HMS Sovereign of The Seas

Launched in 1637, she had a long colorful history, engaging in several major battles.
King Charles I had her built as a prestige project.  The most extravagantly decorated warship in history, adorned from stern to bow with gilded carvings against a black background.  The cost of her gilding, alone, was greater than the average price of a warship of the time.


As the second three-deck warship, she was the predecessor of Admiral Nelson’s HMS Victory.  Charles ordered her armament to be no less than 102 bronze cannon, ensuring it to be the most powerfully armed ship in the world.




Keel length:  167 ft 9 in. 
Beam:           48 ft 4 in.
Armament:    102 brass cannon
Crew:  800 men and officers











Completed bow view.






























King Charles stem carving.



















































































Stern carvings.


















Ships launch installed.




Ships launch.











Rigged cannon.
42 pounder




Culverin drake 42 pounder.
20 of these on middle and lower decks.







Also, there were eight 32 pounders not pictured here.





At first, I planned to create the cannons by casting them in plastic and painting them.  
Didn’t like the results, so I broke down and purchased real brass cannons shown above.










King Charles I Stem carving.






All other carvings are shown below without comment.