According to distributors COMAG: “Launched in 1637, HMS Sovereign of the Seas was the largest warship of her time and designed to bolster the seagoing reputation of England at the order of King Charles I. Later called ‘the Golden Devil’ by the Dutch, Sovereign of the Seas was the first ship in the world to be armed with over 100 guns and, with her unique and lavish decoration, produced ‘shock and awe’ in European rivals.
The Sovereign of the Seas was so expensive to build that Charles I had to impose a special tax to fund its construction, which proved so unpopular with both the people and Parliament that it is cited as a major factor in the cause of the English Civil War, which ultimately led to the king's execution.
The extraordinary features of the Sovereign of the Seas became the blueprint for the fighting ships that followed her and went on to dominate the seas in later centuries. Little known now, Sovereign of the Seas was a hugely influential warship representing a bygone period in English naval history.
Aimed primarily at men aged 35 years and over, this fantastic new step-by-step collection will allow readers to build their own exact 1:84 scale replica version of this iconic vessel. Using high-quality materials and an exact reproduction of every detail, including the sumptuous decorations, Sovereign of the Seas will satisfy the expectations of even the most demanding modeller.
Measuring more than 110cm in length, every issue of Sovereign of the Seas will carry the wooden components needed to construct the ship itself, as well as the decor, the figurehead, anchors and cannons, which have all been made from finely machined metal castings.
The accompanying 16-page magazine in every issue will have step-by-step instructions and photos to guide readers through the assembly of the model. As well as this, the magazine looks at the history of the warship as a weapon, charts the birth of the modern fighting navy and tells the stories of some of the most important sea battles from history and naval technological innovations.
On sale for three weeks, issue No.1 of Sovereign of the Seas is on sale 29/08/12 at the introductory price of £1.99 and will carry wooden sections of the ship’s hull and cannon.
Issue No.2 will be on sale 19/09/12 at the regular price of £5.99, with two rib sections of the hull and cannon.
Sovereign of the Seas will be supported by a huge national TV advertising campaign from launch, as well as e-mail and online promotions.
Sovereign of the Seas will be SoR to retail throughout the 135-part collection.”
