French Frigate La Sirene Ship Model Kit 1:75

Stand model kit of the French frigate La Sirène from manufacturer Corel

History of the original:

La Sirène was a French frigate from the mid-18th century that is closely associated with developments in European shipbuilding under the influence of Frederick Henrik af Chapman. Chapman, a Swedish shipbuilding engineer with international training, spent a long time in France and England in the 1740s and 1750s studying the most modern designs. During this time, he made detailed plans of ships, including the frigate La Sirène.

This French frigate was built around 1744–1750 and was a typical example of the transition from cumbersome, small warships to the elegant, fast frigates that played a central role in the Seven Years' War (1756–1763). With around 30–32 cannons, a length of around 44 metres and a crew of 220 to 250 men, it was one of the medium-sized frigates of its time.

La Sirène was a flagship for the French navy: its sleek lines, balanced hull shape and powerful rigging enabled high speeds and good sailing characteristics. Chapman was so impressed by these features that he included the plans for La Sirène in his later standard work, Architectura Navalis Mercatoria (1768). In this book, Chapman systematically described modern, scientifically based shipbuilding for the first time, thereby influencing the entire European naval architecture.

Although little is known about the specific voyages of La Sirène, she is representative of the French frigates that were considered the fastest and best of their time in the mid-18th century – a model that was soon adopted by the British Royal Navy. Chapman's drawings and analyses also make La Sirène one of the most famous examples of early frigate development in the 18th century.

All parts of this kit – which is, of course, based on Chapman's plans – are pre-cut and various components are already pre-assembled. This means that even less experienced model builders will be able to create a faithful replica of this beautiful ship.

Description of the kit:

A scale was chosen for the construction of the model that allows for a good reproduction of all details. The kit contains all the materials and parts needed for construction. The hull is constructed using a frame-and-rib method. The plywood parts are prefabricated and require only minor adjustments. The planking is made of lime and walnut strips. All woods are of selected high quality. The fittings set is very extensive and of high quality. The figurehead and parts of the stern decoration are made of cast brass, cannons and other decorations are made of cast metal. A set of sails is not included in the kit but is available as an option. Rigging material is included in the kit. The rigging cord is very carefully twisted and is easy to work with.

Who is the kit suitable for?

The kit is suitable for model builders with some experience in historical ship modelling.

What else is needed?

Paints, adhesives and tools are required and can be found in our product range.

A set of ready-sewn sails is available under item number 61992.

What do the building instructions look like?

The kit contains detailed construction plans that reproduce the model to scale. The comprehensive manual also includes various sketches and photographs documenting the model and building instructions.

Languages: German, English, Italian

The assembly instructions are not available for download.

Technical data:

Scale 1:75
Length 840 mm
Width: 290
Height: 705 mm