Seeking Advice on Enhancing a Spanish Frigate Model

[Amadeus220]

Hello everyone,

I’ve been following this forum for quite some time and originally discovered it while searching for the naval blueprints of Prince de Neuchâtel.

Recently, I’ve come across several Spanish frigate models from the 18th century (Siglo XVIII), which display fantastic detail in areas like blocks, halyards, and rigging. However, the rigging on these models is simply nailed to the hull, which I understand may not align with the shipbuilding standards upheld in this esteemed forum.

My goal is to elevate one of these models into a highly detailed and historically accurate frigate—complete with a proper deck planking, belaying pins, helm, and other intricate features.

I would greatly appreciate advice from the experienced builders here:
- Where can I source detailed parts or high-quality components for such a project?
- Are there specific shops, online sites, or resources that provide these items?
- Would I need to purchase a complete shipbuilding kit to access such details, or can individual parts be found?

Any guidance or suggestions would be most welcome as I embark on this project.

Cheers!
/Amadeus

 

[Jimsky]

Greetings, Amadeus. I am glad you have such a goal for making the existing models accurate to historically accurate and elevating the details. However...

First, you will be disappointed to know that the existing hull lines are mostly incorrect. Are you willing to rebuild the hull? Looking at the image, it seems the model was built mostly as decoration, IMHO. Most likely, to make the historically accurate model you will have to create a new one, from scratch. But it doesn't mean, you can't try to make it close enough to look like a Frigate. Be ready to replace existing parts both close to scale, and close to the way they look. Immediately, I see very thick bulwarks and out-of-scale masts.

In your questions, you asked where to acquire different parts for replacements. While there are some available stores, indeed, the available parts might not fit your scale. Have you thought about making some parts from scratch?

There are many online hobby shops in Europe, where you can search for parts. Here in The USA, we have quite a few reputable stores that have some parts (not all of them).

for deck and rigging fittings you may try Drydock parts:

https://drydockmodelsandparts.com

For rigging lines (the best scale rigging ropes, IMHO)

Ropes of Scale

Miniature Rope for the scale modeler. These products are designed for rigging model ships but can be used for most scale modeling or dioramas.

ropesofscale.com

For parts, kits tools, and much more ModelExpo

Model Expo - Historically accurate wooden model kits made in the USA

 

[Corsair]

Welcome to the forums !
Yes, what Jim said is right on the money. you will run into challenges with many of the fittings being too small to work with or even make.

For instance, many lines that are attached to the deck are done so with a ring. To be totally accurate, if the scale on your model is 1/200, and the real ring is about 50 mm in diameter made out of material that is 10mm thick, you will be trying to make a ring that is 0.25 mm in diameter out of material that is only 0.05 mm thick.

I'm not saying it can't be done, but it would be very difficult.

 

[AllanKP69]

Welcome to SoS.

My goal is to elevate one of these models into a highly detailed and historically accurate frigate—complete with a proper deck planking, belaying pins, helm, and other intricate features.

I also agree with the above. This is from the heart........forget the one in your photos completely. There nothing about it that is realistic and there is little, if anything, on it that can be re-used. Look at pictures at contemporary models and plans and you will see it cannot be modified to be a realistic 18th century Spanish warship. A quick search on the internet turned up the example of a 50 gun Spanish frigate of 1797 below so I would guess there are a lot more. Have you spoken with anyone at the Museo Naval in Madrid?

By the same token if you change your mind and just want a nice decorator model of a fantasy ship, go for it. There are books on rigging and a lot of help from the members here.
Allan

 

[Amadeus220]

Thank you all for the warm welcome and for sharing your expertise and insights. I truly appreciate the advice and resources you've provided.

It seems the consensus is that my existing model would be very challenging to adapt into a historically accurate frigate due to its structural inaccuracies—particularly the hull lines, bulwarks, and out-of-scale masts. While I initially hoped to work with what I have, I now understand that building a new model from scratch might be the better approach for achieving a high level of historical accuracy.

I’m open to learning the skills needed to create parts from scratch, and I’m grateful for the suggestions on where to source fittings and rigging materials. The links to Drydock Models and Ropes of Scale, among others, will be invaluable.

For now, my goal remains to elevate a model—either by starting fresh or modifying this one to at least resemble a Spanish frigate. Your suggestions about focusing on contemporary plans and scaling challenges have given me a clear path forward.

Thanks again for your guidance—this is exactly the kind of information I needed as I move forward.

Best regards,
Amadeus