Occre 1/70 Scale Limited Edition Le Soleil Royal Model Kit
FEATURES:
- Over 10,000 parts
- Fully detailed internal structure
- Open or partially open hull to reveal frames, beams, planking and more
- Materials and construction techniques as faithful as possible to the original
- Museum-grade finishes and precise scale
- Limewood deck
- Hand-stitched cotton sails with overlock seams for a flawless finish
- Upper hull planked in mahogany
- Mahogany masts, engineered to withstand wind force
- Cast metal and brass components
- Solid oak framing: 33 ribs in 3 sections, true to original shipyard design
- Solid oak display base
- Gilded cast metal figurehead exquisitely detailed in brilliant brass
- 104 cannons. Each one is a miniature masterpiece with mahogany gun carriages and precision-turned brass barrels with etched detailing
- Base support fleur de lis ornaments in antique copper zamak
- Wooden box with unit number (x/669) handwritten on it - only 669 kits available in the world!
- Exclusive collectable coin included, as well as a brass-turned plate with unit numbering
SPECIFICATIONS:
- Scale: 1/70
- Length: 1022mm
- Height: 870mm
- Width: 430mm
- Difficulty: Advanced
HISTORY OF THE SHIP:
The Soleil Royal, meaning “Royal Sun”, was one of the most majestic and iconic warships of 17th-century France. Built at the Brest arsenal between 1668 and 1670, this imposing vessel was intended to serve as the flagship of the Western Fleet — and as a floating emblem of Louis XIV’s absolute power, the Sun King. Master shipwright Laurent Hubac oversaw her construction. The keel was laid in December 1668, and she was launched on 13 December 1669. The ship officially entered service in 1670. From the beginning, the Soleil Royal was designed not only as a war machine, but as a floating work of art — a symbol of France’s royal grandeur.
Originally armed with 98 cannons across three decks, she was later upgraded to 104 and even 112 guns. With a crew of 800 to 1,200 men, she became one of the most powerful ships of her time. She remained stationed in Brest during
early conflicts with the Dutch and underwent a major refit in the late 1680s ahead of the Nine Years’ War.
One of the ship’s most admired features was its decoration. The lavish design of her stern was attributed to sculptor Antoine Coysevox, showcasing a rich display of baroque reliefs, royal emblems, mythological figures, and gilded sun motifs — all symbolic of the king himself. Three large lanterns adorned the stern, making her one of the most spectacular vessels in the French fleet.
In 1690, the Soleil Royal led the French fleet under Admiral Anne Hilarion de Tourville at the Battle of Beachy Head,
achieving a major victory against the Anglo-Dutch forces — one of France’s few great naval triumphs of that war. Two years later, in May 1692, she sailed again at the head of the fleet toward the Normandy coast. On May 29, she faced the Allied fleet at the Battle of Barfleur. Though she fought valiantly, the Soleil Royal was severely damaged. Unable to return to Brest, she was run aground in the harbour of Cherbourg alongside other battered ships.
On the night of June 2–3, enemy forces launched a surprise attack using fireships. The Soleil Royal was engulfed in flames and ultimately exploded when fire reached the powder magazine. Of the 883 men on board, only one survived. Her loss was more than a military tragedy — it became a symbolic defeat. Allied propaganda used it to mock French power, while in France, it served as a grim reminder of how even the most glorious creations can fall.
Paints, tools and glue not included. Available separately.
OPTIONAL EXTRAS:
Hobbies Rigging Tool Set Contains:
- 1 x Amati Loom-A-Line tool.
- 1 x Rigging Tools set.
- 1 x Microsnips.
Model Makers Glue Pack Contains:
- Deluxe Materials Speed Bond 112g
- Deluxe Materials Roket Max Thick Cyano (Super glue)
Hobbies Planking Tool Set Contains:
- Plank Bending Tool with Blade.
- 2 x 50mm Nylon Grip Clamps.
- 2 x 75mm Nylon Grip Clamps.
- Pen Grip Pin Pusher.
- Brass Pins for Pin Pusher (Pack of 100).
Le Soleil Royal Planking Pack Contains:
- 125 mahogany wood strips
- 2000 brass nails
Perfect for planking the hull of OcCre's Le Soleil Royal if a "ship-yard" finished model is not your cup of tea.
Occre Le Soleil Royal Paint Pack Contains:
- 19395 - White
- 19396 - Black
- 19411 - Dark Red
- 19424 - Royal Blue
- 19215 - Walnut Stain
- 19419 - Satin Varnish x2
