Spanish Ship of the Line Montanes Building Kit 1:70

Spanish ship of the line Montañés wooden model kit from manufacturer Occre

History of the original:

The Montañés was a Spanish ship of the line in the late 18th century navy and was considered one of the most powerful ships of its time. It was launched in Cartagena in 1794 and, with 74 cannons, belonged to the most modern class of ships at the time, which was considered standard in European naval warfare. It was designed by Julián Martín de Retamosa, one of the most important Spanish shipbuilders of the 18th century.

With a length of about 56 meters, a width of around 15 meters, and a displacement of more than 2,800 tons, the Montañés was robustly built, but at the same time known for its exceptional seaworthiness and speed. Contemporary reports emphasized that it could maneuver “like a frigate” – an extraordinary characteristic for a 74-gun ship of the line.

The Montañés was commissioned during the wars against revolutionary France and fought in the Battle of Capo San Vicente in 1795. Later, she also took part in operations against the Royal Navy. In 1805, she was involved in the events surrounding the Battle of Trafalgar, where she was under the command of Captain Francisco Alcedo. Although the Spanish fleet suffered heavy losses there, the Montañés held her own and was able to return to Cádiz after the battle, albeit heavily damaged.

The ship remained in service in the years that followed, repeatedly demonstrating its excellent sailing characteristics. A British admiral once described the Montañés as “the best ship of its class in Europe.” Its end came in 1810 when it was lost in a severe storm off the coast of Cádiz.

Today, the Montañés stands in the history of the Spanish Navy as a symbol of the heyday of Spanish shipbuilding in the late 18th century – a ship of the line that was distinguished by both its striking power and its outstanding nautical qualities.

Description of the kit:

The kit contains all the materials needed for construction. Selected woods and precision-cut components enable accurate assembly. The model is constructed using a frame-and-plank method, with double planking on the hull, ramin underplanking, and visible planking made of precious wood. The fittings and attachments, mostly made of metal, are included in a small sorting box. Particularly fine details are included in the set as brass etched parts. The scope of delivery includes all the rigging material with all the necessary blocks, pulleys, and rigging cord, as well as a ready-sewn set of sails. A model stand is not included. German assembly instructions for correctly assembling the 7578 individual parts are included.

Who is this kit suitable for?

The kit is suitable for model builders with extensive experience in historical ship model building.

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 126 pages of colorful, well-illustrated step-by-step instructions. The German translation of the individual construction stages is provided on a separate sheet.

A construction plan and parts lists are included. Fifty-two pages are devoted to the masts and rigging, providing detailed and easy-to-understand instructions on how to carry out this work.

Languages: German, English, Italian, Spanish

The assembly instructions are available for download.

Technical data:

Scale: 1:70
Length: 1250 mm
Width: 470 mm
Height: 895 mm
Construction time: 1000 hours