Revell - Cutty Sark 1:96 Scale

Revell Cutty Sark — 1:96 Scale Model Kit

Few sailing ships have become as iconic as the Cutty Sark, the famous British clipper built in the nineteenth century for the tea trade between China and England. Launched in Scotland in 1869, this elegant sailing vessel was designed to carry cargo across long ocean routes while taking advantage of its streamlined hull and extensive sail area. Its distinctive profile and remarkable maritime history have made it one of the most celebrated surviving ships of the age of sail.

Revell recreates this historic vessel as a highly detailed 1:96 scale plastic model kit, featuring 698 parts, a structured two-piece hull, a wood-effect deck, detailed deck structures, cannons on carriages, tall masts, authentic sails, rigging components, and a display stand. With its impressive dimensions and extensive sailing-ship details, this kit offers a rewarding project for experienced modelers, maritime history enthusiasts, and collectors of historic vessels.

The Historic Sailing Ship Cutty Sark

The Cutty Sark was commissioned by shipowner John Willis and built by Scott & Linton in Dumbarton, Scotland. Designed by naval architect Hercules Linton, the vessel was launched on November 22, 1869, during a period of intense competition in the international tea trade.

During the nineteenth century, tea was one of the most important commodities transported between China and Britain. Shipowners competed to deliver newly harvested tea to London as quickly as possible, encouraging the development of fast sailing vessels known as clippers.

The Cutty Sark was designed with speed and cargo transportation in mind. Its streamlined hull, sharp bow, and extensive sail plan helped it navigate long ocean routes and establish a reputation as one of the notable sailing ships of its era.

The vessel completed eight voyages to China during its tea-trading career. As steamships increasingly took over the trade, the Cutty Sark eventually transitioned to transporting wool from Australia, where it became particularly well known for its performance on long-distance voyages.

Today, the Cutty Sark is preserved as a museum ship in Greenwich, London. It remains an important surviving example of nineteenth-century merchant sailing vessels and a symbol of the golden age of commercial sail. <Cite refs={["turn379968search0","turn379968search1","turn379968search3"]} />

Impressive 1:96 Scale Dimensions

Revell's 1:96 scale reproduction captures the long, elegant proportions of the original clipper while providing room for an extensive range of structural and decorative details.

Measuring approximately 91.4 cm (36 inches) long, the completed model makes an impressive display piece. Its elongated hull, tall masts, expansive sails, and intricate rigging recreate the distinctive silhouette of this historic sailing ship. <Cite refs={["turn299647search12","turn299647search15"]} />

The substantial scale allows modelers to appreciate the vessel's deck layout, hull construction, mast arrangement, and rigging system. These elements combine to create a detailed representation of a ship designed for long-distance commercial voyages.

Its impressive dimensions also make the Cutty Sark an excellent centerpiece for a maritime collection, whether displayed alongside other historic sailing ships or as a standalone model.

Detailed Hull Construction

The Cutty Sark's hull was designed to balance cargo capacity with the streamlined form required for fast ocean sailing. Its structure was built around an iron framework with wooden planking, combining traditional shipbuilding materials with contemporary nineteenth-century construction techniques. <Cite refs={["turn379968search9","turn379968search10"]} />

Revell's kit includes a structured two-piece hull, providing the foundation for the model's characteristic shape and proportions.

The hull forms the visual foundation of the completed vessel, complementing the long deck, sharply defined bow, and elegant stern. Careful assembly and painting can emphasize the ship's lines and bring out the details of its exterior.

Modelers can enhance the finished appearance by paying close attention to the hull's color scheme, surface details, and the contrast between the hull and deck.

Wood-Effect Deck and Detailed Structures

The deck of a historic sailing ship contained the equipment and working areas needed to manage cargo, operate the vessel, and control its sails. On a clipper such as the Cutty Sark, the arrangement of deck structures was essential to its operation on long commercial voyages.

Revell recreates this area with a wood-effect deck and detailed deck structures, giving the model a more authentic maritime appearance.

These components provide visual depth and help distinguish the different areas of the vessel. Careful painting can emphasize the wood-like appearance of the deck and bring out the smaller structures and fittings.

The combination of the detailed deck and elongated hull helps reproduce the recognizable profile of the original ship while offering modelers opportunities for precise finishing work.

Cannons and Shipboard Equipment

Although the Cutty Sark is primarily remembered as a commercial sailing vessel, its model includes cannons mounted on carriages, adding further detail to the deck arrangement.

Revell's kit recreates these features as individual components that can be assembled and painted to complement the ship's overall appearance.

Additional shipboard details contribute to the model's sense of scale and help create a convincing representation of a working nineteenth-century sailing vessel.

Careful placement and finishing of these smaller components can make a significant difference to the completed display model, especially when viewed alongside the deck structures and rigging.

Detailed Masts and Authentic Sails

A clipper's speed depended heavily on its sail plan and the ability of its crew to manage a large arrangement of sails and rigging. The Cutty Sark was built with an extensive sail area that allowed it to take advantage of favorable winds on long ocean voyages.

Revell includes detailed masts and authentic sails, recreating the tall, elegant profile that made the Cutty Sark so recognizable.

The masts and sails are among the most visually striking elements of the finished model. Their arrangement helps convey the scale and complexity of a nineteenth-century sailing vessel.

