Manufacturer: Mistercraft
Scale: 1/260
Additional parts: 3D prints, model train figures
Model build: Sep 2022- Feb 2023
Santa Maria Steamship
Mistercraft / 3D prints
1/260
1/260
The Lost Voyage of the Santa Maria
The volcanic tremors on La Palma had unearthed more than molten rock – they had cracked open the veil of history. Professor Amelia Flores, a renowned archaeologist, held a worn leather-bound book in her trembling hands. It was one of the recovered documents, and it spoke of a fantastical tale: Christopher Columbus, not with billowing sails, but with a thundering steam engine propelling the Santa Maria across the Atlantic.
Amelia had always suspected Columbus' voyage held more secrets than history books revealed. The sudden appearance of Ramon del Abadin, a shipbuilder with a mysterious steam engine, and his subsequent disappearance with the Santa Maria, fueled her curiosity. This book was the missing piece, a first-hand account from Abadin himself, detailing the revolutionary engine and his participation in the voyage.
But the book ended abruptly, just before the fleet's departure. Driven by a thirst for knowledge and a touch of morbid fascination, Amelia assembled a team. They included a seasoned marine engineer, Dr. Vargas, a historian obsessed with Columbus, Miguel Sanchez, and a daring salvage expert, Nadia Petrova. Their mission: find the Santa Maria and uncover the truth.
Their journey led them to the treacherous waters off Hispaniola, where the Santa Maria supposedly ran aground. Using state-of-the-art sonar technology, they scanned the seabed. Days bled into weeks, frustration mounting with each passing sunset. Just as hope dwindled, a blip appeared on the screen – an anomaly buried beneath layers of sediment.
The salvage operation was a marvel of modern technology and brute force. Finally, a dark shape emerged from the murky depths – the Santa Maria, encrusted with barnacles and coral, a ghost ship from a forgotten past. With bated breath, Amelia led the team aboard.
The interior was a chilling testament to time. The once-proud ship now resembled a decaying wooden tomb. But amidst the debris, they found what they were looking for – Abadin's engine, a marvel of ingenuity for its time. Dr. Vargas, his eyes gleaming with excitement, started piecing it together.
Suddenly, the ship lurched violently. The hull, weakened by centuries underwater, was buckling. Nadia cursed as alarms blared. They were trapped! As water rushed in, Amelia grabbed the Abadin manuscript, the key to this forgotten chapter. With a final surge of power, they managed to escape the collapsing vessel, the Santa Maria claiming its secrets once more.
Back on dry land, Dr. Vargas managed to get the engine running, a testament to Abadin's genius. The news of the discovery sent shockwaves through the world. History had to be rewritten. Columbus, the revered explorer, was now just a footnote in a far grander story – the story of Ramon del Abadin and his steam-powered dream that crossed the Atlantic centuries before its time.
Amelia, Miguel, Nadia, and Dr. Vargas became overnight heroes. But for Amelia, the victory was bittersweet. The Santa Maria's secrets were out, but Abadin's fate remained a mystery, lost to the depths of the ocean, a chilling reminder of the voyage's true cost. Yet, as she gazed upon the restored engine, a symbol of forgotten innovation, Amelia knew their journey had ignited a spark. The lost voyage of the Santa Maria had become a beacon, guiding them towards a future where history wouldn't be afraid to rewrite itself.
On each of the Canary Islands you are told that this island was the last stop of Christopher Columbus before he left on his journey west. The venerable volcanic eruption on La Palma in 2021 uncovered a cave in which several documents dating back to the late 15th century have been found.
It emerged in 1942 that Columbus had in fact made his last stop for provisions in Santa Cruz de La Palma. There he was contacted by a resident shipbuilder - Ramon del Abadin - who took Columbus to his small shipyard and showed him amazing things.
Abadin was in possession of ancient Roman documents - he would not comment on how he had obtained them. These were from the year 52 and were written by Marcus Thomasius the Younger. They described a "vapor machina" invented by him and the "vapor navis" built by him - a ship powered by a steam engine.
Columbus was enthusiastic about this invention, and even more so when Abadin took him to a hall of his shipyard, where there was something shining and smoking in brass and metal, which moved a wooden wheel under strong steam. A steam engine!
Columbus immediately realized that such an engine could be used to turn a water wheel, which could then move a ship forward when there was no wind. For his planned voyage, this would be a great improvement.
So it is not surprising that he immediately accepted Abadin's suggestion to install the engine on one of his ships. Only the largest of the three ships, the Santa Maria, had enough space for this construction and after three months Columbus was able to resume his voyage.
Ramon del Abadin demanded that he be able to participate in this voyage, and so his records end with the day the small fleet left for the west.
What happened to him is unknown; he did not return from the voyage. Likewise the Santa Maria, which was abandoned after running aground off Hispaniola. But what we know is that Columbus finally discovered America.
Thus, the documents now found are the only record that the Santa Maria had crossed the Atlantic as a steamship.
The model shows the Santa Maria at its time of departure.
The basis of the model is a 1/260 scale kit from Mistercraft. The deck was modified to accommodate the steam engine.
The steam engine, boiler and paddle wheels were printed with a resin printer. The crew are 1/220 scale model railroad figures.
The model was painted with Revell Aqua Color.
6 Images