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Amati’s Big Bismark Kit – Coming Soon!

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AGES OF SAIL

Launched in 1939, the battleship Bismark was Germany’s latest weapon in its war against the Allies. The ship was armed with a main battery of eith 15-inch guns mounted in pairs in four turrets. Her secondary armament consisted of twelve 5.9-inch guns, sixteen 4.1-inch guns, sixteen 1.5-inch guns, and twelve 20mm anti-aircraft guns. The ship carried a crew of 2000 men, displaced over 50,000 tons fully loaded, and measured over 800 feet long, overall. Now, Amati is about to release the most ambitious model kit of this famous World War II fighting ship.

 

 

Update: Amati Bismark is HERE! 

Specific details of this kit aren’t available at this time, but we do know that this is a BIG KIT. We expect its release VERY SOON and we should have them in stock in time for Christmas.

Amati Bismark

This kit is, by all appearances, the definitive model kit of the German battleship Bismark and it can soon be yours. Keep checking back here for further announcements. We will post updates as soon as we get more information, so stay tuned!

AGES OF SAIL

Shipments Just In

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I got word recently that we got the shipment in from our last order we placed with the Polish card and paper model kit maker Shipyard. This order brings two of Shipyard’s most popular kits back in stock, the laser-cut card model versions of the Royal Navy’s 28-gun sixth-rate frigate HMS Mercury, and naval cutter HMS Alert. 

HMS Alert - Shipyard Laser Cut Kit

We also just restocked some of our Caldercraft line of ship model kits. We’re still having trouble getting most of their RC kits, and some of their other kits as well, but we’re doing what we can. We’re till waiting on HMS Pickle and HMAV Bounty kits, which we’re out of stock on, and we’re down to our last Mortar Vessel Convulsion and Caldercraft HMS Victory kits, so if you’re thinking of getting one of these, better act quickly. 

HMS Cruiser - Caldercraft

Caldercraft’s HMS Cruiser

But, we’ll get these kits ordered again as soon as they are available again. In the meantime, we have most of the kits of their Heritage Series and Nelson’s Navy series in stock, so check the out. There’s a lot to like there. Ω

 

 

 

Shipyard’s Dutch Fluit Schwarzer Rabe – A Paper Model Saves the Day

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When a ship modeler needed a lifeline, we sent him this paper model kit from Shipyard. We have a large range of these paper kits, including ships, lighthouses, and various accessories. If you really like paper ship models, you can get one of the special edition sets that include two or more paper model kits.

Check them all out here at https://www.agesofsail.com/ecommerce/paper-kits.html

catopower's avatarShip Modeler

It’s a happy day when a paper model kit shows up to give me back a taste of ship modeling again. Last week, my Dutch fluit model kit showed up in the mail and it didn’t take me long to open it up and get started.

As I mentioned before, family health matters have me stuck in the house where I grew up, with no trace of ship modeling material except text and images on the Internet. In order to give me back a small part of my absent ship modeling self, I ordered the paper model kit from Ages of Sail. I wasn’t quite sure if I wanted to build the Dutch fluit Schwarzer Rabe (Black Raven) or the Dutch pinnace Papegojan. Both paper model kits are available and in 1/96-scale. I ended up buying the Schwazer Rabe for about $38. But, looking back, I realized that there is…

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On the Horizon: Royal Yacht for the Dutchess of Kingston from Vanguard Models

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Something awesome to watch for in the next month or two.

catopower's avatarShip Modeler

Chris Watton’s own ship model kit production company, Vanguard Models, is rolling along with yet another kit coming out in just a matter of weeks! If you’re familiar with Amati’s Victory Model’s line of kits or Caldercraft’s Nelson’s Navy line, then you’re already familiar with Chris’s amazing work. He’s both talented AND prolific.

His latest release will be the sixth kit from Vanguard Models, and it looks like it’s going to be a real beauty – I hope you’ve saved a spot on your workbench to build this one.

