Amati’s Venetian Gondola Kit – Available Now!

March 4, 2023March 31, 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

Ron Neilson’s Amati Xebec Model

January 20, 2023 / agesofsail / 1 Comment

Our longtime friend Ron Neilson gave us his permission to share his photos of one of his early builds: Amati’s 1/60-scale Xebec kit. This was only Ron’s second wooden ship model that he built back in 2012. The completed model is about 28″ long, and he clearly put a lot of personal touches into this kit, including the red sails, the color scheme, the deck clutter, and more. He also did a beautiful job with the presentation on its display base with customized nameplate.

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Shipyard’s Hanse Kogge von Bremen – Card Model Progress

April 5, 2021April 5, 2021 / agesofsail / Leave a comment

We wanted to share some progress photos of a build of the Hanse Kogge von Bremen laser-cut card model kit. This kit comes from the Polish manufacturer called Shipyard. It is a 1/72-scale model kit of the Bremen cog, a well preserved ship from 1380 that was uncovered in Bremen, Germany in 1962.

This particular model is still under construction by ship modeler Clare Hess, and you can read about the model his build log on the NRG’s Model Ship World forum here: https://modelshipworld.com/topic/23434-hanse-kogge-by-catopower-shipyard-172-scale-card/

The kit itself is one of Shipyard’s laser-cut models, which means that all the card stock parts are all pre-cut and just need to be cut from the provided sheets. Take a look at this progressing of photos of the model’s construction. Hopefully, we’ll be able to show you some photos of the model once it’s completed.

Shipyard now produces laser-cut cog kits in both card and wood. Both feature parts that are laser-cut, and the kits are in the same 1/72 scale. At present, the cog models are the only ones that are available in wood. The card kits require painting using techniques outlined in the kit instructions to simulate wood. The wood kits can be left natural or enhanced with stains or clear finishing products.

For other types of ships, most subjects, except for the cogs, are available in paper kit format. These kits provided all parts printed out in color on heavy paper, and require you to cut out the parts, and in most cases the parts need to built up with layers of paper or cardboard up to a require thickness. These require more work than laser-cut kits, but are less expensive, and with pre-printed paper, the parts usually need only some coloring of the paper edges.

Whether paper, laser-cut card models, or laser-cut wood models, these kits are ideal for those without a lot of tools or space. They can be built on a small desk with little mess.

Check out the cog kits at Ages of Sail here: https://www.agesofsail.com/ecommerce/paper-kits/cog-kits.html

Check out the full range of Shipyard kits at Ages of Sail here: https://www.agesofsail.com/ecommerce/paper-kits.html

The Endurance – New Model Kit from OcCre

March 28, 2021March 28, 2021 / agesofsail / 1 Comment

We just received our first shipment of the newest kit from the Spanish wooden ship model kit manufacturer, OcCre. The ship is the 1/70-scale model of Endurance, the Antarctic exploration ship of Sir Ernest Shackleton. A 3-masted barquentine (or barkentine) built in Sandefjord, Norway, the carried Shackleton and his crew of 27 for the Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition in 1914.

The Endurance was a sturdy ship, 144 feet long, and built with a reinforced hull. The ship was equipped with a coal-fired steam engine that could propel the ship at over 10 knots. Though she was considered to be perhaps the strongest wooden ship ever built, she could not overcome the power of nature. In January of 1915, strong winds had piled up thick packs of ice around the ship, and became locked in the Antarctic ice. Ultimately, by October, she was crushed by pressure waves in the ice around her, and her crew was forced to abandon her.

After months on the ice, Shackleton and his crew took to the lifeboats and made it to the uninhabited Elephant Island. Shackleton and five of his men then continued to sail 800 miles in an open boat to get help and mount a rescue expedition for the rest of his men. The crew of the Endurance survived the ordeal without a single loss of life.

OcCre’s kit features an MDF (medium density fiberboard) keel piece with laser-cut plywood bulkheads. Major structural parts are also laser-cut for ease of construction. A healthy supply of strip woods are provided for the planking of the hull, which is accomplished in two layers. Two sheets of photo-etched brass and a supply of wooden, cast metal, and brass fittings are provided to detail your model. To finish up the model, several spools of rigging line, pre-sewn sails, and printed flag sheet is provided.

The included instructions are in a step-by-step, pictorial format, and you can download and preview a copy of them here: Endurance Instructions

Want more help with your build? OcCre has you covered, with a 30-part series of instructional videos on Youtube, designed to guide you through the construction of the hull. Here’s a link to the video series: Endurance Build Videos

Or watch this preview…

We received a limited initial supply of this kit, so hurry if you want one. We have more coming in soon, though. So, if you don’t manage to get one right away, you shouldn’t have to wait long.

