Tiger, 1570, Finished

Completed 1/350 model and photograph's of my new galleon "Tiger", 1570, by Julián Fernández de Sevilla Campos of ModelJShip.

Tiger, 1570

Tiger was a small Royal galleon built in 1570. Tiger had a burthen of 120 tons (Baker's Rule), 200 tons BM. She carried a crew of 80 sailors, 12 gunners and 8 soldiers. Her armament consisted of:

Gun Deck: 4 British Culverins

                   8 British Demi-Culverins

                   8 British Sakers

                  10 Light Guns

In 1588, Tiger fought in the battles against the Spanish Armada under the command of John Bostocke in Admiral Howard's Squadron.

Inspiration for the model came from Joseph Wheatley's illustration in "Historic Sail". This shows a light Elizabethan galleon, possibly Pelican/Golden Hind. Although the Golden Hind was decommissioned before the Armada events of 1588,  she is a reasonable basis for a Tiger conversion which did fight the Armada.

Joseph Wheatley's illustration in "Historic Sail"

I asked Julián Fernández de Sevilla Campos of ModelJShip to attempt the conversion using Zvezda's new 1/350 plastic model of Golden Hind. Julian did his usual amazing job, adding a new tiger figurehead, a higher poop deck, higher gunwales in the waist, additional gunports and a new quarter gallery. Crew were added using converted Langton Miniatures figures.

The photographs of Tiger were all taken by Julian. My fleet now comprises Revenge, Tiger and San Martin.

Before: the basic Zvezda model of Golden Hind

Conversion required

Conversions made

After: the fully converted Tiger

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

São Martinho (1580), finished!

I have just received some images from Julián Fernández de Sevilla Campos of the finished 1/350 scale model of São Martinho (1580) in action, no doubt off Gravelines on July 29, 1588. 

Julián used Langton 1/300 figures for the crew. We looked at various other figures but the Langton's, although created for Napoleonic-era ships, have worked very well for the Elizabethan/Philip II period. 

I present the flagship of the Grande y Felicísima Armada.