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Santisima Trinidad
Build Log |
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I. BOX CONTENTS
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December 17, 2008 |
Hi everyone, this is Donnie Driskell here again with another Build
Log of OcCre´s 1/90 Plank-on-Bulkhead (P.O.B.) Santisima Trinidad. Their website can be found at htt://www.occre.com
So with much anticipation here is my build log. The image is seen with all contents. This image is very familiar with those undertaking
the task of building this ship. But, for those that might want to see the latest box of contents, it is here below. I received this ship
December 21, 2008. Thanks for joining me in this build.
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Box Contents |
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The Kit:
OcCre´s Santisima Trinidad ship model kit is a wonder of naval engineering in
miniature. Single plank-on-bulkhead construction uses a variety of exotic woods, all pre-cut and ready for assembly.
Walnut and beech planking strips provide a pleasing contrast. Fittings and ornamentation are faithful reproductions of the originals.
Turned brass cannon, falconets and gun barrels provide firepower. Burnished metal cannon carriages and gunports, brass chain, laser
cut grating strips, blackened metal anchors, expertly cast white metal transom, a sheet of photo-etched ornamentation and gilded metal
figurehead add realistic detail. Four diameters of rigging keep hundreds of boxwood blocks and deadeyes fastened.
OcCre provides a full set of hand-sewn cotton sails, and silk-screened flags complete the Santisima Trinidad kit. This is as close
the real thing as you can get - even the lifeboats are built as plank-on-frame wooden models!
This is an "Advanced Level Kit" OcCre Kit No. OC50800
Length 44¨ / Height 33-3/4¨ / Scale 1:90
For those that are interested in her history:
Built in Havana in 1769, Santisima Trinidad carried 120 guns on three decks. Badly damaged in the battle of Cape St. Vincent in 1799,
she was rebuilt with the addition of a fourth deck and the number of cannon increased to 136, making her the largest ship of her time.
In 1805, she sailed into the Battle of Trafalgar with a crew of 1,048 men and her immense 4—decked sides showing the barrels of her
formidable guns. The British disabled and captured her during the battle. She sank in a storm the following day, ending her 35—year
service to the Spanish Navy. The Spanish ship Santisima Trinidad (officially named Santisima Trinidad y Nuestra Señora del Buen Fin)
was a first—rate ship of the line of 120 guns (when first built). Her armament was later increased to as many as 144 guns on four
decks. For many years she was the biggest warship in the world.
Design Construction
She was built at Havana, Cuba, to a design by Irish naval architect Matthew Mullan and launched in 1769 as an 120—gun three—decker
(some sources say 116 or 112 guns). For many years she was the biggest warship in the world, being considerably larger than her
British contemporary Victory and somewhat bigger than the French Bretagne. There is no complete plan of the ship in existence,
but there are of the 112—gun ship from 1765, which might be found the original dimensions of the ship :
(the next dimension are in feet of the burgos (278,6 mm), and metres.) length = 213 2/3 keel= 182 5/12,
beam= 57 3/4, depth= 28 11/12. For exact figures, and those in the General Characteristics frame, see: José Cayuela Fernandez
Trafalgar, hombres y naves entre dos épocas Ariel 2004. In 1795, her forecastle was joined to her quarterdeck to create a fourth deck
containing a battery of eight pounder guns, giving her a total of 144 guns. Her armament seems to have been quickly reduced to 130 to
136 guns. Even so, she now carried the largest number of guns of any single ship of her time. As the only ship with four gun decks, she
was reputed to be the largest warship in the world, although she had actually been surpassed in sheer size by the new French 120—gun
ships such as the Océan and Orient. The additional weight of guns so high above her waterline made her sail poorly, leading to her nickname,
El Poderoso. Santisima Trinidad remains famous as the only four—decker ship of the line ever built; although the British designed one,
Duke of Kent, they never built her.
Service
In July 1779, Spain declared war on Great Britain, joining France in support of the American colonists in the American War of Independence.
Santisima Trinidad became the flagship of the Spanish fleet, taking part in the Franco—Spanish operations in the English Channel in the
late summer of that year.
- In 1780 she took part in the capture of an English convoy of 51 ships.
- In 1782 she was incorporated into the Mediterranean Squadron, participating in the second siege of Gibraltar
and she fought in the brief and indecisive Battle of Cape Spartel.
- In 1795, she was modified by the addition of extra 8—pounder guns on a new deck between her forecastle
and quarterdeck.
- In 1797, she was the flagship of Teniente General José de Córdoba, the Spanish commander,
at Battle of Cape St. Vincent on 14 February 1797, where she was badly damaged and nearly captured by the British fleet. She was first in
action with the British ship Captain, commanded by Commodore Nelson, and Culloden. She was then attacked by the Blenheim, Orion, Irrisistible,
and Excellent. By now she was severely damaged, having lost all her masts and with half of her crew killed or wounded. She struck her colours
(surrendered), but the British failed to take possession and she was saved by the Pelayo, and Principe de Asturias. Several days later,
Santisima Trinidad was spotted, still damaged, making her way back to Spain, and engaged by the frigate Terpsichore,
but she escaped. She eventually returned to Cadiz for repairs.
