Ship model SAN FELIPE of 1690
The historical background of the Spanish SAN FELIPE of 1690
The SAN FELIPE is a favourite ship among the ship model builders. The model is elegant, very beautifully designed, and makes a decorative piece of art to be displayed at home or in the office.
Doubts on San Felipe's historic authenticity have been voiced before. But a comprehensive treatise on that has been published only in March 2007 by Thomas Feige in the German journal on ship building history and modelling "Das Logbuch". If you are interested in more details, look at this page about San Felipe authenticity.
According to Thomas Feige, the ship model is based on reconstruction drawings published by the Italian Vincenzo Lusci in 1966 who referred to some 19th century Spanish historian. Lusci described the San Felipe as a first rate ship with 104 - 110 cannon that was launched in La Coruna in 1690 and was lost in 1705 after a battle with 35 English ships.
In 1993 Panart/Mantua made a model ship kit based on these plans which was bought by many model ship makers However, the
San Felipe of 1690 did not exist
. The first Spanish three-decker was the Real Felipe, launched 1732 in Guarnizo. Vincenzo Lusci most probably made a mistake when simply relying on the 19th century historian. . It looks as if Lusci reconstructed the San Felipe by referring to French prototypes in ship building. France and England were more advanced in naval architecture at that time. The French Royal Louis of 1692 looks quite similar in hull and rigging, except for the round stern gallery.
This San Felipe model shows the type of ship that was built in France at the end of the 17th century. It may well have been an example that the Spanish ship builders would have liked to copy
. The Panart/Mantua model shows the state of ship building and naval architecture of the end of the 17th century in Europe, as good as a model kit of that size can do.
This model is a true masterpiece that emphasizes the elegance of the hull and the impressive rigging. It is a beautifully designed ship.
The model is 1 : 75 scale. Length is 97 cm, width 38 cm, height 88 cm. Without stand, placed directly on a flat surface, the height would be only 80 cm.
You are certainly doing your research on her.The San Filipe is a beautiful ship model even if its based on what the ship would have been at its time.Im looking forward to seeing photos of your build.Are you building her from the kit?Thanks again Walter
