Cala Esmeralda by SiriusVoyager - OcCre - 1:58 - building as the Santa Eulalia

[SiriusVoyager]

 

I purchased this kit a while ago because it was on clearance knowing nothing about it.  It turns out the kit had been discontinued.  The only reference to it on the Occre website are the instructions that are available to download.  I am excited about this build because this will be my first ship (my previous models have been smaller boats and a cross section)  and also because it will be a model of a specific vessel.  

 

 

Upon doing some research into the vessel I discovered that there is no Cala Esmeralda.  I did find however, that the kit was very heavily inspired by the ship currently named Santa Eulalia, which is a working vessel at the Barcelona Maritime Museum. I am not sure why the kit has been slightly changed and renamed.  Maybe royalties or copyright?  In any event, the Barcelona Maritime museum has a very nice 245 page booklet available for Download on this page.  The history of the vessel is quite interesting, having undergone numerous name changes and configurations since its launch in 1919 as the Carmen Flores. 

 

 

Originally launched as a three mast schooner, primarily to carry cargo, in the 1920's it was converted to a two mast schooner and an engine was added.

It was later converted into an underwater construction vessel with no sails and renamed the Sayremar Uno.  It was almost unrecognizable as the same vessel. 

 

 

In 1997 the vessel was purchased by the Barcelona Maritime Museum with the intention of restoring it to its original from at launch with the exception of modern safety and practicality features necessary for an active ship. 5 years later the ship was restored, renamed and had its maiden voyage as the Santa Eulalia.

 

 

More information about the history can be found in the link above.  All photos (except for my photo of the Occre box) are credited to the Barcelona Maritime Museum booklet available for free to download also from the link above.

 

As far as the build goes, there are definitely some differences between the model and the actual ship.  One of the most notable (though not readily visible from the box) is that the Occre kit is shown with two square topsails on the forward mast.  There is no indication that I can see that the actual vessel ever had square sails.  The kit has gaff topsails on each mast, but no staysails.  The line line drawings for the Santa Eulalia show both gaff topsails and staysails, however I cannot find an image of her with anything but the main sails being flown.  I suspect this is to simplify the operation of a ship crewed by museum staff and volunteers.  Obviously I will not add the square sales, but I will have to decide how I want to go about with the other topsails. 

 

 

One other thing of note that I found is that the scale isn't quite right.  The kit says that it is a 1:58 scale.  I have found that it is closer to a 1:50 scale with the actual vessel. Other difference will be noted at the time of the build, but I can already tell that the chains and deadeyes will be slightly different and the painting of the ship is clearly different.  My next step will be to do an inventory of the kit.

 

 

 

 

 

[SiriusVoyager]

The way that the inventory is done on these kits is to list the part as needed in order based on the instructions.  It can make it quite difficult to determine just exactly how many of each part there should be.  I didn't find any significant parts that seemed missing. There were a few damaged pieces, but nothing that I would need to have Occre replace as far as I can tell.  Something definitely damaged the box in transit or in storage.  The plastic cases were broken as in the corners as well.  

 

 

 

 

Some of these metal pieces I may choose not to use.  I may make the boom forks, boats and windless out of scrap wood.

 

 

 

 

The end of one small wood strip is damaged, no big deal though.

 

 

This one dowel is a bit messed up.  Looks like a quality control oversight.  It is easily replaced if it proves to be a problem.

 

 

 

 

[Knocklouder]

Good luck on your journey with this build,  she looks like a beauty.    

Bob  M.

[SiriusVoyager]

The actual build is underway.  I made a small holder to  make it easier to work on and to help keep things straight.  Overall the false keel looks pretty good.  I did find a slight bend in the stern that I didn't notice until I was finishing up the bulkheads.

 

 

Looking back at this picture, I can see the bend in there.  I didn't notice it at first.

 

 

It is difficult to notice from above.  I added shoring between bulkheads 9 and 10.  I will wait to add bulkhead 12 and shore up the other bulkheads until I add the stern sub deck to make sure everything lines up properly.

 

 

In the past I tried to remove all of the char before placing bulkheads.  This time I removed no char and everything fit so much better.  Frames 6, 7 and 8 were a few degrees off square so a little filing was in order on those three.  The other bulkheads fit quite well. 

 

 

As a side note, I have seen complaints about how Occre won't put any chamber in their decks.  This one appears to have a slight chamber.

 

 

 

I'm going to try to keep a running total of the estimated time working on the model at the bottom of each post.  Time will tell if I remember to keep track.

 

1:15

[Pfälzer]

I had much fun with this Kit 

[JacquesCousteau]

Great start, I'm looking forward to following along with your build!

[SiriusVoyager]

6 hours ago, JacquesCousteau said:

Great start, I'm looking forward to following along with your build!

 

I hope that I can do the real ship justice!