Amati’s Venician Gondola Kit – Available Now!

March 4, 2023 / agesofsail / 1 Comment

We just receive our shipment from Gondola kits from Amati and had a chance to take a first look at the kit, and we have to say that this is a beautiful looking kit!

Coming in at just under 20″ long when built, the shape of the boat allowed Amati to create what looks to be a fairly easy to build model that features laser-cut frames, hull bottom and side pieces. The kit includes laser-cut wooden parts, photo-etched metal parts, a cast metal lantern, resin fork, and cloth material for upholstery. Instructions are step-by-step, with text printed in english.

Even better is that the price of this kit is only $129.00 and it’s available today, at Ages of Sail! Check it out here. Ω

Newly Revised Sanson Tugboat from Artesania Latina Now Available

February 19, 2023 / agesofsail / 1 Comment

Spanish wooden ship model kit company Artesania Latina has long produced a kit of the tugboat Sanson. While the kit disappeared for a while, it is back and it looks better than ever.

Completely redesigned with a new approach to wooden model kit instructions, the new Sanson kit is considered an Intermediate model kit that can be built by beginners, due to a very detailed set of video instructions that make this kit truly unique.

Here, Artesania Latina has done away with printed instructions. They actually did this in previously released kits, which included photo-based instructions available on an included DVD and which could also be downloaded from the Internet. But, with the Sanson, they have included only a large 1:1 photo of the completed model, as all instructions are done in a series of these detailed Youtube videos.

While this type of instructions may take some getting used to for long time builders, it is ideal for for introducing the newer generations of model builders into the world of wooden ship model building.

But, beyond the instructions, this is a wonderful 1:50 scale wooden kit that will make a beautiful, large, display model, or can be built for Radio Control operation. What’s more, you can add some night life to your model with the optional LED Lighting Set for Scale Models, available separately.

The Sanson Tugboat kit is available now for $199.99 at Ages of Sail. Check it out, along with more photos and details here: https://www.agesofsail.com/ecommerce/new-items/artesania-latina-sanson-tug-al20415.html

Coming Soon – Amati Gondola

January 5, 2023 / agesofsail / Leave a comment

If you saw our last post about Amati price drops and free domestic shipping offer, then you probably noticed a new kit photo. This is a new Venetian Gondola kit that is coming very soon from Amati, and we’re very excited about it.

As you may recall, Amati used to produce a Venetian Gondola kit that disappeared from production for several years. This new, revised kit, looks very promising, and we will hopefully have these in stock within a couple weeks.

Unfortunately, we have very little detailed information about this new kit. So, we’ll let these beautiful marketing photos do the talking for now.

Stay tuned for price and availability announcements any time now. Ω

Lower Amati Kit Prices and Free Shipping Option

January 4, 2023 / agesofsail / Leave a comment

2022 was a rough year. We were all hit by inflation and Covid related issues and global disruptions due to the ongoing war in Ukraine. One of the results was an extraordinarily large spike in overseas freight charges.

But, now that we’re starting off 2023, freight costs have eased up a bit, and our owner has been in negotiations with Amati on pricing. The result is that we’re able to bring you a 10% reduction of all Amati kit and tool prices. This is not sale pricing, it’s a price change.

In addition, to help sales along, we’ve decided to take our holiday special domestic shipping pricing and make it permanent. So, now, all domestic orders of $150 or more, qualify for free shipping. This is an option you can choose at checkout, if you qualify. But, to get free domestic shipping, you have to specifically choose it.

By the way, if you’re curious about the model in the photo above, stay tuned for a new kit announcement, coming very soon! Ω

Shackleton’s Antarctic Exploration Ship Endurance by Paul Reck – Completed Model

January 3, 2023January 3, 2023 / agesofsail / Leave a comment

Customer Paul Reck of Mill Valley, California, posted these photos of his completed model the Ernest Shackleton’s ship Endurance. Paul is amazing, finishing the model in just over 2 months time.

If you’re interested in learning more about this kit, including links to download the instructions and to view Youtube build videos, see the listing here: https://www.agesofsail.com/ecommerce/endurance-(occre,-1:70).html

Hyde Street Pier Model Shipwrights

Just about two months ago, we posted an article about HSPMS member Paul Reck’s work on a model of Ernest Shackleton’s Antarctic exploration ship Endurance, based on kit produced by the Spanish ship model kit maker OcCre.

Paul is building this on commission. And, while he wasn’t in any hurry to get it done, he’s already wrapped up this project in record time.

Paul chose not to build the model with sails, leaving the model with a classic “bare poled” look. He also made some small modifications to the model, based on photos he found on the Internet of the actual ship.

As Paul noted early on, this is a big model. We’re not sure where the final home is for this model, but we’re guessing that Paul’s next project is crating the model up to ship across the country.

