The Maltese Firilla

1/6 scale models

Certainly, our most accurate model to date, the 1/6 scale Firilla model was designed when one of our best customers made a trip to Malta during the pandemic. He and his wife bought a condo there, and they decided they wanted a model of a traditional Maltese fishing boat. The model was designed with the help of an interesting and detailed thesis study by Stephanie Said, as part of her Master’s degree at the University of Southern Denmark. The student made a detailed analysis of a full scale firilla, registered as PTF87, which is stored at the Malta Maritime Museum in Vittoriosa, and we used the study to make an accurate reproduction, in 1/6 scale.

We have carefully recreated the parts and, as the author of the thesis said, the modeller gets to appreciate the skill set required to build traditional boats, from reading and understanding line plans to fairing and fitting complex elements when building our model. I am sure you will enjoy the build as much as we have enjoyed designing the kit for you.

The model is a little over 32″ with the rudder and has plenty of room for an electric drive. If you decide to buy the model, we will supply you with much of the information we used to design the model, including a link to the research paper, and some of the pictures we used for the design.

Purchase the Frame Set

Designing the Model

Design started in January, 2022, when it was decided the model would be in 1/6 scale, with an approximate length of the 32″.

The design includes a 1/8″ offset from the actual estimated line drawing to account for the eventual planking surface. Note that the design includes futtocks as well as frames, just like in the real boat. We compromised on the exact arrangement of futtock and frame, in order to simplify construction, but the number and positioning of the frames is prototypical.

Note we have also attached the knees to the frames themselves. This will also simplify construction.

Useful Construction Pictures

Construction of this model is straightforward but quite delicate. There are a lot of parts, and the bow and stern are quite tall. This means the build board needs to be installed on a tall structure.

Planking is not easy. The actual planks on these boats are quite wide, so a modeller who wants to create prototypical planks will have to use some thin plywood, cut it and bend it to shape, using paper or cardboard material as templates, as shown in one of the pictures below.

The most exciting part will be to cut the little scupper holes, making sure the boat doesn’t sink in the process!

Note that I do not supply the running gear or the little extra parts, like the gauges, nets, and other fishing equipment you see in the pictures of the finished model.

I do hope you like this presentation and decide to build this model!

Thank you.