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Dear Friends
I have been asked by Maarten and Uwe to submit a kit review on my newly acquired Kolderstok model of the Batavia VOC Spiegelretourschip. This is I do with pleasure.
On Tuesday 28 January, I ordered the VOC Retourschip (Return Ship), Batavia from Hans Nieuwkoop - the founder and owner of Kolderstok Models, Dordrecht, Netherlands. As I also ordered a number of extra items (Plank Bender, Drill Set, Sail Set, Oak Stand and Paint Set), that Kolderstok had to wait for, Hans dispatched the kit - exactly as promised - on Tuesday 4 February. At this point I have to mention what a pleasure it was dealing with Hans. Beforehand, I had joined modelbouwforum.nl in the Netherlands of which Hans is also a member and the whole transaction was concluded via the forum in next to no time.
As you can well imagine, Kolderstok Models is extremely popular in the Netherlands (it is a Dutch company specialising in 17th Century Dutch ships), and there are always a great number of build logs running simultaneously on the forum. It is great to see that Hans takes an active interest in EACH AND EVERY SINGLE one of these builds and is always ready to assist with advice, upgraded information and spare parts.
To those who may be unfamiliar with the brand, Kolderstok is a Dutch Model Shipbuilding company who is based in Dordrecht, the Netherlands. The company was started by founder and owner, Hans van Nieuwkoop in 2016, when his son requested him to build a model of the Batavia. Soon realising that there were none available, he decided to build the Batavia from scratch. Such was the reaction, that he decided to develop his scratch-built model into a kit which was released in 2016. The rest, as they say, is history. Today, Kolderstok aims to offer a high quality range of wooden model ship kits for models not available elsewhere. These include models of famous ships of the Dutch Golden Age, such as those belonging to the VOC (Dutch East India Company), and ships famous for the great battles in which they served. The Batavia was followed by the Duyfken, Zeven Provincien, Statenjacht and their latest release, the Willem Barentz Expedition ship. Currently underdevelopment is a Dutch Fluyt or transport ship of the 17th century.
So, without further ado, I invite you to join me in unpacking the Batavia and explore the wonderful world of Kolderstok Models. As you will see, this is a comprehensive kit and it deserves a comprehensive review - something I thought best done via photographs.
Packaging, as you can clearly see, is absolutely superb and the kit arrived in China (at my front door) in exactly the same condition as it left the Netherlands. On a side note: There are quite a few intricacies involved with the Chinese address system (address has to be both in English and Chinese) and this was done perfectly.
The beautiful - an in my opinion - extremely classy box was designed by Hans's son.
What a pleasure to open a box and everything is packed that neatly.
The Checklist consists of two pages with each item ticked off by Hans and all extra items ordered, listed underneath, In my case, it was the sail set, plank bender, drill set, oak stand and paint kit.
The Instruction Manual comprises of a 40-page full-colour booklet with instructions in Dutch and English.
Note that the sail set comes with its own set of detailed instructions on the rigging. Also included are five sheets of full-scale drawings which photographs can simply not do justice. Believe me when I say they are extremely detailed and comprehensive.
The wood is of superb quality. The kit comprises mainly of walnut, boxwood and laminates (of very high quality) and all spars were straight and true. As can be seen from the above photograph, the laser cut sheets and ancillary parts are all wrapped separately in foil for protection and to make sure that everything stays nicely grouped together.
Laser-Cut Sheet with bulkheads.
Bulkheads and fittings that will mostly be used in the stern construction.
More bulkheads and Helpdeck.
Laser-cutting is absolutely accurate and come away from the sheeting with little persuasion.
False Keel
Sail set and related rigging ropes.
Blocks,
s, Cannons, and other miscellaneous items. Even a bag of small nails is included.
Hand-cast, resin ornamentation. As part of a continuing process of development, these are constantly being upgraded to 3-D parts.
Not included in the kit, but available as an optional extra from Kolderstok is the Plank Bender,
... Drill Set,
... Paint Set and
The beautiful Oak Stand.
Courtesy of Kolderstok: The completed Batavia.
That then is just a very brief "review" of the Kolderstok Batavia. I have started the build and will start a build log some time next week. Everything is going well so far and I am most impressed by the ruggedness and fit of the various parts. Everything goes together extremely well and locks VERY solidly into position. So far the instructions are easy to follow and I really look forward to the rest of the build.
Join me in the Build Log.