The model is a 1/64-scale kit of an unnamed, 81-foot, three-masted yacht built for the Dutchess of Kingston, which was probably built in the 1770s. It closely resembles the royal yacht Caroline, which is a subject from Mantua/Panart that I’ve had my eye on for a long time. But, this model looks like it’s so nicely detailed that I would seriously…

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All BlueJacket Kits Now at Ages of Sail

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Things are progressing at Ages of Sail, and we’re getting in more and more shipments in every week, restocking our inventory, and adding more new items and new suppliers.

Today, we just added the full range of kits from the classic American ship model manufacturer BlueJacket of Maine. We’ve carried their kits for a long time, but for some reason, we never listed all of their kits. That’s finally changed, and we’re finally carrying the full range.

BlueJacket is a specialist in classic American ship modeling subject from the early frigate USS Constitution and the even early Continental Navy Ship Alfred, to World War II ships, like the Fletcher class destroyer USS Kidd, to the modern day  AEGIS guided missile destroyer Arleigh Burke.

Most of their ship model kits feature solid wooden hull construction, but their small workboats and pleasure boats, like the classic Swampscott Dory, are plank on frame kits.

Take a look at their full line of wooden ship model kits and you’ll understand why BlueJacket has been around for so long, with a history dating back more than a century! Old product have been revived, while new ones are continually being developed, like their big whale ship Charles W. Morgan cross section kit.

See the full range of kits at Ages of Sail here: https://www.agesofsail.com/ecommerce/bluejacket.html

 

 

Taking Another Look: HMS Bounty from Amati Model

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Probably the most beautiful wooden model kit of the famed HMS Bounty is the classic 1/60-scale kit from Amati Model. This kit has been around a long time, but it’s popularity has not waned. Here’s a look at the kit, showing why we think so highly of it.

Technically, this small three masted square-rigger is an armed transport, and was purchased by the Royal Navy to acquire breadfruit plants in the Pacific, to be transported to the West Indies. It was during the long uneventful stay in the tropical South Pacific that discipline problems developed, eventually resulting in the famous mutiny against her captain Lieutenant William Bligh.

Probably the most amazing part of the mutiny, however, was the arduous 3,500 nautical mile journey that Bligh and 18 loyal members of the crew made in the ship’s open launch to reach safety.

The ship was originally built as a collier, or coal transport, in 1784, and name the Bethia. The Royal Navy purchase her in 1787, and renamed her Bounty. She was a small ship, but was full-rigged with three square-rigged masts. For the South Pacific voyage, she was equipped with four 4-pdr cannons and ten swivel guns.

You can read more about the background of the ship, its mission, and the events of the mutiny in this Wikipedia entry: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Bounty

Amati’s kit features a framework of laser-cut parts, which is then double-planked, allowing the builder to create as smooth a hull shape as possible. The first layer is a softer, more flexible wood, which is then smoothed out before the layer of beautiful finishing planks are added.

Beautiful hardwoods are provided for the masts, yards, deck planking and various hull and deck details. Many parts are laser-cut, to aid in simplifying construction. Various other parts included are wood, cast metal, brass, and photo-etched brass. Multiple sizes of rigging cord, and blocks provide good scale accuracy, and the model’s appearance is rounded out by the cast metal figurehead and metal stern gallery details.

Of course, as with any full-rigged ship model kit, the rigging will be a challenge, but the kits plans and instruction will help you make a successful model that you will be proud of.

 

Not a kit for a beginner, as you can see from the fine details of the masts and rigging. But, when you’re ready for the challenge, this a kit that you’ll want to test your mettle on.

Note that the display stand and pedestals show here are not included. However, we carry a variety of ship model display options that will help you show off your model in the perfect fashion.

If we’ve interested you in this lovely museum quality wooden ship model kit, you can get your’s at Ages of Sail here: https://www.agesofsail.com/ecommerce/amati-hmsbounty-am1432.html

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New HMS Flirt from Vanguard Models

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The two-masted brig HMS Flirt is a brand new release from Vanguard Models of the UK, and Ages of Sail has it in stock. Designer Chris Watton has outdone himself again with yet another fantastic 1/64-scale wooden ship model kit.

