Artesania Latina model ship kit of the 16th century Spanish galleon ‘San Francisco II’.
History of the original
The San Francisco II was a typical 16th century Spanish galleon and is representative of the mighty sailing ships that carried Spain across the oceans during its heyday as a world power. The San Francisco II is not a historically documented individual ship, but a reconstructed representation of a Spanish galleon of that era, as they served the Spanish Crown in the 16th and early 17th centuries. Such ships formed the backbone of the Spanish fleets that transported trade goods, soldiers and treasures between Europe, America and Asia.
The San Francisco II represents the classic galleon type of that period: an imposing, multi-deck sailing ship with an ornately decorated stern, a towering stern gallery and massive superstructures at the bow and stern. Typical was the combination of firepower and seaworthiness – it usually carried 50 to 60 cannons of various calibres, distributed over several decks, and had room for a crew of over 200 men. With a length of about 50 metres and a weight of around 1,000 tonnes, it was suitable for long sea voyages between Spain and the colonies.
Such galleons were used both as warships and merchant ships. In times of peace, they transported gold, silver, spices and valuable goods from the New World across the Atlantic to Seville or Cádiz. In times of war, they served as armed escort ships for the famous Spanish silver fleets or took part in naval battles – for example, against English or Dutch privateers.
The replica of the San Francisco II showcases the pride and craftsmanship of 16th-century Spanish shipbuilding. With its tall superstructures, richly decorated figureheads and enormous rigging, it impressively conveys the power and splendour of seafaring in the Age of Discovery.
Today, the San Francisco II symbolises the era of the great Spanish galleons that shaped trade, culture and politics on the world's oceans for centuries – a symbol of maritime tradition, technical mastery and the age of global discovery.
Kit description
The kit contains over 1400 individual parts for building the model. All wooden parts are precisely laser-cut. Planks must of course be adjusted yourself. All fittings are made entirely of metal and some are particularly detailed, produced using an etching process, and are clearly arranged in a sorting box. The sails are already sewn. New is a set of cast metal figures for an even more interesting presentation of the model. Large construction plans, German instructions with photos and video documentation guide you safely through the entire construction process. The instructions are available for download at the bottom of this page. A construction time of 550 hours can be expected.
This kit includes a wooden model stand.
Who is this kit suitable for?
The kit is easy to build and therefore suitable for beginners and less experienced model builders!
What else is needed?
Paints, adhesives and tools are required and can be found in our range.
What do the building instructions look like?
Step-by-step instructions with pictures and text
2 large plans and parts list on paper in the kit
Languages: Multilingual, including English
Format: Only as a PDF document for download – no paper!
Technical data
Scale: M 1:90
Length: 680mm
Height: 520mm
Width: 240mm
Construction time: 550 hours
