La Real (1571)

My latest 1/350 model by master modeler Julián Fernández de Sevilla Campos of ModelJShip is the Spanish Royal Galley La Real.  She served as the flagship of Don John of Austria at the Battle of Lepanto in 1571.

La Real was built in Barcelona at the Royal Shipyard. I saw the replica of la Real on a visit to Barcelona in June 2014 and a Blog entry earlier on this Blog shows some photographs of the full-size replica. 

La Real was very large for a Lanterna or command ship and was in fact the largest galley of its time. The galley was 200 ft long and 20 ft wide, had two masts, and weighed 237 tons empty. It was equipped with three heavy and six light artillery pieces. La Real was rowed by a total of 290 rowers. 

She carried 400 sailors and soldiers at Lepanto. 

The soldiers were positioned thus:

50 men were posted on the upper deck of the forecastle,

50 on the midships ramp

50 each along the sides at the bow

50 each on the skiff and oven platforms

50 on the firing steps along the sides near the stern

50 on the stern platform behind the battle flag. 

To help move and maneuvre the huge ship, it was pushed from the rear during the battle by two other galleys.

The galley was very ornate with Renaissance paintings by the artist Juan de Mal-Lara. You will see miniature versions of his paintings on the poop deck of this model.

Julián used the hull of a resin galley by Old Glory. The rest of the ship is scratch built using parts and figures by Langton Miniatures. I believe this is Julián's most beautiful and complex conversion so far.

Old Glory versus Zvezda Armada

I have been taking a look at the Old Glory 1/300 scale resin ships in their Birth of the Broadside Armada Period range. Although I really love the Zvezda 1/350 plastic kits in their Armada Invincible collection, it is at present a small range of just 3 ship models. The Old Glory range is much more extensive with a number of galleons, nao's, carracks, galleys, etc.

I ordered the OG "White Bear" carrack which you see below alongside the Zvezda race-built galleon "Revenge". I have asked Julián if he thinks the OG models can be made to work alongside the Zvezda's. I'd be glad to hear opinions and the experience of any readers.

São Martinho: Before and After

I cannot resist showing the before-and-after versions of Zvezda's excellent model of the San Martin. The quality of the basic model was so good, I felt that in the right hands, ie. Julián's, this inexpensive model kit could become a museum quality masterpiece. I encourage readers of this Bog to write to Zvezda USA to encourage them to continue with their 1/350 scale models.

Before

After

The Armada Sailing from Ferrrol, July 12th, 1588

The second print from a painting by Sir Oswald Walters Brierly is entitled "The Armada Sailing from Ferrrol, July 12th, 1588". This was painted in 1879 and etched by David Law in 1882.

Here is a close up of the galleon which dominates the painting, probably "São Martinho" again.

"The Decisive Action with the Armada off Gravelines 30th July 1588 (Drake in The Revenge attacking Medina Sidonia in the San Martin)"

My family is the proud owner of two David Law engravings of work by the English maritime painter, Sir Oswald Walters Brierly (1817-1894). The first is "The Decisive Action with the Armada off Gravelines 30th July 1588 (Drake in the Revenge attacking Medina Sidonia in the San Martin)".

This was painted in 1881 and etched by David Law in 1882. These are artist remarqueed prints, we think from 1882. We had them restored in 2007, a painstaking process that took 11 months, by conservator, Frances Pritchett, and then reframed behind museum glass.

Here is a close up of the famous dual. The "San Martin" was in fact the Portuguese galleon "São Martinho", impressed into Spanish service when Portugal was invaded and annexed by Spain.

You will read later that I have recently commissioned a 1/350 model of the Revenge and hope to also commission São Martinho.

Redoutable 74 (1791)

My latest 1:1200 custom model is the French Téméraire-class 74-gun Redoutable (1791).

Here she is,  like most of my models, "at-quarters", ship's boats towed astern and gun ports open, equipped with the following armament:

Lower gun-deck: 28 x 36 pounder long-guns

Upper gun-deck: 30 x 18-pounder long guns
Forecastle Quarter: 16 x 18-pounder long guns

                                 4 x 36 pounder guns carronades

On October 21st 1805 at Trafalgar,  Redoutable was commanded by capitaine de vaisseau, Jean-Jacques-Etenne Lucas. 

Under Captain Lucas' inspired and professional leadership, Redoutable fought valiantly losing 522 of a compliment of 643 when she finally struck to HMS Temeraire.

This Langton metal model was built  for me by Model J Ship. and again Julián has done an excellent job.

HMS Surprise (1796) 28-gun Unité -class frigate

My latest 1:1200 custom model is HMS Surprise. Not the frigate of "Master and Commander" fame exactly, but rather the historical 6th rate 28-gun Unité -class frigate of 1796. Here she is "at-quarters", ship's boats towed astern and gun ports open. The French corvette l'Unité was captured in 1796 and taken into Royal Navy service and equipped with the following armament:

Gun-deck: 24 x 32 pounder caronades

Quarter and Fore-deck: 10 x 32 pounder carronades

2x 4-pounder guns as chasers

The model was made for me by Model J Ship. As usual, Julián has done an excellent job.

Chaloupes, Chasse Marees and other small craft

The Jersey Maritime Museum features an interesting collection of small un-rated vessels from a Cutter down to a Peniche. Photography was very difficult in a darkened room through a glass case but I hope these unusual small boats will be of interest.