As an introductory special, we’re listing this kit for only $199.95, which should be good through the end of April. Get your’s here: Endurance on Ages of Sail

In the meantime, here are some more photos of the completed kit…

Get your wooden model ship kit at Ages of Sail!

Taking Another Look: Arrow Gunboat from Amati Model

February 27, 2021March 29, 2021 / agesofsail / Leave a comment

A very interesting kit that has been available on the market for quite some time is a wooden model kit that is not really a ship, but an American gunboat from the early 1800s. It is Jeffersonian-era gunboat.

During this time, the United States had limited resources to protect it’s vast coastline, and there was a lot of debate over the necessity and usefulness of a sea-going navy. As war loomed, the country invested in large numbers of gunboats – small war boats that were lightly armed, and could be powered by sail or oar. The boats made for small targets and were extremely maneuverable and could operate in waters too shallow for larger sailing ships.

There were many gunboats built and many designs appeared. Generally, they were shallow draught, had a simple rig, and carried one or two medium-sized carriage guns or carronades. Unique innovations appeared, with some mounting two guns facing opposite directions on a single circular turntable, so that after one cannon fired, the whole turntable was rotated to bring the second cannon to bear on the target while the other was reloaded.

One design featured a long and narrow hull with a gun at each end, each on its own pivot mount. The vessel showed a mediterranean influence with the use of a pair of lateen sails, each on separate masts. This particular design became the subject of Amati’s “Arrow” Gunboat kit. Here we take another look at this popular Amait kit.

Amati’s “Arrow” is a 1:55-scale wooden model kit of one of these gunboat designs. The specific design can be find in the book The History of the American Sailing Navy, by Howard I Chapelle. By the way, though long out of print, this is an interesting book and a good reference, and used copies in good condition can easily be had for about $10.

Amati’s kit measures kit measures about 18.5″ long and features a double-planked hull on a framework of laser-cut bulkheads. Bronzed metal barrels are included for one long gun and one carronade. Printed sailcloth is included for the two lateen sails. Three sheets of plans are included, as is a step-by-step instruction guide. The instruction guide is printed in Italian, but an insert includes all the text in english.

This kit makes for an interesting build of a unique type of craft that formed an important part of American history. The completed model’s graceful lines are certain to draw attention. The model is ideal for those who want to build something attractive that doesn’t require as much time as it takes to build a square rigger or any of the larger warships with their rows of gunports and cannons. But, with the large, detailed long gun and carronade in their swivel mounts, it carries just enough armament to make it stand out.

There is enough challenge here, and a surprising amount of rigging for a small vessel with only two lateen sails. This model kit sells for $108.99 and includes a launch ways style base.

Order yours today at Ages of Sail here.

For some interesting info on one of the Jeffersonian gunboats, check out this Wikipedia entry on HMS Ambush here. HMS Ambush was formerly American Gunboat No. 5, captured by the British in 1814 during the Battle of Lake Burgoyne.

New Wooden Kits from Shipyard – In Stock Now!

June 18, 2020June 18, 2020 / agesofsail / 1 Comment

Shipyard is a Polish manufactures known for producing some extraordinary paper model kits and laser-cut card model kits. Just recently, they even had their HMS Wolf model grace the cover of the Nautical Research Journal.

Last year, they released two new laser-cut card model kits of medieval cogs. And this year, they have entered the realm of wooden ship modeling, by making two new laser-cut kits. This time, they aren’t made from card stock, but of wood. Ages of Sail is proud to be able to bring these kits to the US market, having recently received its first shipment of these amazing new kits.

The two kits are both medieval cogs – the Wütender Hund and the Kogge von Kampen.

These wooden kits are actually closely related to their card model cousins, in that their method of construction is nearly identical to the card models, but of course, using wood as the construction material instead of card.

The characteristically closely spaced bulkheads are one major feature that makes these kits more closely resemble their card model cousins than traditional wooden ships with their limited number of bulkheads that easily create flat spots and possibly unsightly twisting to the hull.

Another rarity among wooden ship model kits, though this is changing with the development of new kits, are pre-cut planks. So, you don’t have to struggle with learning how to properly shape and cut planks. In fact, just like with Shipyard’s laser-cut card models, there is almost nothing that you have to fashion from scratch. Everything is pre-cut for you.

Check out these new kits, or try your hand at building laser-cut card ship or lighthouse models, or even try out one of their excellent paper model kits.

