The Best Wooden Model Ship Kits For Collectors And History Buffs
Building wooden model ship kits is a great hobby that you can do yourself or share with your friends and loved ones. Aside from keeping yourself busy by putting together numerous small pieces, this activity rewards your hard work with a beautiful and highly-detailed scale model once you’ve completed building the kit.
Wooden model kits come in various types. Probably some of the most popular ones are model ships that are based on actual historical vessels. Building these kinds of kits can appeal to both collectors and history enthusiasts due to the intricate design of the models and the historical significance of what they represent.
In no particular order, here are the five best historical wooden model ship kits you can get in Australia.
Frigate HMS Bounty ART-22810
Our first featured kit is the Frigate HMS Bounty ART-22810 made by Artesania. As indicated in its name, this model ship kit is based on the HMS Bounty, the ship that sailed under the command of Captain William Bligh from England in December 1787. A mutiny then took place aboard the vessel in April 1789.
This model kit features laser-cut board pieces and is made up of various materials such as birch wood, brass, cast iron, and cotton yarns. One of its hull bands can also be left open, providing you with a full view of the ship’s interior.
Scale: 1/48
Dimensions: 980 x 355 x 763 millimeters
HMS Victory 100-Gun Ship of the Line
Next up is Caldercraft’s HMS Victory 100-Gun Ship of the Line. This kit’s real-world counterpart, the HMS Victory, is famously regarded as the flagship of Vice-Admiral Horatio Nelson during the Battle of Trafalgar on October 21, 1805. Unable to move on its own due to the damage it sustained during the battle, Victory was towed by another vessel known as the HMS Neptune to Gibraltar to be repaired.
This highly-detailed model ship kit features CNC-cut walnut and ply components. It also comes with eight sheets of brass-etched accessories and three different profiled brass rails. In addition, the kit also comes with a comprehensive instruction manual and an 18-page actual size ship plan.
Scale: 1/72
Dimensions: 1,385 x 940 x 525 millimeters
HMS Victory 1765 ART-22900
Caldercraft isn’t the only kit maker that released a replica of the HMS Victory. Artesania also has its own version of Lord Nelson’s historical ship. The HMS Victory 1765 ART-22900 from Artesania is slightly smaller than the one released by Caldercraft, which is ideal if you have limited display space.
Although it’s a bit smaller, this model kit is still packed with details and intricate designs. It’s built using false keels and frames, which is similar to how the actual HMS Victory was constructed in 1759. The complete model is made up of various materials, including hardwood, fabric, and die-cast.
Scale: 1/84
Dimensions: 1,230 x 880 x 450 millimeters
HMS Agamemnon 64-Gun Ship
Another beautiful model ship kit released by Caldercraft is the HMS Agamemnon 64-Gun Ship. This vessel, which was launched in 1781, participated in the Revolutionary War, French Revolution, and the Napoleonic Wars. It was captain by Lord Nelson from 1793 to 1796. Under his command, Agamemnon fought in the 51-day siege of Calvi in 1794. Nelson lost sight in his right eye during this historical event.
The HMS Agamemnon model kit features a double plank on the bulkhead hull and brass cannons. It comes with four sheets of highly detailed brass-etched components and CNC-cut ply and walnut parts.
Scale: 1/64
Dimensions: 1,300 x 945 x 490 millimeters
USS Constellation Wooden Ship Model ART-22850
Our last entry is the USS Constellation Wooden Ship Model ART-22850 from Artesania. This model kit is based on the 38-gun frigate the USS Constellation, which was launched in 1797. During its service period, the vessel carried out various missions and operations, including defending the Hawaiian Islands and preventing the region from becoming a British protectorate.
Artesania’s USS Constellation comes with pre-sewn cloth sails and various brass hardware such as rings, hinges, stanchions, and eyebolts. It also features different coloured spools of rigging thread that have varying weights.
Scale: 1/85
Dimensions: 1,035 x 710 x 153 millimeters
