Sail Sets for Vanguard Models Kits

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Ages of Sail now carries Vanguard Models’ pre-made sail sets for their Fifie ‘Lady Eleanor’ kit and for their Zulu ‘Lady Isabella’ kit. Each sail set is beautifully detailed and complete with bolt ropes sewn into place.

Zulu sail set for the Lady Isabella kit.

Fifie sail set for the Lady Eleanor kit.

These are beautifully done sails, so if you want to add sails to your model, but don’t feel like trying the difficult task of sewing the seams so nice and straight, hemming the edges, and sewing on the bolt ropes, you can save yourself time and effort with these sets.

Check out the detail…

Click HERE to visit our updated Vanguard Models page on Ages of Sail.

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!

 

Constructo’s Gjøa Back in Stock

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I just received word that we are now stocking Constructo’s Gjøa kit. If memory serves me correctly, this is a plank-on-bulkhead wooden ship model kit that has been around for decades, but hasn’t been see here at Ages of Sail for a while.

This classic kit of Roald Amundsen’s Arctic exploration ship has been updated and now includes a set of basic tools plus pre-sewn sails. This 1/64-scale kit is considered one for the Advanced Beginner. The completed model measures a little over 19″ long and 18″ high.

In the years 1903 through 1906, the Gjøa was the first ship to successfully navigate the Northwest Passage. Other ships that attempted and failed include HMS Terror of the 1845 Franklin Expedition, the subject of another very popular kit we carry from OcCre Models.

After Amundsen’s arrival in San Francisco following completion of the Northwest Passage, the Gjøa was on display at the west end of Golden Gate park until the early 1970s when it was returned to Norway and restored.

Check out Constructo’s Gjøa kit at Ages of Sail here:

https://www.agesofsail.com/ecommerce/gjoa-research-vessel-(constructo,-1:640.html

Constructo of Spain has been a long-time manufacturer of wooden model kits and is a very popular brand. You can check out the many other interesting kits of their product line here:

https://www.agesofsail.com/ecommerce/constructo.html

Note that we’ve been selling a lot of Constructo kits over the past few months and we’re currently out of stock on many, but shipments are coming in all the time and we’re expecting more soon. Ω

New Wooden Kits from Shipyard – In Stock Now!

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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

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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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Workstation from Model Craft – New In Stock!

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Model building workstations are nothing new. They help modelers organize their tools, supplies, and parts. But this expandable/stackable one from Model Craft Tools is brand new to us and it looks pretty neat!

The workstation is portable and has cutouts for a water cup and for tools and brushes. It’s made up of laser-cut parts, is easy to assemble, and requires no glue.

The workstation is available with or without the ModelCraft A4 sized cutting mat, which fits neatly in central work space.

Plus, it’s stackable with two sizes of optional drawers, that are sold separately.

The basic workstation without the cutting mat is currently selling for only $28.70 plus tax and shipping. But, we recommend the version that includes the cutting mat, for only $7.29 more.

All the workstation components are in stock and can be purchased at Ages of Sail here: https://www.agesofsail.com/ecommerce/catalogsearch/result/?q=workstation

New Kit from OcCre Models – Polaris – Now in Stock

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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

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Restocked Kits from OcCre

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Those of you who have been waiting to buy the popular HMS Beagle, HMS Terror, or Essex whale ship kits, we’ve been out of stock on these items and have been waiting for our big shipment from OcCre Models of Spain.

OcCre HMS Beagle

OcCre HMS Terror

OcCre Whale Ship Essex

We’re still waiting for our big shipment, but in the meantime we’ve managed to get a limited supply of each of these kits sent to us and they just arrived. But, if you really want one of these, you better act soon, as we don’t expect our supply to last long.

If you can’t make a purchase right away, or are looking for something else that’s out of stock, don’t worry, we have orders in with OcCre and other manufacturers and expect to start receiving more shipments in coming weeks.

Click Here to shop for OcCre products at Ages of Sail