Duyfken by Robin Lous - Kolderstok - Scale 1:50

[Robin Lous]

My second wooden ship model build...

De Duyfken VOC verkenningsjacht (scouting yacht) 1595-1608, a pinas. From Kolderstok  scale 1:50.

Lenght about 65cm, height 55 cm, width 25 cm. 

Armament: 10 cannons and 4 swivel guns.

 

Link to the Duyfken replica foundation

Being Dutch, I'm proud of our maritime history and achievements.

I'm well aware and of course not proud of the many horrible things our exploring forefathers did to gain power and wealth.

Nonetheless, their exploring achievements were remarkable and it's almost unbelievable such a tiny country managed to become a powerhouse.

 

I'm excited to start this build, still so much to learn and I think this is a good choise for my second build.

I got the kit last year as a Christmas gift from the Admiral. 

 

Since I believe this is the first Kolderstok Duyfken on this forum, let's have a look at what you get....

From Kolderstok...the kit, the extra gun set (4 guns) and a resin name plate.

I was happy to find the (out of print, Dutch translation) National Geographic book about the building of the replica ship. Superb photo's...very helpful.

There's no ship's boat included, but since you can't discover the world without one...I bought a suitable resin one.

 

And inside the box...

Wow!...a lot! 

Very nice step by step manual with good colour photo's. In Dutch, there's an English version included also.

 

Wood...

Good quality planks and dowels, the laser cut parts look really sharp. The larger parts are pre-cut to make life easier.

 

Bits and bobs box...

Looks good...resin and thin laser cut ship decorations, white metal anchor and 4 small swivel guns, brass cannons, neat looking blocks, brass nails, several types of rope and cloth for the flags.

The printed flags (good colours!) can be ironed on this cloth.

Also included is fabric for the sails. Fine quality, cream colour. 2 large plans, a part list and a seperate manual on how to build the grating.

 

Well...I guess that's all nice and fine. Now let's see what I can do with it. 

 

I can start when I cleared my workspace, so...the usual: More soon!

 

Robin 

 

Edited October 29, 2017 by Robin Lous

[Baker]

Robin,

As promised, I will follow,

If I can help, just ask.

 

The first interesting link :

 

[cog]

Pff, JIT, got me a front seat You know what that means mate ...

[zappto]

Hello, what a nice kit, huge box content, all seems hight quality, will fallow your build!

[Peter Bloemendaal]

Hi Robin,

I'll be following along as well.

Reminds me of my visit in 2005 on board the replica here in Perth. I found a few photo's.

Cheers, Peter

[Robin Lous]

Thanks guys! Great bunch of photo's, very helpful.

 

Robin 

[popeye the sailor]

looks to be a really fun build........  should be fun to watch as well  

[Ondras71]

Very nice ship. I also decided to build a Dutch ship from the same period - Roter Löwe, I will keep track of your construction !!!

 

[flying_dutchman2]

I am pulling up a chair as well. This looks like a great kit to build. Dutch kit made by Dutch company. You know it will be accurate. Hans (one of the owners) has built a fantastic model the Batavia. 

Marcus 

[Old Collingwood]

This will be a lovely thing to see develop into another masterpiece.

 

OC.

[Robin Lous]

Welcome aboard all followers....the pressure is on already! 

 

I started with studying the manual, checking all the parts and making a photo library.

And a bad habit of mine...spending too much money. 

 

The rope provided is good, but the standing rigging rope is a bit fuzzy and I'm not too fond of the white/cream coloured running rigging rope....I like it a bit more "moody". I drooled over the Syren Ship Model Company ropes before, so I couldn't resist and ordered a complete set of rigging rope. And while there...added a set of round end gunport hinges. Also...I stumbled upon exactly the same swivel gun set provided in the kit, but made of bronze, so...well...that also. I'm terrible...I know.

I have to work the weekend, so I can start on monday.

 

Robin 

[Louie da fly]

SUCH a pretty ship. I went on board the replica while she was still a-building, and still have the little oak off-cut with her name burnt into it with a branding iron.

 

I'll be following the build with interest.

 

Steven

[donrobinson]

Should be a sweet build to watch, I'm in

[Barbossa]

Wow, it appears I came accross your build " at the eleventh hour"

Can I still join ?

btw : to Robin and all our Dutch friends ( I can afford to say neighbours ), you have all reason to be proud of your maritme history!

[Tigersteve]

Looks like a nice kit. I'd like to join the fun. 

Steve

[Robin Lous]

Cleared (and cleaned) my workspace,

so...let the fun begin! 

Dry fitting the frames...they fit.

 

Robin

[cog]

Nearly there

[Robin Lous]

Thanks guys.. and bearegalleon, I see it as a blessing you're building this beauty also!

I can learn from you and I hope you don't mind when I ask you some questions now and then.

I'll stick to the kit/replica plan...with some minor modifications. Without major surgery this build is already pushing me to the limits of my skills.

 

(boring content warning)

After more checking of the manual, plans and parts...a small list of minor modifications I need to do early on.

-#59 For ease of construction I'll move this forward to #2. Slightly modified stern gun ports.

