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Batavia 1628 (1:72) Kolderstok Build log
- Thread starter Papatotalos
- Start date
- Watchers 24
Good morning Clemens. Your anchor bend knot and binding is spot on. Kudos. Cheers Grant
Great work, Clemens. Lots of knots, and the result is something to be proud of.
Regards, Peter
Hi Chris,
I started the build in February 2024. But the thread on SoS last October.
I use 90% of what is in the kit. From Kolderstok in the Netherlands. Link: here
I'm using the the "Walnut" version with "Authentic blocks". The Sail kit and the paint set.
Not all the detailed items are in the kit. Some you have to make your own. Its not Lego.
For the rigging I also use partly different ropes for the ratlines. From Germany.
And a lot of patience and time to make it "correct". I use a lot of photographs and info from books and colleagues that have build this ship before me.
So I don't have to reinvent everything.
Last edited:
- Joined
- Oct 21, 2022
- Messages
- 301
- Points
- 278
Hi Chris,
I started the build in February 2024. But the thread on SoS last October.
I use 90% of what is in the kit. From Kolderstok in the Netherlands. Link: here
I'm using the the "Walnut" version with "Authentic blocks". The Sail kit and the paint set.
Not all the detailed items are in the kit. Some you have to make your own. Its not Lego.
For the rigging I also use partly different ropes for the ratlines. From Germany.
And a lot of patience and time to make it "correct". I use a lot of photographs and info from books and colleagues that have build this ship before me.
So I don't have to reinvent everything.
I had the chance to go on board the VOC Amsterdam this past September while on a Rhine River cruise. She's a remake of the original ship, but I loved going through it. Smiling to myself as I saw life size versions of all of my tackles, shrouds, gammons and more!!!!
So, another week has passed. Time flies.
But...
We're not sitting still.
The new shipyard is finished and in use, except for two items.
Still:
- a noticeboard in the window frame
- an office chair with adjustable height
It's a U-shaped layout with, from left to right:
- a 1.60m chest of drawers, 50cm deep, and 80cm high, with 6 drawers
- a 2.10m worktop, 50cm deep, and 70cm deep in front of the window
- a worktop on the right side, 1.40m and 60cm deep
- the worktops are 77cm high
The drawer cabinet holds the construction drawings and a microscope with a screen.
This is for those very special and incredibly small parts that can no longer be seen accurately with regular glasses, such as the binding of very small blocks.
Next to it, on the long workbench, is a magnifying lamp and the model I'm working on.
No other parts are placed on that section, so the model can always rotate freely without obstructions.
The right leg is entirely my "workspace." I only use hand tools, and the Dremel is the only electric tool.
Of course, there's good "cool white" lighting.
A view from a different angle.
The working drawings hang on an old metal rail with colored magnets.
The drawings will change as the work changes.
We're ready to go again.
Everything we don't need right away is in the drawers. Standard tools like pliers, clamps, tweezers, scissors, etc. are, of course, always present on the workbench.
The next post will be the regular weekly update.
But...
We're not sitting still.
The new shipyard is finished and in use, except for two items.
Still:
- a noticeboard in the window frame
- an office chair with adjustable height
It's a U-shaped layout with, from left to right:
- a 1.60m chest of drawers, 50cm deep, and 80cm high, with 6 drawers
- a 2.10m worktop, 50cm deep, and 70cm deep in front of the window
- a worktop on the right side, 1.40m and 60cm deep
- the worktops are 77cm high
The drawer cabinet holds the construction drawings and a microscope with a screen.
This is for those very special and incredibly small parts that can no longer be seen accurately with regular glasses, such as the binding of very small blocks.
Next to it, on the long workbench, is a magnifying lamp and the model I'm working on.
No other parts are placed on that section, so the model can always rotate freely without obstructions.
The right leg is entirely my "workspace." I only use hand tools, and the Dremel is the only electric tool.
Of course, there's good "cool white" lighting.
A view from a different angle.
The working drawings hang on an old metal rail with colored magnets.
The drawings will change as the work changes.
We're ready to go again.
Everything we don't need right away is in the drawers. Standard tools like pliers, clamps, tweezers, scissors, etc. are, of course, always present on the workbench.
The next post will be the regular weekly update.
