Sovereign of the Seas 1637

Sovereign of the Seas 1637

HMS Sovereign of the Seas was a 17th century British Royal Navy first rate ship of the line of 100 guns, later known as just Sovereign and then Royal Sovereign.

It was built by Peter Pett later a Commissioner of the Navy, under the guidance of his father Phineas, the King's master shipwright, and was launched at Woolwich dockyard on October 13, 1637.

As the second three decked first rate the first three-decker being Prince Royal of 1610, she was the predecessor of Nelson's Victory, although Revenge, built in 1577 by Mathew Baker, was the inspiration providing the innovation of a single deck devoted entirely to broadside guns.

She was the most extravagantly decorated warship in the Royal Navy, completely adorned from stern to bow with gilded carvings against a black background.

She carried 102 bronze cannon Charles explicitely ordered such a high number and was thereby at the time the most powerfully armed ship in the world.

Until 1655 she was also exceptionally large for an English vessel; no other ships of Charles were heavier.

Sovereign became leaky and defective with age during the reign of William III, and was laid up at Chatham, ignominiously ending her days by being burnt to the water line as a result of having been set on fire either by accident, negligence or design.

The Sergal Kit of the Sovereign Features a double plank on frame hull construction, building plans with general details, English instructions, lost wax brass castings, walnut and balsa hull planking, wooden masts and spars, brass and walnut fittings, etched brass details, rigging cord and silk flags.

All sheet ply sections are laser cut for accuracy.

A full colour poster is provided with the kit to show the beautyof the finished model.

Scale 1:78 Length: 1100 mm Width: 435 mm Height: 865 mm