Albatros
This model is made from a very popular commercial kit. The 1:100 scale kit is marketed by OCCRE and the vessel is described as follows:
The Albatros is an example of a schooner ship, used for coastguard duties and the control of smuggling along the coast. It was typical of the small, yet fast ships produced in America at the time. Designed for speed and maneuverability, these ships date back to the 1800’s and were famous for their elegant lines, large deck area and plenty of space.
The description is only partially correct as the vessel does not resemble an American schooner, but rather is a composite of an average schooner that was produced and sailed around the world. As thousands of schooners were built and sailed all over the world there may well have been dozens if not hundreds of vessels that resembled this model.
The kit is rated as an advanced beginner kit and is still available for purchase.
It is unknown why Henry Scheafer built this model in 2007, since it would be an unchallenging project for him. Mr. Scheafer did like rigging models and for a schooner it has rather complex rigging. Possibly he acquired the kit as a gift and decided to build it as an easy distraction between more challenging projects.
