Model Shipways Rattlesnake Us Privateer 1:64 Scale

Graceful lines. Twenty guns. A rather complicated relationship with British commerce.

Rattlesnake’s sleek hull and three square-rigged masts give her an elegance that seems slightly at odds with the twenty guns.

An American Revolutionary War privateer, she was built for speed and armed for persuasion. The Model Shipways kit brings that combination of elegance and purpose to your workbench in 1:64 scale, with a finished length of 28 inches.

For the modeler ready to take the next step

Rattlesnake offers a substantial project for builders with previous wooden ship experience. Her plank-on-bulkhead hull gives you the opportunity to refine your planking and fitting skills, while the three-masted rig provides a rewarding introduction to the complexity of a fully ship-rigged vessel.

You’ll shape wood, fit deck structures, prepare fittings, taper spars, and work through the standing and running rigging. Each stage adds something visible to the model—and something useful to your experience.

Historical research you can build on

The hull and rigging plans were developed by naval architect and maritime historian George F. Campbell, drawing on Admiralty draughts, historical reconstructions, and contemporary sources. Ben Lankford developed the plank-on-bulkhead construction plans and accompanying manual.

Four plan sheets and a 48-page illustrated instruction manual provide extensive construction and rigging information. These are detailed working drawings that reward careful study and cross-referencing as you build.

A well-traveled path, with room for your own craftsmanship

Numerous Rattlesnake build logs offer a useful companion to the supplied documentation, with photographs, construction approaches, and examples of builders’ modifications.

The kit also leaves room for personal refinement, whether you choose to improve a small fitting, add detail, or explore scratch-building techniques.

What’s included

Laser-cut basswood components for plank-on-bulkhead construction.

Wooden hull and deck planking.

Lead-free Britannia metal castings and brass fittings.

Four sizes each of standing and running rigging line.

110 wooden deadeyes and more than 200 blocks.

Four plan sheets and a 48-page illustrated manual.

Model Shipways Lifetime Free Replacement Parts.

Before you begin

Recommended for intermediate builders with previous hull-planking experience. Square-rigging experience is helpful. Allow time for careful alignment, shaping, and fitting throughout construction.

Cast-metal fittings require removal of flash and mold lines, filing, and cleaning before painting.

Specifications

Kit number: MS2028

Scale: 1:64

Construction: Plank-on-bulkhead

Finished dimensions: 28" long × 9" wide × 18" high

Display base and brass pedestals are sold separately.

An absorbing build. A striking finished ship. And plenty of reasons to say, “Come closer—look at this part.”

Instructions - English
Parts List