The Artisans in Cuba construct Santisima Trinidad Spanish warship

Jorge Echeverria, the director of Museo de San Salvador de La Punta, chose Juan Carlos Zuloaga Izquierdo, as the lead artisan in charge of the project. Juan Carlos brings over 15 years of experience as a historical naval model maker and he is passionate about his vocation.

It has also been Juan Carlos' dream for many years to construct a model of Santísima Trinidad, the most famous of all ships built in Havana.

Over the years Juan Carlos' workshop has been this table on the right which also serves as the family dining table. You can view some of his magnificent accomplishments with the most basic of model maker's tools below.

A new workshop has now been created within La Punta Fortress for Juan Carlos to undertake the leadership of constructing and co-ordinating the work of all other artisans on the project.

Notice the very limited number of tools in the workshop of Juan Carlos (Centre image above). A very old 3/8" electric drill was the primary power tool, used as a drilling and sanding device and also as a micro lathe for turning small parts. The old electric drill has now died and through the assistance of many people in Canada, the Friends were able to ship a small woodworking shop of tools and and equipment to help nurture the project and provide the basis for a youth workshop within the museum. All documentation and plans are on site and Juan Carlos is now totally immersed in leading the construction of his greatest of all projects just like the workers in Havana some 237 years ago.

Duchy is a commercial artist who also has skills in sail making. Her task will include contributing images of period costumes to depict a sailor's life as well as make the sails for Santísima Trinidad.

One side of the Santísima Trinidad will have multiple openings allowing the visitor to peer in to observe the inner structure and components of the ship. Vladimir's task as the "electrical engineer" is to illuminate these areas with modern day technology in the form of high intensity LEDs which will interface with a computer so each visitor to the exhibit may take a virtual tour of the ship.

Nelson brings the skills of historic ship model making and also his love of carving to duplicate the elaborate carved details aboard the Santísima Trinidad. He has also constructed all the canons and the four ship's boats for the Santísima Trinidad.

Lazero brings to the project the skills of a caricature figure artisan. His work reveals life aboard ship in all of its forms and will include sailors undertaking many tasks. Here the ship's surgeon is undertaking the amputation of a sailor's leg.

This site was last updated 10/07/07