Caravel Santa Maria kit from manufacturer Occre
History of the original:
The Santa María was Christopher Columbus' flagship on his first voyage to America in 1492. Originally, the Santa María was not a caravel, but a carrack, a larger and more stable ship suitable for longer ocean voyages. The Santa María was built in Spain, probably near Pontevedra, and was originally called ‘La Gallega’ before being renamed by Columbus.
The Santa María was the largest of the three ships that accompanied Columbus on his famous expedition, the other two being the caravels Niña and Pinta. With a length of about 19 metres and a width of about 5.5 metres, the Santa María was a sturdy ship, but more cumbersome and slower than the two smaller caravels. It had three masts and was equipped with lateen sails (triangular sails) and a square sail, which gave it a certain flexibility when sailing in different wind conditions.
On 3 August 1492, the Santa María left the port of Palos de la Frontera in Spain with Columbus and a crew of about 40 men. After a long and arduous journey across the Atlantic, the expedition reached the Bahamas on 12 October 1492, marking the beginning of the European discovery and colonisation of America. The Santa María played a central role in this, as it was not only the flagship but also the headquarters for Columbus and his officers.
However, the fate of the Santa María was tragic. On 25 December 1492, it ran aground on a reef off the coast of Hispaniola (now divided between Haiti and the Dominican Republic) and was damaged beyond repair. Columbus and his crew were forced to abandon the ship. From the remains of the Santa María, the sailors built a small fortress, which they called ‘La Navidad,’ where they left some men behind while Columbus returned to Spain with the remaining two ships.
Despite its relatively short service, the Santa María remains one of the most famous ships in history. It symbolises the beginning of a new era in world history and is often depicted as the ship that made the discovery of the New World possible. Its image is used in many representations and replicas, and it remains an important part of the legacy of Christopher Columbus and his voyage of discovery.
Description of the kit:
1568 parts are required to build the model, all of which are included in the kit. Various types of wood and precision-cut components enable accurate assembly and ensure a very realistic, detailed appearance. Only selected woods are used for the double planking. The set includes ready-made sails, all fittings, rigging and attachments, sorted by assembly groups in a transparent box. The kit includes German assembly instructions and a small model stand with a plaque.
Who is this kit suitable for?
The model is well suited for model builders with no experience in ship modelling. Manual dexterity is a prerequisite.
What else is needed?
Paints, adhesives and tools are required and can be found in our product range.
What do the assembly instructions look like?
The instruction booklet consists of a colourful, well-illustrated, step-by-step guide with 67 pages. The German translation of the individual construction stages is provided on a separate sheet.
A construction plan and parts lists are included. The rigging is described in detail and in an easy-to-understand manner.
In addition, the manufacturer Occre provides 52 short video tutorials on its YouTube channel, specifically for the construction of the Santa Maria.
Languages: German, English, Italian, Spanish
The building instructions are available for download on the manufacturer's website.
Technical data:
Scale: 1:50
Length: 530 mm
Width: 220 mm
Height: 400 mm
Construction time in hours: 140