Only time will tell what Paul’s next ship model…

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Building HMS Wolf – Shipyard’s 1/72 Scale Laser-Cut Card Kit – Part 8

November 9, 2022 / agesofsail / Leave a comment

Progress continues on this beautiful 1/72-scale model of the 10-gun brig-rigged “snow” HMS Wolf, built from Shipyard’s laser-cut card model kit.

Seeing the cannons coming together is always a fun part of any ship model kit. And, like with any ship model kit, there is some work that must be done with fine wire, but the results look pretty awesome here.

This post also shows one way to make eye bolts from wire, but it is not the only way.

Do you have a favorite method to share?

Ship Modeler

After taking something of a pause on this project while deciding on the color scheme on deck, I did manage to do a bit of work on some various sub-assemblies. But, as far as the color scheme goes, I’ve decided on red gun carriages and wheels, as well as red hatch coamings. The kit instructions call for just about everything else on deck to be painted red, including the ship’s wheel, but I’ll make a final decision on that and on the binnacle when I get to their construction.

Riding bitts and hatches temporarily fit into place, but showing my final paint scheme.

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New Kits from Artesania Latina Now in Stock

November 5, 2022 / agesofsail / Leave a comment

Artesania Latina fans rejoice! This week, we just received our shipment of kits from Artesania Latina, which includes two newly revised kits that we think you’re going to really like. The company just relaunched a completely revamped version of their expert level kit, the first rate line of battle ship Santa Ana, as well as the ever popular, and long missed intermediate level kit of the newly revised American Baltimore clipper Harvey!

112-gun first rate warship Santa Ana.

The ever popular Baltimore clipper schooner Harvey

Both kits in stock and ready to ship!

Continue reading →

A Local OcCre Endurance Build

November 4, 2022 / agesofsail / Leave a comment

One of our local customers, veteran ship modeler Paul Reck, who heads up the Hyde Street pier Model Shipwrights group in San Francisco, is working on a commissioned build of Sir Ernest Henry Shackleton’s exploration ship Endurance. The model is being built from OcCre’s 1/70-scale wooden kit, and Paul was nice enough to provide some photos of the model, under construction in his workshop.

Continue reading →

Building HMS Wolf – Shipyard’s 1/72 Scale Laser-Cut Card Kit – Part 7

October 30, 2022 / agesofsail / Leave a comment

Don’t know how we missed this one. Here’s part 7 of the HMS Wolf build that we’ve been following closely.

HMS Wolf is a 1/72 scale laser-cut card model kit from the Polish paper model kit manufacturer Shipyard. This is a very detailed kit, like all of Shipyard’s laser-cut kits we sell. The kit has just about all the parts pre-cut, unlike with wooden kits, even the hull planks.

Those who are interested in this build, but want to make something a little simpler should consider the popular 1/72 scale HMS Alert kit.

Probably of similar complexity, there is the schooner Berbice or the Santa Maria. There’s also the Dutch pinnace Papegojan, thought it may be slightly more complex than the Wolf.

And, for those that want the ultimate in detail and complexity, there is the British Royal Navy frigate HMS Mercury.

Find them all here: https://www.agesofsail.com/ecommerce/paper-kits/laser-cardboard-kits.html?limit=99

Ship Modeler

As I mentioned before, apparent progress on the HMS Wolf model has slowed significantly, due to the fact that everything I’m doing now is essentially off the model. I’m now working on various sub-assemblies, and some of these I’m starting to do out of order.

The next parts that actually need to go on the ship are the sweep port covers and the four deck hatches. I painted and then assembled the sweep port cover, which simply requires adding some very thin black paper parts for the hinges. This was rather slow going, as the hinges are very tiny and very delicate. One has to be extremely careful not to lose parts, as there are no spares provided in the kit. I apply Aleene’s Tacky Glue to the sweep port cover with a thin brush, then use the tip of the brush to grab the hinge and to set it…

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Making an American Flag using Adobe Illustrator

October 30, 2022 / agesofsail / Leave a comment

We don’t expect everyone to have access to the software to be able to do this. But, this is one way to make your own flag.

Of course, if you don’t have the software, you should be able to download an appropriate image on the Internet and print it on your color printer.

Ship Modeler

I’ve been taking a little time off of work since I’ve been actually pretty productive with ship modeling and other personal tasks. So, today, I finally decided to tackle the issue to making a flag for the American Gunboat model that I’ve been working on.

My Amati American gunboat model, nearly finished, but in need of a flag

The Amati kit includes a flag, but it doesn’t look like anything I’d seen before, with 13 stripes and 17 stars. The only flag I was really aware of from the War was the type that flew over Fort McHenry during the British bombardment and was the inspiration for our national anthem. That one was 15 stars and 15 stripes, but the Amati kit flag had me second guessing things as I realized that, after all, the U.S. at that time had more than 15 states.