Greetings everyone
Heinrich
I have been asked by Maarten and Uwe to submit a kit review on my newly acquired Kolderstok model of the Batavia VOC Spiegelretourschip. This is I do with pleasure.
On Tuesday 28 January, I ordered the VOC Retourschip (Return Ship), Batavia from Hans Nieuwkoop - the founder and owner of Kolderstok Models, Dordrecht, Netherlands. As I also ordered a number of extra items (Plank Bender, Drill Set, Sail Set, Oak Stand and Paint Set), that Kolderstok had to wait for, Hans dispatched the kit - exactly as promised - on Tuesday 4 February. At this point I have to mention what a pleasure it was dealing with Hans. Beforehand, I had joined modelbouwforum.nl in the Netherlands of which Hans is also a member and the whole transaction was concluded via the forum in next to no time.
As you can well imagine, Kolderstok Models is extremely popular in the Netherlands (it is a Dutch company specialising in 17th Century Dutch ships), and there are always a great number of build logs running simultaneously on the forum. It is great to see that Hans takes an active interest in EACH AND EVERY SINGLE one of these builds and is always ready to assist with advice, upgraded information and spare parts.
To those who may be unfamiliar with the brand, Kolderstok is a Dutch Model Shipbuilding company who is based in Dordrecht, the Netherlands. The company was started by founder and owner, Hans van Nieuwkoop in 2016, when his son requested him to build a model of the Batavia. Soon realising that there were none available, he decided to build the Batavia from scratch. Such was the reaction, that he decided to develop his scratch-built model into a kit which was released in 2016. The rest, as they say, is history. Today, Kolderstok aims to offer a high quality range of wooden model ship kits for models not available elsewhere. These include models of famous ships of the Dutch Golden Age, such as those belonging to the VOC (Dutch East India Company), and ships famous for the great battles in which they served. The Batavia was followed by the Duyfken, Zeven Provincien, Statenjacht and their latest release, the Willem Barentz Expedition ship. Currently underdevelopment is a Dutch Fluyt or transport ship of the 17th century.
So, without further ado, I invite you to join me in unpacking the Batavia and explore the wonderful world of Kolderstok Models. As you will see, this is a comprehensive kit and it deserves a comprehensive review - something I thought best done via photographs.
Packaging, as you can clearly see, is absolutely superb and the kit arrived in China (at my front door) in exactly the same condition as it left the Netherlands. On a side note: There are quite a few intricacies involved with the Chinese address system (address has to be both in English and Chinese) and this was done perfectly.
The beautiful - an in my opinion - extremely classy box was designed by Hans's son.
What a pleasure to open a box and everything is packed that neatly.
The Checklist consists of two pages with each item ticked off by Hans and all extra items ordered, listed underneath, In my case, it was the sail set, plank bender, drill set, oak stand and paint kit.
The Instruction Manual comprises of a 40-page full-colour booklet with instructions in Dutch and English.
Note that the sail set comes with its own set of detailed instructions on the rigging. Also included are five sheets of full-scale drawings which photographs can simply not do justice. Believe me when I say they are extremely detailed and comprehensive.
The wood is of superb quality. The kit comprises mainly of walnut, boxwood and laminates (of very high quality) and all spars were straight and true. As can be seen from the above photograph, the laser cut sheets and ancillary parts are all wrapped separately in foil for protection and to make sure that everything stays nicely grouped together.
Laser-Cut Sheet with bulkheads.
Bulkheads and fittings that will mostly be used in the stern construction.
More bulkheads and Helpdeck.
Laser-cutting is absolutely accurate and come away from the sheeting with little persuasion.
False Keel
Sail set and related rigging ropes.
Blocks,
s, Cannons, and other miscellaneous items. Even a bag of small nails is included.Hand-cast, resin ornamentation. As part of a continuing process of development, these are constantly being upgraded to 3-D parts.
Not included in the kit, but available as an optional extra from Kolderstok is the Plank Bender,
... Drill Set,
... Paint Set and
The beautiful Oak Stand.
Courtesy of Kolderstok: The completed Batavia.
That then is just a very brief "review" of the Kolderstok Batavia. I have started the build and will start a build log some time next week. Everything is going well so far and I am most impressed by the ruggedness and fit of the various parts. Everything goes together extremely well and locks VERY solidly into position. So far the instructions are easy to follow and I really look forward to the rest of the build.
Join me in the Build Log.
Greetings everyone
Heinrich