The weekly update for week 02-2026.
Thanks for your likes.
I was working on the anchors and the associated suspension.
This page has nothing to do with the anchors, but it just happens to be the page next to the anchors.
First, the crane beam is fitted with a tackle. And then the penter beam.
The penter beam, I read somewhere, is only used during the lowering and raising of the anchor and is then stowed away in the hold.
So normally, there's probably only one penter beam, not two like we put on our Batavia models. It just looks nice.
Also, because these are removed every time, I opted to be able to remove the tackle by hanging it from the penter beam with a kind of "three-block violin" with a hook. This makes it easy to store.
Probably not historically accurate, but hey... who cares?
Here are three detailed photos.
Finally, a complete overview.
Since I couldn't find much information about how to tie the tackles, I opted for the attached photo in the building instructions.
A photo showing the ropes tied to the railing. (Photo from the Zeven Provinciën, Dutch vessel)
I'm going to leave the anchors as they are now.
So not in the "storage" position. Otherwise, the penter beam would be redundant in this situation.
Next week I'll be working on the two rope bundles for the tackle attachment pins, the start of the "anchor buoy" with the ropes, and probably also on the port side anchor.
We'll see where we end up next week.
Have a great build week, everyone.
Thanks for your likes.
I was working on the anchors and the associated suspension.
This page has nothing to do with the anchors, but it just happens to be the page next to the anchors.
First, the crane beam is fitted with a tackle. And then the penter beam.
The penter beam, I read somewhere, is only used during the lowering and raising of the anchor and is then stowed away in the hold.
So normally, there's probably only one penter beam, not two like we put on our Batavia models. It just looks nice.
Also, because these are removed every time, I opted to be able to remove the tackle by hanging it from the penter beam with a kind of "three-block violin" with a hook. This makes it easy to store.
Probably not historically accurate, but hey... who cares?
Here are three detailed photos.
Finally, a complete overview.
Since I couldn't find much information about how to tie the tackles, I opted for the attached photo in the building instructions.
A photo showing the ropes tied to the railing. (Photo from the Zeven Provinciën, Dutch vessel)
I'm going to leave the anchors as they are now.
So not in the "storage" position. Otherwise, the penter beam would be redundant in this situation.
Next week I'll be working on the two rope bundles for the tackle attachment pins, the start of the "anchor buoy" with the ropes, and probably also on the port side anchor.
We'll see where we end up next week.
Have a great build week, everyone.
You've created a wonderful workspace, Clemens. It's such a joy to work there.
Regards, Peter
A week flies by, but still good progress, Clemens.The weekly update for week 02-2026.
Thanks for your likes.
I was working on the anchors and the associated suspension.
View attachment 569801
This page has nothing to do with the anchors, but it just happens to be the page next to the anchors.
First, the crane beam is fitted with a tackle. And then the penter beam.
View attachment 569802 View attachment 569803
The penter beam, I read somewhere, is only used during the lowering and raising of the anchor and is then stowed away in the hold.
So normally, there's probably only one penter beam, not two like we put on our Batavia models. It just looks nice.
Also, because these are removed every time, I opted to be able to remove the tackle by hanging it from the penter beam with a kind of "three-block violin" with a hook. This makes it easy to store.
Probably not historically accurate, but hey... who cares?
Here are three detailed photos.
View attachment 569807 View attachment 569808 View attachment 569809
Finally, a complete overview.
Since I couldn't find much information about how to tie the tackles, I opted for the attached photo in the building instructions.
A photo showing the ropes tied to the railing. (Photo from the Zeven Provinciën, Dutch vessel)
View attachment 569811
I'm going to leave the anchors as they are now.
So not in the "storage" position. Otherwise, the penter beam would be redundant in this situation.
Next week I'll be working on the two rope bundles for the tackle attachment pins, the start of the "anchor buoy" with the ropes, and probably also on the port side anchor.
We'll see where we end up next week.
Have a great build week, everyone.
I think I've posted this metaphor before about time feeling like it's going faster and faster:
"It's like a spool of thread from which you keep unwinding at the same speed (time). The more thread you unwind (your age), the spool starts spinning faster and faster (your feeling). You just have to make sure there's enough thread left on the spool …..