- Eight years later, commanded by Francisco Javier Uriarte and Rear Admiral Baltasar Hidalgo de Cisneros,
she took part in the Battle of Trafalgar on October 21, 1805, as part of the combined Franco—Spanish fleet. Her great size and position
immediately ahead of the fleet flagship Bucentaure made her a target for the British fleet, and she came under concentrated attack by several
ships. She lost her mast and eventually surrendered to the Neptune, commanded by Captain Thomas Fremantle. She was taken in tow by the Prince,
but sank in a storm that blew up the day after the battle.
So, with all that said, lets begin building to some referred as
"The Spanish Giant"
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II. THE FRAME
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December 27, 2008 |
Started Gluing up the frames. It seems that it might be overkill for alignment using the clamps, however, I figure that this is the most
important in making sure the hull frame is square.
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Frame 02 |
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December 27, 2008 |
One part of making the alignment of frames square, I almost overlooked making sure that the Frames were of equal distance of port and
starboard as well. The circles show that I made some marks on the False Keel and Frames to make sure this part is made with good alignment.
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Frame 03 |
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December 30, 2008 |
I thought I would mock up the fitting of the upper deck to see how the
frame is going to line up. So far, not too bad. I will fit the deck onto the frame, but not glue it. Then I will glue the cross beam that runs
thru the frames and then the frame should be complete. With the deck temporarily secured to the frame, this will assist in making sure that
the deck will fit nicely later. Then when I remove the deck, the deck should fit good. The directions do not indicate this. As a matter
of fact, the instructions want you to lay the frame on its back and then glue the cross beam in. This would complete the frame assembly.
However, I choose another route in that is the fore mentioned of temporarily securing the deck "while" I finish gluing the frame.
The image showing the red circles indicated that this area seems to be a little more difficult to make alignment. Everything else falls into
place nicely. I can not overemphasis that making the frame as square as you can will pay off. And even then, there may be areas that might not
be so square.
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Frame 04 |
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December 31, 2008 |
Mocking up the deck again after gluing all the frame pieces and cross-beam.
All seems well at this point.
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Frame 08
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Frame 09 |
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January 01, 2009 |
I did a little more work in alignment of frames. I added the last frame
piece 18 and supports. The images with the mast are only in there for alignment purposes. I am just doing this so that there will not be
any unpleasant surprises when I start adding the deck for real. The False Deck is still not glued for the moment. I still followed the
instructions about turning the whole frame upside down and gluing the cross-beam in place. It is really important to stay diligent in making
sure everything is square and aligned. It will really make the ship build better if the foundation is done correctly. I am hoping that
all of this work will pay off soon. This is the first large advanced project I have done.
BTW - the small anvils were bought from Harbor Freight tools. There were only a few dollars a piece
and they really come in handy holding things in place. The mini clamps were bought at HF as well.
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Frame 10
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Frame 11
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Frame 12
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Frame 13
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January 01, 2009 |
I think that I am satisfied with the alignment. I tried to take a shot showing looking down the deck frames. The camera was a little
off is the reason for the False Keel is a little off center about mid way. But this is the camera not being exactly centered. The only
thing left to do at this point is to add the support beams for the lower deck and then moving on.
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Frame 14
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III. DECK PLANKING
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January 02, 2009 |
I hate making decisions like this about deck finishing but the deal is this.
The Deck Planking is only 1mm x 3mm. As you can see by the photo, these strips do not have any false caulking on them. (they are not glued down
just yet) Everything is natural. I am thinking that putting pencil lead on each side of Planking strips (of which I have done before) on this model,
might not look so good. The reason is that the Planking strips have such variation of colors - you can see the planks separately anyway.
Now, if the Planks were of the same texture and color, they would need that separation using the false caulking.
I am asking the opinion of others that has been this route before many times as to if use the pencil caulking technique on such a small scale
or not. I do plan to use a tiny pin vise to make some false treenails and that should alone suffice. My concern is making the deck
"too busy" looking and too distracting. I don´t really mean to go overboard as really, I like to keep things simple. once it is
done, its done.
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Lower Deck
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January 05, 2009 |
I finally made the decision and go with the pencil. I used a pinvise to make the treenails. I will now move on to the installation of the
lower deck and then on to the main deck. I guess it will be a while before I post again due to the fact that there will not be much to post until
I get the main deck planked.
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Planking 01 |
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January 13, 2009 |
Well, I have come across a decision that I am going to have to make soon. And that is the Cannons. I am not too happy with the kits
Cannons. So, I guess either I will buy some from Model Expo´s lazer cut cannons (which could be a generic style that would fit just
about any error or period OR I could just scratch build my own of which I am not sure if I am up to that or not.
The Cannons with the kit only have limited rigging. Only one rope from bulwark thru end of cannon back to bulwark again. No other rigging.
Even though this would simplify things, the realism and authenticity is not there. Does anyone have any suggestions about cannons for the Trinidad?
I have studied Charles Cross section and also Andrea ST build and I am gathering ideas. Are the Model Shipways Cannons ok? Or are they
out of history and scale?
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