• Win a Free Custom Engraved Brass Coin!!!
    As a way to introduce our brass coins to the community, we will raffle off a free coin during the month of August. Follow link ABOVE for instructions for entering.
  • SUBSCRIBE TO SHIPS IN SCALE TODAY!

    The beloved Ships in Scale Magazine is back and charting a new course for 2026!
    Discover new skills, new techniques, and new inspirations in every issue.

    NOTE THAT OUR NEXT ISSUE WILL BE MARCH/APRIL 2026

Hellow and greetings to all

J

Jonathan

Joined
Aug 13, 2020
Messages
6
Points
3

Hi there -Greetings from Australia,

A couple of quick questions

For some reason I have a serious interest in odd or rare ship models - perhaps born of my desire to avoid having to deal wiht intricate square rigging!

Any way here goes

First question: I'm aware of a couple of Dhow model kits avaliable, but am really interested to know if any one knows if there is a model of the Racing Dhows you can see off Dubai - There are two versions, a smaller single mast and a larger two mast version, both are built specifically for racing, so not to be confused with the merchent ship models whcih I'm aware of. All are lateen rigged, (a big personal favourite) If you watch them racing via Youtube you must surely becoe as obsessed as I they are the most beautiful beasts - I'd love to know if there is a model kit of these stunning ships

1770511538087.png 1770511578837.png

Second question -

I am very interested in two other kits I've seen of some other interesting vessels the Italian Leudo and the Marmara Trading Ship - I believe one of the Italian kit producers has a model of both and also ZHL, bit also Falconet from Russia has a version of the Leudo - justy wondering if anyne has any idea which might be the best -

I'm particulalry interested in the ZHL and Falconet Leudo as I believe both come with a slipway - I hope someone can clarrify as I find the ZHL website particuarly difficult to decipher with sometimes multiple versions of the same model with different woods or with different attachments or fixtures - Again curious as I've managed to choose two ships for my next couple of projects one from a Chinese manufacturer, the other From Russia - Not sure if these kits may be diffucult to purchase based on their countries or origin

Last, thrid question

I am very interested to get my hands on the Falconet model Grasshopper but understand the are issues with purchase and or supply as Faconet are a Russian company and there are issues or restrictions on postage or international exchange I'd love to get my hands on their version of Leudo and the Grasshopper, (see below) if it can be arranged

1770512207736.png

Thanks in advance for any assistance or ideas
 
Last edited:
Welcome to SoS Jonathan.
Sorry, but I have no idea if there are dhow kits available, but someone is making these boats. I believe most of the large ones are being made in the UAE and/or Dubai so it may be possible to find and contact who makes them and get a set of plans if you explain it is to build a model. I did that years ago with two different California yacht companies and built several models from their plans, so maybe it still can be done. Try contacting the Dubai Council for Marine and Maritime Industries (DCMMI) to see if they can steer you to who has plans or maybe a kit for the racing dhows. The Dubai International Marine Club (DIMC) is a primary hub for these kinds of boat races and could probably provide contacts of manufacturers that might help out.
Allan
 
Hi and thanks for your re[plies - I may just try your suggestion MR AlanKP69 - will let you know if I have any success - in the mantime does any one have any info / odeas re my other queries re Falconet and the Leudo and Marmara ship models or how or where to order ZHL kits
 
Hello and welcome. I've built Leudo from both the Chinese kit and the Falconet kit, and I can definitely say the Falconet kit is much better. Falconet kits are still available, but they only ship via a third-party provider and regular mail, which takes quite a while. Falconet has experience shipping to the US, Canada, and Europe. I'll let them know, and if shipping to Australia is possible, I can help arrange it.
 
Walterone said:
Hello and welcome. I've built Leudo from both the Chinese kit and the Falconet kit, and I can definitely say the Falconet kit is much better. Falconet kits are still available, but they only ship via a third-party provider and regular mail, which takes quite a while. Falconet has experience shipping to the US, Canada, and Europe. I'll let them know, and if shipping to Australia is possible, I can help arrange it.
Click to expand...

Hi Walterone

Thank you so much for your reply and preparedness to help - A couple of questions

If I were to proceed with the Falconet, may I ask how I / we would do it.... IE finance / payment to them and/or to you and postage - would that come from them direct to me here in AUS, or would they ship to you, not sure where you're based and would you then onsend to me here in AU - I think you also said on one of your posts that it was better to order a couple of kits to make the whole exercise worthwhile, in which case I'd be pleased to go for the Leudo and the Grasshopper as a pair, I hope that would be possible.

Please let me know if this project can proceed and what you'd need from me to make it happen

While we're talking, I wonder if you have any ideas re my interest in the Racing Dhows, I suspect its a lost cause but you're clearly more experienced in the world of ship modeling and may have some ideas

Oh and here are a couple more questions: Re the Falconet kits, I understand the instructions are in Russian, no problem with modern translator software, however I thought to ask if there may be English instructions avaliable. Lastly I'd love to see any build logs for the Leudo, and for the Grasshopper if you've built that one too

I shall await your response and once agin thanks for your help

Best Regards
Jonathan
 
Hi. I contacted Falconet; the the kits are available, but unfortunately, Russian Post doesn't deliver to Australia. The US, Canada, and Europe are fine, but not Australia. If you have friends in those countries who could forward the package to you, we could try. But in any case, it would at least double the delivery time and cost.
 
Hi Walterone, well that disproves one theory, I thought you might have been in the US OH well I guess I'lll have to forget it for now - although I do have someone in the UK - is that worth a try?
 
Jonathan said:
Hi Walterone, well that disproves one theory, I thought you might have been in the US OH well I guess I'lll have to forget it for now - although I do have someone in the UK - is that worth a try?
Click to expand...
No, I'm in Russia. But anyway, you're not buying from me, you're buying directly from Falconet. They shipped kits to the UK. It's probably best for us to discuss this in private messages.
 
Hi Walterone,
Happy to discuss in private, shouold I send an email address? Though I feel I need to speak to a friend in the UK to see if they can help
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top