HMS Flirt was a 14-gun ship that was one of the new flush decked brig-sloops built in the latter part of the 18th century. She and HMS Speedy (another Vanguard Models kit) are of the same class. In terms of kits, the most obvious difference is the hull of the HMS Flirt kit is not copper sheathed.

This new kit from Vanguard models features internal structural parts laser-cut from sturdy MDF sheets and birch plywood. All the visible parts are laser-cut from beautiful pear wood sheets, including details such as ladders and gratings. Meanwhile, making construction perfect and simplified, the deck comes as a laser-scribed lime wood, complete with all planking and treenail detail.

Note that photo is from a limited Special Edition version of the kit. The only difference in materials that the Standard Edition kit that Ages of Sail sells is the wood type.

The hull of this kit is double-planked, using high quality lime wood for the first layer, and pear wood for the outer finish layer. For masts and yards, the kit includes walnut dowels. The 14 4-pdr cannon barrels and 1/2-pdr swivel guns are cast in black resin for maximum detail, and the kit includes black acrylic cannon balls. For the metalwork, 3 sheets of photo-etched brass parts are included.

If you are interest in seeing the instructions, you are free to download them from the Vanguard Models website here: Instruction Manual PDF

Click HERE to check out HMS FLIRT at Ages of Sail!

 

Showroom Open by Appointment

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Over the past week, we’ve been getting increasing numbers of local customers asking us when our showroom will be open again. The good news is that after some discussion, management has decided to try opening it up by appointment only.

Of course, there are certain necessary precautions. Namely, we’re allowing only one customer in the shop at a time, and the wearing of a mask is required.

So, if you want to visit the show room, make sure to visit our “Contact US” page on our store website and then call or email us to make your appointment.

Contact Us

 

OcCre Jabeque, Endeavour, and Montañes – Back in Stock

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Another shipment of OcCre kits came in this week, just in time to replenish our shrinking stocks of OcCre products. And, while we maintain a large inventory and selection, we did run out of stock on the popular Endeavour, Montañes, and Jabeque (Cazadore) kits. So, we’re happy to announce that these kits are now back in stock.

OcCcre’s HMS Endeavour

OcCre’s Montañes

OcCre’s Jabeque (Cazadore)

Kits from OcCre Models include ship models, trams, and trains, and have been very popular with our customers, due to their relative ease of construction using a step-by-step visual guide to construction. Plus, OcCre has also made many multi-part construction videos for their newer kits and posted them on Youtube.

Check out the whole line of kits from OcCre Models here: https://www.agesofsail.com/ecommerce/occre.html

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Vanguard Models – Now at Ages of Sail!

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We at Ages of Sail are proud to announce that we are now the U.S. Distributor for the newest  line of wooden ship model kits from England,  Vanguard Models.

This company is a new venture by world-renowned kit designer and developer Chris Watton, who designed some of the industry’s most popular ship model kits. But now, with direct control of production, he is able to release kits with the best possible attention to accuracy in scale and detail.

HMS Alert

Begun in 2019, the recent release of his Scottish Fifie kit brings the number of available kits to four, with rapid development taking place on future kits. Currently, all kits are produced at the popular ship modeling scale of 1:64 (3/16″=1′).

Scottish Fifie

HMS Speedy

Scottish Zulu “Lady Isabella”

All kits feature laser-cut MDF hull framing, and double-planked hulls with the finish planking in pearwood. Decks come as detailed laser-engraved sheet. The full-color instruction booklets are written in english, as are the plan sheets.  And, all the kits include a custom designed clear acrylic stand for display of the finished model.

These are beautiful kits made primarily for beginning and intermediate modelers, but advanced modelers will also love the subjects, materials, and design, and will no doubt find unique and creative ways to make their own models even more special.

People interested in these kits should bear in mind that these kits are produced by a small company, and in relatively limited quantity production runs, so availability may vary greatly.

Check out the new kits at Ages of Sail here: https://www.agesofsail.com/ecommerce/new-vanguard-models.html

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