Check out the new wooden kits here: https://www.agesofsail.com/ecommerce/paper-kits.html?cat=337

New Kit from OcCre Models – Polaris – Now in Stock

June 2, 2020November 6, 2020 / agesofsail / Leave a comment

Those of you looking for a new ship model project, maybe even a good first project, may want to take a look at the Polaris, the newest kit from OcCre Models of Spain.

This model kit represents an American pilot boat type schooner from around 1800. Also referred to as “Virginia pilot boats” or simply called “Virginia built,” these were very fast vessels that served not only as pilot boats, but were used as smugglers, and were often armed and put into service in wartime as privateers and blockade runners.

The model features the simple schooner rig, easy hull shape, and all the basic features common to wooden sailing ships, making an ideal entry-level wooden ship model kit. It is a 1:50 scale model that measures just under 23″ long and roughly 17.5″ high.

A pictorial parts identification guide helps you sort through the kits supply of wooden strips and dowels.

And the kit includes everything you see here, from wooden stock to fittings of brass, cast metal, and wood; major wooden parts are finely laser cut; and the kit even includes a full set of pre-sewn sails, all for one low price.

Also included is a set of easy to follow, step-by-step, photo instructions to guide you throughout the build. Text instructions are minimal, but you’ll find that the pictures give you far more information than a confusing array of written instruction ever could.

What’s more, OcCre has again gone above and beyond by providing a series of 84 short Youtube videos, showing you how it’s all done.

Get yours at Ages of Sail here: https://www.agesofsail.com/ecommerce/polaris-(occre-1:50).html

Hanse Kogge, Bremen 1390 – Shipyard Laser Cut Model Kit

February 6, 2020February 27, 2020 / catopower / 1 Comment

Over the holidays, Ages of Sail received a new shipment of kits from the Polish manufacturer of paper ship model and structures kits, Shipyard. Among these were two kits released in 2019. Both are cogs, sea-going cargo ships that were widely used in medieval Europe from the 12th through the 14th centuries.

Modern cog reconstruction.

Cogs were of lapstraked construction, with a broad and flat-bottomed hull, and commonly built of oak. The carried a single mast mounting a square sail, and were up to about 80 feet in length, with the largest carrying up to 200 tons.

We’ll be looking specifically at Shipyard’s Hanse Kogge kit, which is apparently based on a late 14th century Bremen cog of the Hanseatic League. The league formed as a confedration of trade guilds to promote commerce and mutual protection. It was formed in the late 12th century and grew to dominate Baltic trade for hundreds of years, with the cog beiung the mainstay of trade transportation.

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H.M. Yacht Chatham by Shaun Au

January 27, 2020 / agesofsail / 4 Comments

I don’t know how this slipped past us. But, while cleaning up old emails, we discovered these photos sent to us by customer Shaun Au. The model is an incredibly well done model of H.M. Yacht Chatham built from the Caldercraft kit.

Caldercraft Yacht Chatham by Shaun Au

Clearly, the model was built by a ship modeler of great talent. But, it shows how beautifully one can build a relatively inexpensive wooden ship model kit.

The Yacht Chatham kit is part of Caldercraft’s Nelson’s Navy series, and all but one of the series (HMS Victory) is at a scale of 1:64. That makes this model just under 21″ long and about 18.5″ high.

Caldercraft Yacht Chatham by Shaun Au

The kit does not include sail material, nor does it provide any patterns or rigging materials. This ship modeler had worked out that part himself. Clearly, he’s done a marvelous job too.

Caldercraft Yacht Chatham by Shaun Au

Recreating the sails should not be a difficult process, but if you want to add them yourself, you’ll have to consult additional references, as patterns are not provided with the kit.

For rigging the sails, you might consider the book Rigging Period Fore-And-Aft Craft, by Lennarth Petersson, which includes a section on the cutter rig, which this is. But, again, you’ll need to create your own sail patterns if you want sails.

To build your own HM Yacht Chatham model, find the kit here: https://www.agesofsail.com/ecommerce/caldercraft-ship-kit/nelson-s-navy/caldercraft-chatham.html

The model photos now appear on our Customer Gallery page.

New Shipment of Card Model Kits from Shipyard

December 28, 2019 / agesofsail / 1 Comment

Over the holidays, we got in a new shipment of kits from the Polish manufacturer of paper ship model and structures kits, Shipyard.

The shipment replenishes most of our stocks of kits, including the big 1/72 scale laser-cut HMS Mercury and HMS Wolf kits.

The best news, though, is that we are now carrying two new ship model kits from Shipyard. These are two 1/72 scale laser-cut kits of Cogs of medieval Europe. These ships were clinker-built vessels with a single mast and a single square sail.