A Modular 1:48‑Scale Ironclad
When the Civil War broke out, the U.S. Navy was forced to rethink warship design. Traditional wooden hulls could not survive the new, high‑powered guns that were being fielded on land. In response, designers began experimenting with iron‑clad hulls that would shrug off cannon fire and resist the very bullets that had once devastated wooden ships. The USS Keokuk, launched in December 1862, was one of the first of these experimental “casemate” ironclads.
With a 159‑foot length, 36‑foot beam, and a displacement of 677 long tons, the Keokuk was built from a solid iron hull, with a wooden deck and a thin layer of filler armor that protected the gun positions. Powered by two 250‑hp steam engines that drove twin 7‑foot screws, the vessel could reach 9 knots – a respectable speed for a warship of its time.
Armed with two 11‑inch Dahlgren smoothbore guns and a ram bow, it joined the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron in March 1863 and saw action in the Charleston campaign. Though its operational record was brief, the Keokuk’s design paved the way for the next generation of iron‑clad warships.
Our 1:48‑scale file pack brings the historic ironclad into the hands of hobbyists and RC enthusiasts alike. The design has been carefully optimised for 3‑D printing while preserving the ship’s iconic profile:
Continue reading for more info and renderings.