Regards, Peter
Lovely work Clemens!
I see you are working without any magnifying glasses on the rigging. Nothing wrong with your eyes at all
Regards
George - Jawz
I see you are working without any magnifying glasses on the rigging. Nothing wrong with your eyes at all
Regards
George - Jawz
- Joined
- Dec 5, 2022
- Messages
- 1,119
- Points
- 443
Hey Clemens, 
Really beautiful work. Keep it up... Your anchors are fantastic!! Really well built. But you should think again about the number of anchors. I thought she had at least four anchors and they were also stowed at the bow. Really great work... Your workplace is amazing... I wish I had something like that too...
Really beautiful work. Keep it up... Your anchors are fantastic!! Really well built. But you should think again about the number of anchors. I thought she had at least four anchors and they were also stowed at the bow. Really great work... Your workplace is amazing... I wish I had something like that too...
Hi Gunther,Hey Clemens,
Really beautiful work. Keep it up... Your anchors are fantastic!! Really well built. But you should think again about the number of anchors. I thought she had at least four anchors and they were also stowed at the bow. Really great work... Your workplace is amazing... I wish I had something like that too...
The kit came only with 2 anchors.
Maybe I will add 2 extra later. We will see.
The weekly update for week 03-2026.
Last week I was busy hanging the port anchor.
I also connected the buoy to the anchor on both sides and hung it in the shrouds using a hook system.
I use about 20cm of rope to make a regular bundle, and 40cm for the buoys both above and below.
I also needed some length to tie to the anchor. So a little extra length is a good thing.
Port side. (I see more and more dust)
And from a slightly greater distance the starboard side.
On the starboard side, I also closed an extra gun port. I'm going to install the gun in one of the stern ports.
The hatches there aren't there for nothing.
That was this week's progress.
Oh yeah...
Yesterday afternoon I started preparing for the 10 tackles.
I have a container full of "usable scrap," meaning, "you can always use leftovers for something."
There's must be something in there to make usable fiddle blocks. I need four for the tackles. I'll need these later when I build the yards.
So this is just a preview.
I'm assuming 7mm high and 3mm thick. With two holes for the ropes in the thickest part of the balls and two slots in the middle, vertically and horizontally, to attach the ropes to the block.
I made a test "fiddle."
Perhaps the whole thing needs to be bigger, 8 or 10mm? I'd love to hear your feedback.
I've also bent the 10 hooks for the bottom on the single blocks on the channels.
I have a lot of other work to do in and around the house next week. I'm hoping for feedback on the fiddle blocks and hope to make a good, effective choice based on that.
See you sometime this week.
Wishing everyone a great week of building!
Last week I was busy hanging the port anchor.
I also connected the buoy to the anchor on both sides and hung it in the shrouds using a hook system.
I use about 20cm of rope to make a regular bundle, and 40cm for the buoys both above and below.
I also needed some length to tie to the anchor. So a little extra length is a good thing.
Port side. (I see more and more dust)
And from a slightly greater distance the starboard side.
On the starboard side, I also closed an extra gun port. I'm going to install the gun in one of the stern ports.
The hatches there aren't there for nothing.
That was this week's progress.
Oh yeah...
Yesterday afternoon I started preparing for the 10 tackles.
I have a container full of "usable scrap," meaning, "you can always use leftovers for something."
There's must be something in there to make usable fiddle blocks. I need four for the tackles. I'll need these later when I build the yards.
So this is just a preview.
I'm assuming 7mm high and 3mm thick. With two holes for the ropes in the thickest part of the balls and two slots in the middle, vertically and horizontally, to attach the ropes to the block.
I made a test "fiddle."
Perhaps the whole thing needs to be bigger, 8 or 10mm? I'd love to hear your feedback.
I've also bent the 10 hooks for the bottom on the single blocks on the channels.
I have a lot of other work to do in and around the house next week. I'm hoping for feedback on the fiddle blocks and hope to make a good, effective choice based on that.
See you sometime this week.
Wishing everyone a great week of building!
- Joined
- Aug 8, 2019
- Messages
- 5,568
- Points
- 738
The fiddleblock is the topblock and the doubleblock on the hook.
www.rijksmuseum.nl
Here you can zoom in to discover a lot of details.
