Patache "Nuestra Señora del Socorro", 1588

My latest 1/350 scale model warship of the Spanish Armada is the Patache "Nuestra Señora del Socorro", 1588. This another excellent commission by master modeler Julián Fernández de Sevilla Campos of ModelJShip. 

The "Nuestra Señora del Socorro" was built in 1586 in Santander. She was a Patache, a light armed vessel similar to a caravel, of 50 tons with 14 guns, 15 crew and 20 troops. She served in the Squadron of Castilla during the battles of the Armada in 1588. The Patache is described as having an overall length of 85ft and a beam of 25ft.

                               

The inspiration for this conversion was once again an excellent illustration by Joseph Wheatley in "Historic Sail" in which he portrays a patache, 1588.

                     

The basis for the conversion was another 1/350 scale plastic warship from Zvezda, the "Santa María". Since she was a nau of about 58 ft, although heavier at about 108 tons, this little ship provides a nice foundation on which to construct a later Patache. However the extent of Julián's conversion can be seen from a comparison of the original Zvezda model:

Here are further images of Nuestra Señora del Socorro. The sea-base is custom made by Julián and I think this is his finest sea-scape so far. Additional parts and crew are by Langton.

White Bear (1564)

Julián Fernández de Sevilla Campos of Model J Ship's has completed the next English ship to face the Armada: White Bear. She was built at Woolwich dockyard in 1564 and classified as a first rate galleon of 729 tons BM burthen.

In 1588 the captain of White Bear was Lord Edmund Sheffield, serving with the Western Squadron. White Bear had a crew of 300 mariners, 40 gunners and 150 soldiers. She carried the following armament:

Gun Deck-

     3 British Cannon of 7

   11 British Demi-Cannon

     7 British Culverin

   10 British Demi-Culverin

     9 British Light Guns

The model was built using Zvezda's "San Martin" which Julián converted in a very creative way. The inspiration for this conversion was the beautiful illustration by Joseph Wheatley in "Historic Sail" which I strongly recommend.

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