A spar torpedopoints from the bow. In the Library of Congress digital collection another ferrycarries the same name. Did the librarians mix them up, or was there actually two ships carrying the same name? Perhaps this one is the misnamed?

Commodore Matthew Perry, 1794-1858, sailed a powerful squadronto Japan, bullying it to accept the treaty of Kanawaga, ending a longtime isolation. Nameing a gunboat "Perry" made use of hispopularity in the USA.

30 Walking beam

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33Mountainfold

Valleyfold

Towards the bow

Number of parts

Location of parts

Double and cut out

Part to be rolled

Optional part

Space to remove

NUMBERS AND NAMES OF THE PARTS

THE SYMBOLS

AN AUTHENTIC PHOTOGRAPH OF THE SHIP

THE FRAME OF THE MODEL

1 Hull base2 Hull spine3-14 Hull formers15 Foredeck16 Aft deck17 Hatches18 Round shots19 Deckshouse sidings20 Hull21 Deckhouse top22 Paddlebox, portside23 Paddlebox, starboard24 Funnel25 Steampipes26 Pilothouse, fore27 Pilothouse aft28 Lantern

The USS Commodore Perry was built a civilan ship, a New York paddle steam ferry, by Stack and Joyce of Wiliamsburg, but was to serve almost the entire war.Ferryboats did hardly have a naval look, but was a preferred vessel due to the open and stable decksthat could carry heavy guns. The Commodore Perry wasmuch used in battle during the conflict, taking part in alarge number of operations along the western seaboard of the Confederacy. In 1864, until the end of the war Commodore Perry patrolled James River, during this period the photograph to the left was taken. Many of thesmall parts of this model reproduce the details in this,image, like the chicken cages kept on upper deck. Theship had a length of 143 ft, a beam of 33 ft and carried 4-5 heavy guns and a howitzer.

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29 Galley chimney30 Storage31 Ladders32 Bollards33 Paddle wheels34 Bulwarks, foredeck35 Bulwarks, aft36 Lining of ship´s sides37 Walking beam38 Main supporting beam, fore39 Main supporting beam, aft40 Fore mast41 Main mast42 Flag poles43 Rolled up awnings44 Torpedo45 Derric

46 Anchors and chains47 9" guns48 Mobile howitzer49 Davits50 Ship´s boats51 Chicken cage52 Buckets53 Crew54 Captain55 Flags56 Coils of rope

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The tools needed for papermodeling are simple: a scissor for cutting, a scalpel for small details, ruler and apointed object, perhaps a nail to score pieces that are to be folded. A tweezer will be useful. White glue is recommended, leaving no spots, however a non-waterbased product is to be preferred when glueing the spine of the ship, since water may cause warping. All parts that are to be cylindric, masts, vents or gun pipes, should first be softned by careful and repeated rolling, otherwise the paper will crack. When building this model, always follow the numbers of the parts and glue them in that order. Start with the base and spine of the ship.Let the construction dry to gain some strength before continuing with the main deck. Some parts are to be doubled, score them, glue and fold into one piece.

HOW TO BUILD THIS PAPER MODEL

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Assemble the frame of the ship (2-15) on top of base (1) and let the glue set. The inked parts (5a, 11a) are to face inwards. Add the decks (16, 17, 18) to the frame after removing the slits and wholes in pink colour. Part 17 should be carefully softened to fit the curves of the bow. Mount the cargo hatches on main deck (19a-b). Glue engine cap (20) to main deck. After forming the hullsides (21-14) add them carefully to the frame, after-wards covering the insides with the bulwarks (25-28). Prepare the paddleboxes (29-30) before installing them,then continue adding the wheels after removing the empty space in between using a scalpel (31-32).

The navigation deck (33) is to be doubled for support, then proceed to mount the galley (34). Select a roundpencil to form the funnel parts (35-36) and glue them to the deck. Then move to complete the bow, includingthe capstan and derrick (37-39). Bollards are the to be added (40-41). Now the details of the navigationdeck are glued in place, including wheel, compass and vents (42-44). The deck aft is to be attended to (45-46and 52). Carefully form the two masts and fix them i place after carefully checking the inclination (47-48). If rigging with thread is preferred, extra parts should be fitted the bulwarks (47e, 48d). Ladders (49-51) aremounted, followed by davits and ship´s boats (53-54). Sailors, flags, coils of rope and finally a typical cargo of cotton bales are possible additions (55, 56, 57, 58).

INSTRUCTIONS

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Assemble the frame of the ship (2-14) on top of base (1) and let the glue set. The inked parts (6a, 9a) are to face outwards. Add the decks (15, 16) to the frame and take care to curve softly both parts before assembly.Mount the cargo hatches fore and aft (17), then add the loose covers (17c) and the shot racks (18). The sidesof the deckhouse are made up of part 19a-d, carefully aligne it with the formers on each side (13a-b and 14a-b).The hull (20) is in one piece and should be carefully formed before being glued to the frame of the ship. The top of the deckhouse (21) also takes careful rounding before adding it to the frame. The paddle box top comes next (22-23). Funnel with steampipes (24-25) is the followed by the pilot houses (26-27). When moun-ting the bulwarks (34-35), check the symmetry of the hull. On the cover is a photograph that shows the assem-bly. Finally add the piece (37) that runs along the side from for to aft.The walking beam (30) is made up of many small parts, so study the drawings. The four supporting beams (38-39) also takes some extra care toget straight, in the right angle and well fixed. Now the ship is almost ready for action, after adding the gunsofcourse. The ship´s boats may be omitted, they are seldom present in contemporary photographs.

INSTRUCTIONS

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All rights reserved. Copyright © 2012 SnM Publications. This material not to be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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All rights reserved. Copyright © 2012 SnM Publications. This material not to be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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All rights reserved. Copyright © 2012 SnM Publications. This material not to be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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All rights reserved. Copyright © 2012 SnM Publications. This material not to be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.