-#6 and #7, I'll make the doors and frames from walnut, blackened brass hinges. So I only use the lasercut parts as a template.

-Since it's single planking I guess it's a good idea "to balsa" the whole hull...not just bow and stern filler blocks.

 

I already noticed some other stuff I like to modify, but since it will take a while before I get there, I'll list them later.

 

Notes:

-Not seen in the manual are the 2 open windows on each side of the rear castle. They are depicted on the plans and lasercut parts for them are included. Edit: found it in the manual.

 

Shopping list:

-Balsa wood.

-Walnut to replace the lasercut plywood parts mentioned.

 

More (less boring stuff) soon,

 

Robin

Edited November 5, 2017 by Robin Lous

[EJ_L]

Hey Robin! I was wondering if you were gonna have any time between builds but I guess not! I never do either. I've got my chair pulled up and am ready to watch and enjoy. Good luck!

[popeye the sailor]

off to a good start  

[Robin Lous]

Thanks gentlemen,

 

Some progress on the shipyard...

I placed the frames and started with the deck.

The frames fit the slots very well, only very little adjustment was needed to get them at the right angle.

Same with the decks (2 halves)...a snug and precise fit. I used a crazy amount of clamps and rubber bands because of the slope.

I'll do the rear part of the deck tomorrow...no hurry!

 

6 hours ago, bearegalleon said:

 Definitely balsa up the hull, especially at the stern, strongly advocate that.

Yep, yep. 

 

Further news:

 

Yesterday I contacted Hans from Kolderstok, because of some air bubbles on the surface of some of the resin parts.

And today...

A new set together with a new version of plan 1. There seems to be a minor scale issue on the older version I had.

Now...that's what I call...Service!

 

Furthermore...

Received an email from Syren (Chuck), letting me know my order is on it's way.

Oh...and also an email from the manufacturer of the bronze swivel guns...they can't deliver the guns. No drama, the white metal ones are fine and I'll blacken them anyway.

 

When I finish the rear part of the deck I'll do the stern, so more soon.

 

Robin 

 

[Old Collingwood]

Looking great very tidy and those ribs sure look aligned, is it dry fitted or glued?

 

OC.

[Robin Lous]

Thanks OC,

What you see on the photo's is all glued in place. Both the frames and the deck.

 

Robin 

[popeye the sailor]

that's progress!      I see your not using a build slip.  until I got one,  I use a pine board and jury rigged a way to set up the frame.   I use the deck platforms to set the bulkheads.  as said earlier........your off to a great start   

[Robin Lous]

Thanks popeye! ...and the likes...and the already 17 followers (wow!).

 

The build slip thing gives me a bit of a headache. Had that with the bireme also.

I think a keel clamp is of very limited use, so not worth the money.

For the bireme I mainly used a small kitchen towel as a comfy soft cradle...that won't work for this one. Well, maybe a beach towel, but not that practical.

So, I'm thinking of building a drydock from styrene foam for the Duyken.

 

Little, but steady progress...

Finished the base deck.

It's made of 4 pieces....2 halves front and 2 halves aft. All smooth after some minor sanding.

 

Next will be the balsa wood in between the frames.

I'll wait a bit with the deck planking, because I do it slightly different and I'm waiting for new gratings.

The grating in the kit is perfectly fine, but I'll do the ones on the top decks also (instead of covered with fabric).

To get them all the same, I ordered 4 sets (2 needed aft castle).

 

Also waiting for more walnut sheet and strips. I don't want to stain...or keep it as minimal as possible.

Plywood will be covered or replaced with walnut where I can.

 

Balsa next...lots of saw and sanding dust I spose. 

 

More soon,

 

Robin 

[Old Collingwood]

Nice and tidy  very claen work, what I did to support the skeleton was a length of  2/1" timber and made some blocks to support the false keel.

 

OC.

[Baker]

Great start Robin

 

Balsa next...lots of saw and sanding dust I spose. 

 

When I have to make a lot of dust whit sanding, the admiral sends me out into the garden 
There i can make dust as much as I want 

 

 

 

 

 

[popeye the sailor]

I go to the porch or the garage as well........the admiral is tired of cleaning my desk {I do it,  but I tolerate it longer than she can stand} {'cuz she can't stands n'more! AK-K-k-k-k-k!} 

 

the foam sounds like a viable option.....it can be shaped very easily     looks nice.

[Robin Lous]

Indeed...it makes a mess.

When I was in the middle of using my saw table and disk sander to shape the blocks for my first filling....the Admiral came home.

To my amazement, she didn't complain. 

 

First done...

It's made of 3 pieces....15mm thick. Shaped the blocks with both proxxon tools and sanded smooth after fitting. Pre fairing of course.

One down...25 to go. The Admiral will likely change her mind when the dust starts to settle down.

 

Also did the basic construction of the stern...not fixed to the ship yet.

Needed some dry fitting to figure out where to drill the hole for the rudder control rod. (it probably has a nice fancy name unknown to me).

I look forward to plank the stern with walnut.

 

More soon,

 

Robin 

 

 

[popeye the sailor]

would this ship have a whip staff that would operate a tiller arm below deck?