by Kym Knight
1/84 Amerigo Vespucci (Panart)
The model
This model of the 1:84th Amerigo Vespucci was built using the Panart kit. I've added about 30 lights in the ship and another 8 on the base board whick look quite spectacular when lit. The finished model is 1400mm in lenght, 800mm in height and 190mm wide. Each motor launch and row boat are seperate plank on frame kits and the time taken to build and mount her on the slipway was 2000 hours.
The ship
Amerigo Vespucci was a businessman and cartographer born in Florence (1454 - 1512) and is credited with drawing the first maps of the new world - America.
Named after him, the Amerigo Vespucci was built in Castellammare di Stabia shipyards in Naples, Italy and launched in 1931. The Amerigo Vespucci has both power and sail propulsion and it's primary role is in training Italian Naval Officers of the Leghorn Naval Academy.
The power propulsion is by means of a single 4 bladed screw that is connected to an electric motor. Two diesel engines (1500hp Fiat- Marcelli) drive twin electric generators, which produces the power for the electric propulsion motor.
On the sailing side, 2800 sq meters of sail is rigged on triple masts standing over 61 meters in height and are made of wood and steel. The hull is made of rivited steel plates and is 82.3 meters in lenght and 15.5 meters wide. She carries 267 crew members and 105 cadets.
