Essex 1:100 Orel (369)

Essex Whaling Ship 1799 – 1:100 Card Model Kit – Orel 369

Scale - 1:200

Model Sheets - A4

Assembly Instruction Language - English, Polish, Russian, German

Product Description

Build a detailed scale replica of the legendary American whaling ship Essex with this impressive 1:100 scale card model kit from Orel (No. 369).

Built from white oak in 1799 in the United States, Essex was a three-masted whaling ship measuring approximately 87 ft (26.5 m) in length, with a displacement of around 239 tons and a crew of 20 men.

The ship became famous following the dramatic events of 20 November 1820. While operating in the Pacific Ocean, approximately 2,000 miles (3,200 km) west of South America, Essex encountered a large male sperm whale estimated to be around 85 ft long. The whale repeatedly rammed the vessel, causing catastrophic damage that ultimately resulted in the ship sinking.

The surviving crew escaped in small whaleboats and began an extraordinary struggle for survival across the Pacific. Only eight members of the crew eventually survived.

In 1821, Essex First Mate Owen Chase published an account of the disaster, Narrative of the Most Extraordinary and Distressing Shipwreck of the Whale-Ship Essex. The story later became one of the important inspirations for Herman Melville's Moby-Dick, published in 1851.

Orel's Essex 1:100 card model kit is supplied across 24 A4 sheets and offers a high level of detail. With its complex hull, three-masted sailing rig and extensive period details, this model is particularly suitable for experienced card model builders and enthusiasts of historic sailing ships and maritime history.

⭐ Key Features

✔ Orel No. 369 card model kit
✔ Detailed model of the historic whaling ship Essex
✔ Scale: 1:100
✔ Country: USA
✔ Historical period: 1799
✔ Type: Three-masted whaling ship
✔ Series: Civil Navy
✔ Kit volume: 24 × A4 sheets
✔ Highly detailed hull, deck and sailing ship structure
✔ Historically significant vessel associated with the story behind Moby-Dick
✔ Recommended for experienced card model builders
✔ Excellent choice for collectors of historic sailing ship models

Summary

The Orel Essex 1:100 card model kit recreates one of the most famous whaling ships in maritime history. Built in 1799 and lost after being rammed by a sperm whale in 1820, the Essex became legendary through the accounts of its survivors and its connection with Herman Melville's Moby-Dick. With 24 A4 sheets and a high level of detail, this impressive model is an excellent project for experienced card modellers and historic sailing ship enthusiasts.