Fantastic LE REQUIN xebec model.

Another example of a fantastic model exibited at the International Convention of Model Ship Builders held at Rockford, France, last October 18th to the 21st, 2018.

This model was built by French ship modeler, Jean Pierre Rassat, at 1/48 scale.

The original LE REQUIN was built in 1753.

Jean Pierre, the ship builder of this model claims that this is the first model ship model he ever made.

The xebec, or chebeck, as sometimes spelled, was first develeped by Algerian corsairs and barbary pirates in the Mediterranean during the mid-eighteenth century. Fighting fire with fire, the French and later the Spanish navy in 1770, soon followed with the same ship design and rig.  First developed with two masts and later three masts, the xebec had a lanteen sail rig which allowed the vessel to sail close hauled to the wind. With oars that allowed to approach a becalmed victim, or flee an enemy, the crew was either 300 to 400 members depending on the size of the ship.

Thanks to Zoltan Szemak, these pictures were posted on Facebook.

Happy modeling  Crackers