Side Paddle Wheeler La Suisse

La Suisse paddle steamer

Built in 1910, this is the largest paddle steamer in Switzerland and can still be seen on Lake Geneva. Until the motor vessel Lausanne entered service in 1991, the La Suisse was the flagship of the Compagnie Générale de Navigation sur le Lac Léman, or CGN for short, and is considered the flagship of the CGN's Belle Epoque steamship fleet.

La Suisse was launched in 1910 and put into service on 25 May of the same year. The ship has a main deck length of 73.80 m (overall length 78 m), an overall width of 15.90 m and an average draught (unloaded) of 1.68 m. The two paddlewheels are driven by an inclined twin-cylinder superheated steam combination engine with a maximum output of 1,400 hp. The original capacity was 1,500 passengers. Since the last reconstruction, the ship holds 850 people, 254 of them in the restaurant.

During the Second World War, the paddle steamer lay idle, but was carefully preserved. Since 1960, the original steam boilers are no longer fired with coal, but with heavy oil. At the same time, the ship was partially rebuilt. Due to boiler damage, the "La Suisse" had to be temporarily taken out of service at the end of 1968 until the old steam boilers were replaced by a new steam boiler together with a major renovation of the entire ship in 1970-1971. In 1999, the boiler's burner was renewed and switched to light fuel oil. In 2007-2009, another general renovation of the ship took place, during which, among other things, the exterior was restored to its original 1910 condition. In June 2011, the La Suisse, together with the other Belle Epoque ships, was placed under protection by the cantonal government of Vaud due to its historical significance.

The model is designed in keel and frame construction and consists mainly of laser-cut plywood parts. In addition to the fittings set, the kit also contains detailed interior fittings for the deck and the interior. A lighting kit is included which makes the finished model particularly atmospheric.

A propulsion system is not included !

Technical data
Scale 1:72
Total length 1080 mm
Width 210 mm
Height 240 mm