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Maltese Speronara / Xprunara (Mid-19th Century)
Scale: 1/72
Skill Level: medium
Size (LxH): 330x230 mm (12x9 inch)
A Mediterranean gem from renowned Polish publisher Seahorse in 1:72 scale: The vibrant mid-19th-century Maltese Xprunara (Speronara) stands out with its distinctive hull lines, lateen rig, and the manufacturer's hallmark engineering precision.
Polish publisher Seahorse (Tomasz Weremko) has earned a sterling reputation among historic sailing ship modelers for exacting research, thoughtful parts breakdown, and superb build quality. With the Maltese Xprunara, Seahorse presents a rarely modeled and genuinely beautiful Mediterranean vessel.
Rendered in a generous 1:72 scale, the kit represents a large, three-masted lateen-rigged speronara from the mid-19th century. The kit uses a proven double-skin construction method (internal sub-planking followed by exterior color printed planks) that smoothly captures the compound curves of the hull and the aft passenger shelter. Modelers can also enhance the project with a full range of dedicated accessories, including laser-cut frames, turned wooden dowels for masts, printed canvas sails, and crisp 3D-printed resin blocks.
| Product type | Papermodel |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Seahorse |
| Scale | 1/72 |
| Designer | T. Weremko |
| Difficulty | medium |
| Length | 330 mm (12.99 inch) |
| Height | 230 mm (9.06 inch) |
| Bauanleitung | English, Polish, Pictures |
Technical data:
- Type: Traditional Maltese coastal sailing vessel / passenger and cargo boat (three-masted variant)
- Era / Configuration: Mid-19th century
- Origin: Malta / Central Mediterranean (predominantly Malta–Sicily route)
- Hull design: Double-ended carvel-built hull with high stempost, washboards, and characteristic bow spur (sperone)
- Length overall: approx. 15 to 18 m (large 19th-century variant)
- Beam: approx. 3.5 to 4.5 m
- Draught: shallow draught (typically under 1.5 m for beaching and shallow havens)
- Rigging: 3 masts rigged with lateen sails on long yards, plus bowsprit and jib
- Complement: Master (patron) and approx. 4 to 8 crewmen/oarsmen
- Primary roles: Passenger transit, general cargo (grain, livestock), packet mail, and coastal trade
The Xprunara (commonly known in Italian and French as the speronara or spéronare) is considered the prototype of all traditional Maltese working boats. The vessel derived its name from the prominent beak or spur (Italian "sperone") projecting forward from the stem. Historical records of the vessel type date back to the late 16th century, originally serving the Knights of St. John.
The primary role of the speronara was the vital commercial link between Malta and Sicily, transporting passengers, fresh produce, livestock, and mail across the channel in a passage that took roughly 12 hours. While earlier variants were small open boats under 10 meters in length, 19th-century builders developed larger seaworthy craft reaching up to 18 meters. These larger vessels carried two or three masts with graceful lateen sails, accommodated passengers beneath an aft shelter, and traveled across the wider Mediterranean to ports in Italy, France, and Spain. Noted for their vibrant painted hulls, the speronaras remained in active service until the rise of steam propulsion phased them out in the early 20th century.