The BERLIN" was one of my preferred ship models.

Probably just because the type of building, the shape of the hull and the weapons near to be completely exposed to open air..

Or, perhaps, the type of building scale used (1:40) that permits to build a very detailed model under each point of view.

I took the building plans from COREL, a very good italian company that produces high quality ship models kit.

Also on this model, builted in 1989, I made some great mistakes (better to be honest with myself....heheh), first on the hull construction (I don't used the double layer of plank) and, second,   about the upper deck, because I made it by plywood, just tracing with a pencil the lines of the caulking, and the effect was not so "real".

Short History

The Frigate BERLIN was one of the first "charter ships" that the organizers of the Brandemburg Navy put at disposal of Prince Frederick William.

The BERLIN was build in 1674, in Zeeland dockyards and was equipped with 15 guns.

After going in service in 1675 till 1679, the frigate BERLIN, commanded by the Dutch Captain C. Reers, took part in several exploit : 
* in 1675 it attacked the Swedish fortress of Karlsburg, in the same year it pursued the French corsair "La Royale de Dunquerque"; 
* in the 1676 it operated in Baltic Sea against Sweden and during the operations it captured the Swedish ships "Leoparden", the "Diederik" and "Maria";
* in the 1677 it defeated the Swedish ship "Enhorn"
* in the 1678 protected the transit of the Brandeburg Army from Peenemunde to the Rugen islands.
* in the 1680 captured the 50 guns Spanish vessel "Carolus 2nd"
The BERLIN was at last sequestred by the Dutch Indian Company in 1688, along the Guinean coasts. Here ended the history of this adventurous ship.

Ship's Data 

Imposted :   1671
Launched :  1674

Dimensions

Lenght : 80 ft
Wide :    22 ft

Armament : 10 guns of cal. 8,5 cm, 
                    2 guns of cal. 8,2 cm, 
                    3 guns of cal. 6,1 cm.

Crew : 90 men

Model's Data

Lenght : 83 cm
Height :  69 cm
Scale :   1:40
Building method : Plank on frames
Plan's Manufacturer : COREL