Barque “Stefano” 1873 – MarisStella

The “Stefano” barque model by MarisStella is a great choice for those looking for more than just another kit to assemble. It’s a large, demanding project based on the true story of a ship built in 1873 in Rijeka, owned by the Bacic family from Dubrovnik. Its fate was far from ordinary—during a voyage to Australia, the vessel was wrecked off the coast, and the story of the surviving crew members became part of the maritime lore of that era.

The model itself is impressive even at the planning stage. Once assembled, it measures over a meter in length and features proportions that faithfully capture the character of 19th-century merchant sailing ships. It is a barque type vessel – a ship designed as a compromise between performance and ease of handling. As a result, ships like this were widely used in ocean-going trade.

The set is complete and prepared in the way MarisStella has already accustomed modelers to. Inside, you’ll find large plan sheets, a detailed instruction manual, and a set of materials that lets you build the model without needing to look for additional parts at the start. The wooden parts are precisely laser-cut, and the quality of the material is noticeable from the very first moment. Also worth highlighting are the ready-made sewn sails and the very extensive rigging set.

This is not a model for beginners. It’s best suited to builders who already have a few projects under their belt and can read plans. The instructions guide you through the build step by step, while still leaving room for your own decisions and approach to the details. That’s exactly what makes the build more than just following instructions—it becomes real model-making.

The finished model looks very impressive. It’s one of those designs that instantly draws attention and can easily take center stage in a collection. If you’re looking for something large, refined, and built around an interesting story, “Stefano” is a choice you’re unlikely to regret.

Technical specifications

• Model length: 112.1 cm
• Scale: 1:63
• Unit type: barque (three-masted sailing ship)
• Historical period: 19th century (1873)
• Difficulty level: intermediate / advanced
• Material: wood, metal parts, photo-etched details
• Sails: ready-made, custom-sewn
• Rigging: full set (threads, blocks, deadeyes)
• Instructions: yes, multilingual (EN / IT / HR)