San Felipe Tall Ship Model Authenticity

The San Felipe is a beautiful and elegant tall ship which is a favorite of ship modeler’s worldwide.  However, historical accuracy of her name and design are questionable.  In fact, she appears to be a cross between the Nuestra Senora de la Concepcion y de las Animas and the Real Felipe.

                                                            1690 oil painting of the Nuestra Senora de la 
                                                             Concepcion y de las Animas by Martin Amigo

Construction of the Nuestra Senora de la Concepcion y de las Animas was begun in 1682, launched in 1688, her masts were installed in 1690.  She worked mainly out of Cadiz but from 1700 to 1702 she sailed to the Caribbean to help with a Scottish conflict.  Later she was badly damaged during the War of the Spanish Succession and was broken up in Cadiz in 1705.  This seems to match the history of the San Felipe associated with today’s model ships.

Illustration of the Real Felipe of unknown origin

The Real Felipe was completed in 1732.  She was reputed to be the largest, most beautiful Spanish ship of her era.  She was severely damaged in the 1744 battle of Toulon and was never fully repaired.  She  was taken apart in 1750.  Unfortunately, no consistent contemporary drawings or illustrations of her exist.  The first illustration of the Real Felipe was made in the late 1700’s by an artist born the year she was broken up. 

                                                               Partial drawing of San Felipe model from 1950

The first illustration of a three deck San Felipe appeared in 1950.  However, this illustration is not consistent with today’s model.  A second illustration by a different artist also appeared in the 1950’s.  This drawing was made by a Spanish ship modeler.  It was originally to represent the Real Felipe 0f 1732.  Due to historical inaccuracies the drawing incorporated some of the features of Spanish ships in the early 1700s. The historical information included on many ship model sites indicates the San Felipe was launched in 1690 and sank in 1705 as a result of a battle with British warships.

Comparison of hull lines of 1950s model San Felipe with  Armada ships of 1712 and 1750

The documentation of the Spanish fleet between 1690 and 1705 does not include the San Felipe.  As shown above, the hull contour of the San Felipe model more closely matches the contours Spanish ship of the line from 1712 than those taken from the 1750 fleet.  This lends credibility to the Nuestra Senora de la Concepcion y de las Animas theory.  However, there is little evidence of three deck Spanish warships being built prior to 1700, and the 1712 drawing is for a two deck ship of the line.  There are similarities with both the Nuestra Senora de la Concepcion y de las Animas and the Real Felipe.  My interpretation is that the ship model San Felipe is actually an interpretation of the Real Felipe interposed with the history of the Nuestra Senora de la Concepcion y de las Animas. 

Modern model of the San Felipe

In any event the San Felipe is a strikingly beautiful ship model.  Check out this Quality Tall Ship Model at San Felipe Ship Model

You can also read a more detailed article about the historic authenticity of the San Felipe at San Felipe Historic Autenticity