Scheepsmodel William Rex
Dit model laat zien hoe een Nederlands oorlogsschip er aan het eind van de 17de eeuw uitzag. Het model is gebouwd op de Vlissingse werf waar ook echte oorlogsschepen van stapel liepen. Deze waren wel ruim twaalf keer zo groot. Dit schip heeft 74 kanonnen aan boord. Het pronkmodel stond opgesteld...
www.rijksmuseum.nl
Thanks Stephan,The fiddleblock is the topblock and the doubleblock on the hook.
Here you can zoom in to discover a lot of details.Scheepsmodel William Rex
Dit model laat zien hoe een Nederlands oorlogsschip er aan het eind van de 17de eeuw uitzag. Het model is gebouwd op de Vlissingse werf waar ook echte oorlogsschepen van stapel liepen. Deze waren wel ruim twaalf keer zo groot. Dit schip heeft 74 kanonnen aan boord. Het pronkmodel stond opgesteld...
I see that the fiddle blocks are up-side-down. So the big part up and the small part down.
Good to know.
Clemens,
Just catching up -- excellent attention to all details!! looks great
Just catching up -- excellent attention to all details!! looks great
After a discussion with Dutch colleagues about the "hoisting cathead", and whether there should be 1 or 2, we came to the conclusion that there should be 1.
You can only lower or raise 1 anchor. Never 2 at the same time.
The update regarding the "hoisting cathead".
I removed one and stowed the anchor on the channel. The cathead beam is tensioned and placed on the railing.
In different photos I have also seen different ways where the anchor rests and is secured to the channel. I just added one more.
The buoy is still attached to the anchor. And hangs on the rigging.
The hoisting cathead beam and associated tackle have been moved to my "materials to be reused".
Here are two more top views of port and starboard as it looks on deck.
I think it is a positive addition to the model.
You can only lower or raise 1 anchor. Never 2 at the same time.
The update regarding the "hoisting cathead".
I removed one and stowed the anchor on the channel. The cathead beam is tensioned and placed on the railing.
In different photos I have also seen different ways where the anchor rests and is secured to the channel. I just added one more.
The buoy is still attached to the anchor. And hangs on the rigging.
The hoisting cathead beam and associated tackle have been moved to my "materials to be reused".
Here are two more top views of port and starboard as it looks on deck.
I think it is a positive addition to the model.
The weekly update of week 04-2026.
The part regarding the hoisting cathead beam is in the previous post.
So we continue with the 10 blocks.
Been busy getting the first 2 tackles from the foremast top through a bit neatly.
That worked and I can now pull on both tackles to gain length to mount them on the blocks. Once these are secured, I will "tie" them off again at the top.
This also allows force to be applied without causing them to shift.
I also made 2 violin blocks, 3 double blocks, and 5 single blocks with hooks. These still need to be fine-tuned.
So remove the glue spots, add 5 more eyes to the few blocks where the railing starts, etc...
That's for next week and I hope to be able to hang a few then. I'm curious.
There are 4 single blocks in the photo, that is because 1 is in the vice to drill the hole for the eye.
More about this later.
Thank you for the likes and your comments and I wish everyone a happy construction week.
The part regarding the hoisting cathead beam is in the previous post.
So we continue with the 10 blocks.
Been busy getting the first 2 tackles from the foremast top through a bit neatly.
That worked and I can now pull on both tackles to gain length to mount them on the blocks. Once these are secured, I will "tie" them off again at the top.
This also allows force to be applied without causing them to shift.
I also made 2 violin blocks, 3 double blocks, and 5 single blocks with hooks. These still need to be fine-tuned.
So remove the glue spots, add 5 more eyes to the few blocks where the railing starts, etc...
That's for next week and I hope to be able to hang a few then. I'm curious.
There are 4 single blocks in the photo, that is because 1 is in the vice to drill the hole for the eye.
More about this later.
Thank you for the likes and your comments and I wish everyone a happy construction week.
Clemens,
Always a pleasure dropping by your excellent build of this ship.
PS: your deck gratings are also perfectly scaled - looks great
Regards,
Always a pleasure dropping by your excellent build of this ship.
PS: your deck gratings are also perfectly scaled - looks great
Regards,