Careful assembly and attention to alignment are particularly important when working on these components, helping ensure that the completed model presents a balanced and realistic silhouette.

Rigging, Shrouds, and Rope Details

The rigging system of a sailing ship consists of the ropes and fittings used to support the masts and control the sails. On a large clipper, this intricate network of lines was essential to the vessel's operation.

Revell's kit includes prefabricated shrouds, rigging thread, and blocks for the rigging, providing important components for recreating the Cutty Sark's complex arrangement of ropes and supports.

The included thread allows modelers to complete the rigging according to the assembly instructions, while the prefabricated shrouds help reproduce the characteristic lines running alongside the masts.

Rigging is one of the most detailed stages of building a sailing-ship model. Patient assembly and careful positioning of the lines can significantly enhance the realism of the finished vessel.

Rowing Boat and Additional Details

Smaller accessories contribute to the authenticity of a historic ship model. Revell includes a rowing boat, adding another recognizable feature to the Cutty Sark's deck arrangement.

The kit also includes a display stand, a flag board, and authentic decals, providing additional elements for completing and presenting the model.

Together with the hull, sails, masts, cannons, and rigging components, these details help create a comprehensive representation of the historic clipper.

For modelers who enjoy detailed assembly projects, the variety of individual components offers opportunities to refine the finish and produce an impressive display piece.

Flags, Decals, and Historical Presentation

Flags and markings help bring a historic vessel to life by adding visual identity and completing its overall appearance.

Revell includes a flag board and authentic decals to support the finishing process. The paper flag board and decal sheet allow builders to add the supplied markings to the completed model.

Careful application of the decals, combined with appropriate painting of the hull, deck, masts, and sails, can create a more convincing historical presentation.

Modelers can also apply additional finishing techniques, such as subtle shading and weathering, to give the completed vessel a more individual appearance.

The Cutty Sark's Journey Through Maritime History

The Cutty Sark's working life reflected the major changes taking place in international shipping during the late nineteenth century. Initially built for the competitive China tea trade, she later became associated with the Australian wool trade as steam-powered vessels increasingly transformed maritime transportation.

The ship was eventually sold to a Portuguese company in 1895 and renamed Ferreira. In 1922, she returned to British ownership and eventually became a training ship before being preserved at Greenwich. <Cite refs={["turn379968search5","turn379968search10"]} />

After arriving at Greenwich in 1954, the Cutty Sark was preserved in a specially constructed dry dock and opened to the public in 1957. A major fire in 2007 led to an extensive restoration project, and the ship reopened to visitors on April 25, 2012. <Cite refs={["turn379968search1","turn379968search10"]} />

Today, the Cutty Sark remains an important maritime landmark. Its survival allows visitors to explore the design, construction, and history of a vessel that represents a significant period in the development of commercial sailing ships.

Level 5 Model Kit

The Revell Cutty Sark is rated Level 5, making it best suited to experienced modelers who are comfortable with complex assembly, detailed painting, and rigging work.

The kit contains 698 parts and builds into a model approximately 91.4 cm long. Its substantial size, numerous structural components, and extensive rigging make it a challenging and rewarding project for dedicated ship modelers. <Cite refs={["turn299647search0","turn299647search12"]} />

The package includes the unassembled plastic model kit, illustrated multilingual assembly instructions, decals, rigging thread, and a paper flag board. Prefabricated shrouds, sails, masts, and other shipboard details are also included.

The kit is recommended for modelers aged 13 and older, according to the manufacturer's product page. Paint, glue, and modeling tools may be required and should be purchased separately unless specifically included by the retailer. <Cite refs={["turn299647search0","turn299647search1"]} />

A Historic Clipper for Your Collection

The Revell Cutty Sark 1:96 Scale Model Kit combines maritime history with an extensive range of detailed components, recreating one of the most famous commercial sailing ships of the nineteenth century.

Its structured hull, wood-effect deck, detailed masts, authentic sails, cannons, and intricate rigging make it an engaging project for experienced builders and collectors of historic vessels.

Whether displayed alongside other famous sailing ships or as the centerpiece of a maritime collection, the Cutty Sark offers an impressive combination of size, craftsmanship, and historical significance.

Bring the elegance of the age of sail to your collection with this detailed Revell model kit, recreating a legendary clipper whose story spans the tea trade, the Australian wool routes, and its present-day role as a preserved museum ship.

Kit Features

• 1:96 scale

• Revell model kit, item number 054229090

• Level 5 difficulty rating

• Recommended for ages 13+

• 698 plastic parts

• Authentic Cutty Sark clipper ship design

• Structured two-piece hull

• Deck with wood-effect finish

• Detailed deck structures

• Cannons mounted on carriages

• Detailed masts

• Authentic sails

• Prefabricated shrouds

• Rigging thread included

• Blocks for rigging

• Rowing boat included

• Display stand included

• Paper flag board included

• Authentic decals included

• Illustrated, multilingual assembly instructions

• Finished length approximately 91.4 cm (36 inches)

Bring one of the world's most famous historic sailing ships to your collection with the Revell Cutty Sark 1:96 Scale Model Kit. Featuring 698 parts, an impressive 91.4 cm length, authentic sails, detailed masts, and extensive rigging components, this advanced model offers an engaging building experience and a striking tribute to the golden age of commercial sailing ships.

Assembly, paint, glue, and modeling tools may be required and are sold separately.