My model club is looking to build a scale model of the "Kalmar Nyckel" for our Philadelphia-area Navy project. She is berthed nearby in Wilmington, Delaware and I've previously posted pics of my first visit to see the "Kalmar Nyckel" a few weeks ago. There are no scale model kits for the Kalmar Nyckel, even though it has historical significance as the first Swedish (though Dutch-built) vessel to bring Swedish settlers to America in 1638, led by Peter Minuit. The Kalmar Nyckel is known for its Swedish blue paint on the gunwales and upper deck wales.
I came across another Dutch-built pinnace from about 30 years earlier named "The Duyfken," (I haven't been able to find the Dutch shipyard(s) that built these two ships). The Duyfken is historic in that it was the first Dutch vessel to explore what is now Australia in 1606, many decades before Capt. James Cook made contact with Australia. Both the Duyfken and the Kalmar Nyckel were foundered at sea and, interestingly, replica ships of both vessels were built in the late 1990's as museum/recreation ships. There are 2 model kits of the Duyfken, one by Kolderstok and one by Modelers Shipyard, both around U.S.$250-$300.
First I include a side-by-side comparison of some of the dimensions of each ship found on the internet. The length is measured without bowsprit. I am not sure if the Draft measurements are apples-to-apples comparison because there are several Draft measurements for each ship online.
Admittedly, the overall size and dimensions reveal that the Duyfken was substantially smaller than the Kalmar Nyckel by as much as 20-50% in some measurements. But the similar masting (square rigged foremast and main mast, plus fore-and-aft rigged jiggermast at the rear) and lines are intriguing to me as we would really like to build the Kalmar Nyckel for our model club, preferably not from scratch. One thing that stands out is the big difference in sail area for both ships and I'm not sure why a smaller ship like the Duyfken would seem to have substantially more sail area than the Kalmar (but not sure if the numbers are calculated based upon different sail configurations).
Also attaching some pictures to compare both ships. Duyfken images first then Kalmar Nyckel images (model kit, replica ship, moored and underway). It is interesting that the picture of the Duyfken moored at the pier reflects a similar low-profile to the real Kalmar Nyckel, whereas the model of the Kalmar Nyckel (Modelers Shipyard) reflects a similar higher profile as the real life Duyfken.
Can the Duyfken be built "AS" the Kalmar Nyckel, or are the differing dimensions too much to overcome? What adjustments to the Duyfken model kit would be needed to give a closer impression of the Kalmar Nyckel? I think I know the answer, but asking this esteemed group: Possible or Impossible?
Or should I just do what some others have done and smash together two similarly scaled model kits of the Mayflower and the Golden Hind to come up with a "Frankenstein" Kalmar Nyckel?
I came across another Dutch-built pinnace from about 30 years earlier named "The Duyfken," (I haven't been able to find the Dutch shipyard(s) that built these two ships). The Duyfken is historic in that it was the first Dutch vessel to explore what is now Australia in 1606, many decades before Capt. James Cook made contact with Australia. Both the Duyfken and the Kalmar Nyckel were foundered at sea and, interestingly, replica ships of both vessels were built in the late 1990's as museum/recreation ships. There are 2 model kits of the Duyfken, one by Kolderstok and one by Modelers Shipyard, both around U.S.$250-$300.
First I include a side-by-side comparison of some of the dimensions of each ship found on the internet. The length is measured without bowsprit. I am not sure if the Draft measurements are apples-to-apples comparison because there are several Draft measurements for each ship online.
Admittedly, the overall size and dimensions reveal that the Duyfken was substantially smaller than the Kalmar Nyckel by as much as 20-50% in some measurements. But the similar masting (square rigged foremast and main mast, plus fore-and-aft rigged jiggermast at the rear) and lines are intriguing to me as we would really like to build the Kalmar Nyckel for our model club, preferably not from scratch. One thing that stands out is the big difference in sail area for both ships and I'm not sure why a smaller ship like the Duyfken would seem to have substantially more sail area than the Kalmar (but not sure if the numbers are calculated based upon different sail configurations).
Also attaching some pictures to compare both ships. Duyfken images first then Kalmar Nyckel images (model kit, replica ship, moored and underway). It is interesting that the picture of the Duyfken moored at the pier reflects a similar low-profile to the real Kalmar Nyckel, whereas the model of the Kalmar Nyckel (Modelers Shipyard) reflects a similar higher profile as the real life Duyfken.
Can the Duyfken be built "AS" the Kalmar Nyckel, or are the differing dimensions too much to overcome? What adjustments to the Duyfken model kit would be needed to give a closer impression of the Kalmar Nyckel? I think I know the answer, but asking this esteemed group: Possible or Impossible?
Or should I just do what some others have done and smash together two similarly scaled model kits of the Mayflower and the Golden Hind to come up with a "Frankenstein" Kalmar Nyckel?
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