Sultan Arab Dhow - Artesanía Latina - 1/60

[SiriusVoyager]

Item Number : 22165

 

From https://artesanialatina.net :

$99.99

390 x 125 x 440 mm

Description

 

HISTORY OF ARAB DHOW: KNOW THE MODEL YOU WILL BUILD

Discover Sultan, a wooden model ship of this traditional Arabian dhow from the coasts of the Arabian Peninsula, India and East Africa. This boat was the primary instrument in the commerce and in the propagation of the Islamic faith. Also, the dhow was mainly used as cargo ship: grain, fish, minerals and even slaves.

The exact origin of the dhow is unknown, although its appearance seems to be linked to Islam. Revolutionary in naval history for its triangular sails and practically unchanged since its initial designs, it is believed that the dhow was the germ for the construction of Venetian galleys and caravels, favoring the creation of larger ships with mixed sails. The dhows are still sailing along the shores of the Indian Ocean.
 

CONTENTS OF DHOW CALLED SULTAN WOODEN MODEL SHIP KIT

The wooden model ship kit of the Sultan dhow contains all the parts you need to build the model, a faithful replica of the original boat, thanks mainly to its design by false keel and frames. It is a 1:60 scale model, an elegant two-sided boat primordial on naval modeling. Once it is built, this faithful miniature replica measures 15.35'' (390mm) length, 4.92'' (125mm) width and 17.32'' (440mm) height.

The modeling kit Sultan contains a set of parts of board, precut by high precision laser; wood, brass and foundry parts; wood and birch veneer; high-quality brass and photo-etched parts; hand-sewn sails ready to be placed; cotton thread and exhibition base to expose the model ship once it is finished.

For its assembly, you can follow our super detailed step-by-step guide on DVD for computer -PC & MAC-. The kit does not include printed instructions. You can also download the digital instructions for free on the button of this product sheet called 'Instructions and Downloadable Contents'.

 

My kit review:

 

Initially opening the box, everything is well organized and tightly packaged in stretch wrap

 

 

I should note that I did open the package prior to the review to remove the CD instructions.  The instructions only being supplied digitally is one aspect of AL kits that I personally do not care for.  I don't like having to keep an electronic device in my shipyard that likes to go to sleep and get covered in saw dust.

 

 

The laser cut wooden sheets are wrapped in another sheet of stretch wrap keeping everything well protected.  The sails are also in their own stretch wrap.

 

 

 

The laser cut sheets seem to be cut quite well and clean with clear piece numbers (I do have the false keel and frames number side down in the image).  The one piece of paper that is included has a map of the laser cut parts.  It seems that it is almost not needed.  One sheet below seemed to have something smeared on it.  It almost looks like sap. It shouldn't matter too much since it won't be visible once built.

 

 

Some char is smeared across the false deck.  The deck will be planked so it will be covered.

 

 

 

The sails are pre sewn and stitched.

 

 

The wood strips are all bundled together and mostly organized.

 

 

The strips don't seem to be the best quality. There are a lot of jagged edges, chipped ends and uneven color and cuts.

 

 

 

 

The smaller pre-cut and molded parts are in a clear box with different compartments, which is pretty standard for AL.

 

 

The thread is the normal AL thread.  Drill holes in the buckets seem to be mostly centered.  I have seen worse in other kits where the holes are so off center that they aren't even closed on one side.

 

 

Most of the double block holes aren't lined up quite right, but all the holes seem to go straight through.  I have seen blocks where the holes are crooked and come out of the side.

 

 

Rather than a photo etched sheet, the few brass parts are pre-cut and shaped.  This feels more like a feature for a beginner kit rather than an intermediate kit.  The other metal parts parts (anchor and cleats) seem to look pretty good, without a lot of burs or edges that need to be filed down.

 

 

 

The barrels are generally pretty good, but not without some minor factory flaws that should be easy to cover up.  On the center barrel, that mark is more of a light reflection off of the finish rather than a flaw in the shaping of the barrel.

 

 

Here is a sample photo of the instructions.  The written instructions are very basic and available in multiple languages.  The photos do a pretty good job of showing you what is to be done in each step.  They aren't the highest resolution though, so zooming in to get a better idea of what is happening isn't really an option.

