HMS Speedy – Version 2023

£340.00

14 in stock

Category:

Description

The history of HMS Speedy

This small Brig Sloop was the one of the first generations of new naval brigs, and her lines were more of a hybrid between a sleek cutter and brig. She was a small vessel for her class, but what she lacked in size and raw gunpower, she more than made up for in character.

Speedy had a very active history, being captured in 1794 by French frigates and then recaptured in March the following year. After Cochrane lost her (in an unwinnable battle), Speedy was renamed Saint Pierre and presented to the pope by Napoleon himself.

It is while commanding Speedy that Cochrane made his name. This was his first command, and the combination of this aggressive commander and Speedy ensured that they would be a thorn in the side of the French and Spanish navies, culminating in the remarkable exploit of taking the Spanish 32-gun frigate Gamo (with xebec hull and rig form). Cochrane led 48 of his crew (almost all of them) up the sides of the frigate, which had over 300 men and eventually took the ship.

Download the new V2023 manual

Download original manual (Legacy) 

The kit

This is the new and fully revised version of Speedy, with brand new laser cut parts, manual (with an extra 19 pages) and plan sheets 1-4. Major aspects of the hull assembly has been re worked to keep the kit more in line with our latest releases for detail and quality.

Dimensions of completed model are:

  • Length – 700mm ( 27.5 “)
  • Width – 230mm ( 9.0″)
  • Height – 492mm ( 19.4″)

The 1:64th scale kit has been extensively researched and has been developed to show her as she would have likely looked in 1800/01, when commanded by Thomas Cochrane.

For the modellers who like to add detail over and above what kits offer, the Speedy kit does include the lower deck, which is stepped aft and at the correct height to the main deck. There are a lot more bulkheads than standard kits of this size to help keep the very fine hull lines when planking.

The 2023 revised kit has the following features:

  • 16 sheets of laser cut materials, including a laser cut and engraved deck
  • Laser cut and fully engraved detail for all areas above and including main male
  • 3 separate photo etched sheets in brass.
  • Copper tape for plates that will be fitted below waterline
  • Double planking in limewood and second planking in pear wood
  • Walnut dowel for masts and yards
  • 10 separate rigging thread sizes in black and natural
  • 14 3-D Printed 4-Pounder cannon and 20 3-D Printed half-Pounder swivel cannon
  • 3-D Printed 1:64 scale figure of Lord Cochrane himself
  • 79-page full colour building manual and 10 sheets of 50x70cm plan sets
  • Two cradles, one for when building and a clear acetate display cradle for the competed model
  • Very detailed scale 18′ Cutter mini-kit 
  • All other materials and fittings required to build the model as shown.

Optional Extras

  • Machined pearwood blocks and deadeyes

NOTE: A global shortage or 0.1mm copper sheet means we cannot source this for producing photo-etch copper plates. To combat this, we are including ample quantities of 6mm wide copper tape in our Speedy kits. All you need to do is to gently peel away the backing paper while keeping the copper foil as straight as you can. The tape is, of course, self adhesive and easy to apply. It’s also easy to remove if you make a mistake.

Additional information

Weight 3 kg
Dimensions 50 × 30 × 12 cm