New member seeking info on Oseberg longship

[Skidbladnir]

Hi to everyone, my name is James and I’m new to the forum but have built a couple of simple models over the years. Now that the kids are grown and I have more time on my hands I’d like to get back into it. That being said I have always wanted to scratch build the Oseberg burial ship. I am wanting to build it as historically accurate as possible but need measurements of the actual ship and it’s various timbers, length, width, for the keel, planks, ribs, etc... to scale down. I have been searching the web for info but have had little luck or have found measurements that contradict others, so I am hoping someone here can perhaps provide some links or info that would be useful or at least help me get started. I’m planning on doing it in 1/12th scale and posting a build log once I get my materials and info together and hopefully get some build tips along the way. Thanks in advance and all the best to everyone.

[ccoyle]

Have you tried contacting the Viking Ship Museum itself? https://www.khm.uio.no/english/visit-us/viking-ship-museum/

[Skidbladnir]

Hi coyle, thanks for the response. Actually, I have been thinking of doing that, just wasn’t sure if they would respond to my request since they probably get a lot of academics and universities requesting info as well, but I quess at worst they simply will not reply to my request. 

[ccoyle]

It's possible that they may even have plan sets that you could use, for a price of course. If you do contact them, you might have to be a little patient in awaiting a response. As you said, such museums do often get a lot of requests for information, and they may be staffed largely by volunteers, so it may take them a while to process a request.

 

As an alternative, I know that this ship has been offered in kit form by several companies. I can't tell you which version, if any, is more historically accurate than the others, but it's an avenue you could research. You might find that buying a plan set from one of those manufacturers is a more economical option.

 

Cheers!

[Skidbladnir]

No doubt it could take a few weeks for a response. I collected postcards for several years and often requested info from different postal entities, and it usually took months to hear back from them. The ship plans from existing kits is definitely an option I may have to look into.

-All the best