Caracca by Fokker - 1:100 - PLASTIC - based on Zvezda San Gabriel

[Fokker]

Hello! I got the plastic kit from Zvezda, 'San Gabriel.' Heller and Ocsidental were the previous manufacturers of this kit. The accuracy and quality leave much to be desired. Therefore, I am building the model without exact adherence to the era or to a specific ship. I changed the shape of the bulwarks, added fenders, and the upper platforms on the castles were narrowed due to casting irregularities. The bulkheads on the castles, the decks, doors, and rudders are homemade. I modified the cargo hatch on the forecastle, moving it towards the aft castle. I added a twin-deck with a ladder. I moved the foremast aft for convenience in artillery placement. I changed the shape of the bow, the beak-deck, and added my own figurehead. There are various shields on the hull and deck, and the forecastles are from another model – a Hanseatic cog. I carefully chose the armament, considering various options for quantity. I settled on ready-made cannons from the kits: Niña, Black Falcon, Elizabeth, Eagle, as well as homemade ones made from sprues and the writing parts of ballpoint pens. I even found some very old brass ones. The gun carriages are homemade from plastic and from the Elizabeth kit. A homemade bitt for the anchor rope.