 

 

The way the parts list is organized is step by step essentially listing the parts in the order called for in the instructions.  This makes it easy to follow along, but it makes it difficult to do an actual inventory since the part will call for a strip being cut to X mm in length.  The result is there is no actual list of the number of each strip that is included with the kit.  The inventory of all of the other parts seemed to reveal that everything was there, or possibly even slightly over in number.

 

Overall, I would say that the kit seems to be in fairly good condition and I feel mostly positive about it.  My impression of AL is that they generally offer lower priced kits than many other manufacturers. The trade off is that sometimes the quality isn't as good as other kit makers, particularly on the strips, pre-drilled holes and thread.  This kit seems to follow that pattern.  I look forward to getting started on it.

 

Edited December 3 by SiriusVoyager

[wefalck]

Seems to be based on one of the drawings in Pâris' Souvenirs de la Marine.

 

It would be a good idea to cross reference with some literature, as the dhows do not use European fittings and materials. Since having been to Oman a couple of times (back in the late 1980s) and to Tanzania/Zanzibar (in 2012) I have a certain interest in ships and boats from that region. I have compiled a list of references. Those marked with an E in front are available as digital copies:

 

E   Agius, D.A., Cooper, J.P., Zazzaro, C. (2014): The Maritime Heritage of Yemen: A Focus on Traditional Wooden ‘Dhows’.- In: Agius, D.A., Gambin, T., Trakadas, A [Eds] Ships, Saints and Sealore: Cultural Heritage and Ethnography of the Mediterranean and the Red Sea: 143-157, Oxford (Archaeopress).

 

E   Agius, D.A., Cooper, J.P., Zazzaro, C., Jansen van Rensburg, J. (2014): The Dhow’s Last Redoubt? Vestiges of Wooden Boatbuilding Tradition in Yemen.- Proc. Seminar Arabian Stud., 44: 71-84.

 

B   ANONYM (1979): Oman, a Seafaring Nation.- 196 p., Sultanate of Oman (Min. of Information and Culture).

     ARGYLE, E.W. (1954): The Ancient Dhow.- Seabreeze, New Ser., XVIII: 262-5.

 

     LE BARON BOWEN, R. (1949): Arab Dhows of Eastern Arabia.- Rehoboth, Mass.

 

E   Carvalho, F. da Piedade (2014): Os Dhow do Zanzibar: A técnica de construção de uma antiga embarcação de origem árabe e o seu papel socioeconómico na actualidade.- Cadernos de Estudos Africanos, 27(6): 149-170. DOI: 10.4000/cea.1535.

 

       CHETHAM, M. (1950): Dhows in East Africa.- Country Life, CVIII: 1803-7.

 

E   De Leeuwe, R. (2004): Seascape and Sailing Ships of the Swahili Shores.- MA Thesis: 123 p., Leiden (University of Leiden).

 

K  De Leeuwe, R. (2005): Constructing Sailing Ships on the Swahili Shores.- Azania: Archaeological Research in Africa, 40(1): 107-113.

 

K  De Leeuwe, R. (2006): Swahili Ships in Oceanic Perspective.- Sails of History: Citizens of the Sea,  ZIFF Journal No. 3: 45-52, http://www.swahiliweb.net/ziff_journal_3_files/ziff2006-07.pdf

 

K     Ennion, H. (1963): Along the Shores of the Gulf of Oman.- Country Life, CXXXIII: 1265-6.

 

     ‘FULAHIN’ (1928): Coasting East Africa by Dhow.- Blue Peter, V: 449-52.

 

B     FALCK, W.E. (2013): Boote und Bootsbau in Tansania, Teil 1: Dauen und Einbäume in Dar-es-Salaam.- Das Logbuch, 49(1): 27-30, Köln (AK Historischer Schiffbau).

 

B     FALCK, W.E. (2013): Boote und Bootsbau in Tansania, Teil 2: Bootsbau auf Sansibar.- Das Logbuch, 49(2): 62-65, Köln (AK Historischer Schiffbau).

 

B     FALCK, W.E. (2014): Boats and Boatbuilding in Tanzania (Dar-es-Salaam and Sansibar).- Int. J. Nautical Archaeology, 43(1): 162–173.

 

     GILBERT, E.O. (1997): The Zanzibar Dhow Trade. An Informal Economy on the East African Coast, 1860-1964.- PhD Dissertation: 340 p., Boston (Boston University).

 

B   HAWKINS, C.W. (1977): The Dhow – an illustrated history of the Dhow and its World.- 143 p., Lymington (Nautical Publishing Co.).

 

     HORNELL, J. (1941): The sea-going mtepe and dau of the Lamu Archipelago.- The Mariner’s Mirror, 27: 54-68.      

B   HOWARTH, D. (1977): Dhows.- 159 p., London (Quartet Books Ltd.).

 

E   Issa, A.A. (2006): Dhows and Epidemics in the Indian Ocean Ports.- Sails of History: Citizens of the Sea,  ZIFF Journal No. 3: 63-70, http://www.swahiliweb.net/ziff_journal_3_files/ ziff2006-09.pdf

 

B   JEWELL, J.H.A. (19762😞 Dhows at Mombasa.- 103 p., Nairobi (East African Publ. Ho.).

 

B   MONDFELD, W. (1979): Die Arabische Dau.- 93 p., Bielefeld (Verlag Delius, Klasing & Co.).

 

     MOORE, Sir A. (1940): Notes on Dhows.- The Mariner’s Mirror, 26(2): 205-13.

 

     SASSOON, C. (1970): The Dhows of Dar es Salaam.- Tanzania Notes and Records, 71:185-199.

 

     SHERIFF, A. (2010):  Dhow Cultures of the Indian Ocean. Cosmopolitanism, Commerce and Islam.- XV+351 p.

 

     SPARKS, W. (1909/10): A Muscat Dhow.- Yachting Monthly, VIII: 263.

 

     SULIVAN, G.L. (1873): Dhow Chasing in Zanzibar Waters and on the Eastern Coast of Africa. Narrative of Five Years’ Experiences in the Suppression of the Slave Trade.- X+453 p.

 

     VILLIERS, A.J. (1940): Sons of Sindbad – An Account of Sailing with the Arabs in their Dhows.-

 

     Villiers, A.J. (1954): Passage in a Red Sea Dhow.- The Mariner’s Mirror, 40: 171-82.

 

     Villiers, A.J. (1961): Vanishing Ships – Arab Dhows.- British Petroleum Shield, 5: 6-8.

 

     VOSMER, T. (1993): The Omani Dhow Recording Project: Sultanate of Oman.- Indian Ocean Review, 6(2): 18–21, Perth.

 

E   VOSMER, T. (1997): Indigenous Fishing Craft of Oman.- Internat. J. Nautical Archaeol., 26(3): 217-235.

 

E   VOSMER, T.A., MARGARIT, R.A., TILLEY, A.F. (1992): A Survey of Traditional Vessels of the Sultanate of Oman. The Omani Dhow Recording Project. Field Reasearch 1992.- Department of Maritime Archaeology, Western Australian Maritime Museum, Report No. 69: 80 p.

 

K   WEISMANN, N. (1994): Der Beden-Safar – Eine Rekonstruktion nach Unterlagen von Admiral Pâris.- Das Logbuch, 30(3): 160-67.

 

K   WEISMANN, N. (1995): Ein Fischer-Beden in Qurm (Sultanat Oman).- Das Logbuch, 31(4): 175-82.

 

K   WEISMANN, N. (1996): Der Beden-Seyad – Ein Fischerboot des Omans im letzten Jahrhundert.- Das Logbuch, 32(4): 175-80.

 

E     WEISMANN, N. (1998): The Cargo-Beden Al-Khammam.- Internat. J. Nautical Archaeol., 27(3):237-257.

 

E   WEISMANN, N., STAPLES, E., GHIDONI, A., VOSMER, T., DZIAMSKI, P., HAAR, L. (2014): The Battīl and Zārūqah of Musandam, Oman.- Int. J. Nautical Archaeol., 43(2): 413–435.

 

B     WIEBECK, E., WINKLER, H. (2000): Segler im Monsun. Die Dau am Indischen Ozean.- 130 p., Rostock (Neuer Hochschulschriftenverlag).

 

     WISEMAN, W.F (1994): Modeling a Ninth-Century Arab Dhow.- Nautical Res. J., 40: 5-17.

 

B   YA’QUB, Y. Al-Hiji (2001): The Art of Dhow-building in Kuwait.- 164 p., London (The London Centre of Arab Studies).

 

And an on-line resource: https://www.maritima-et-mechanika.org/maritime/tanzania/tanzania.html

 

 

[SiriusVoyager]

Thank you for that list of resources. I do enjoy learning the history about what I am building so I will definitely look some of them up.