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 Rank: Vice-Master     Groups: Registered
Joined: 28/05/2014 Posts: 938 Points: 2,823 Location: Milan (Italy)
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Gokstad Viking Ship It seems that for at least one year, but could be even longer, I'll spend two/three months in Cinisello Balsamo (Milan), in the house that I own since more than forty years, and two/three months in Calci (Pisa) in the house of my daughter Silvia where, being currently single, she has plenty of space to guest me and my wife, with mutual synergistic satisfaction. Therefore, by accepting this situation, there is a problem with my shipmodeling activities: in my house I've set up a quite functional workshop, where I am currently building the "Brick de Guerre 24" starting from ANCRE plans; but when I go to my daughter's house what and how can I do? I decided that it's not practical to bring back and forth the Brick and related material: the more the build progresses, the more it becomes cumbersome and the materials and tools needed increase, so I thought a solution that allows me to do any activity in Tuscany without having to make use of the materials and equipments located in my lab at home. The solution is for me the purchase of a kit: with this option I have everything I need (even though that's not completely true) in the kit and then I solve 90% of the problem for the materials while regarding the tools I can duplicate the equipment, on a minimum basis, or take them from home, not having, however, the need for great efforts for transport. Of course, in the months where I'm in Cinisello I'll work on the Brick, and when I'm in Tuscany I'll work on the kit. This means that to finish the models I'll most probably need twice of the time, but I don't think to die in a short time (sign of the horns exposed more and more times) and, with regards of patience, I don't miss it. I took advantage of a fairly advantageous offer from a Czech kit manufacturer, the Dusek Shipkits, http://www.dusekshipkits.com/, and I bought via the internet two Viking ships: 1) the Gokstad ship, found in Norway and 2) the Skuldelev 1, a knarr, transport ship, found along with other boats in Roskilde, Denmark. Both kits are marketed in 1/72 and 1/35 scale. I chose the 1/35 scale. To start I decided to build the Gokstad ship.
I want to start with a minimum of history about this ship, on display in a museum located in Oslo. The source is an article I found on wikipedia, from which I extracted some contents relating to this ship: The Gokstad ship is a 9th-century Viking ship found in a burial mound at Gokstad in Sandar, Sandefjord, Vestfold, Norway. It is currently on display at the The Viking Ship Museum in Oslo, Norway.
The site where the boat was found, situated on arable land, had long been named Gokstadhaugen or Kongshaugen (from the Old Norse words kóngr meaning king and haugr meaning mound), although the relevance of its name had been discounted as folklore, as other sites in Norway bear similar names. In 1880, sons of the owner of Gokstad farm, having heard of the legends surrounding the site, uncovered the bow of a boat while digging in the still frozen ground. As word of the find got out, Nicolay Nicolaysen, then President of the Society for the Preservation of Ancient Norwegian Monuments, reached the site during February 1880. Having ascertained that the find was indeed that of an ancient artifact, he liaised for the digging to be stopped. Nicolaysen later returned and established that the mound still measured 50 metres by 43 metres, although its height had been diminished down to 5 metres by constant years of ploughing. With his team, he began excavating the mound from the side rather than from the top down, and on the second day of digging found the bow of the ship.
The Gokstad ship is clinker-built and constructed largely of oak. The ship was intended for warfare, trade, transportation of people and cargo. The ship is 23.80 metres (78.1 ft) long and 5.10 m (16.7 ft) wide. It is the largest in the Viking Ship Museum in Oslo. The ship was steered by a quarter rudder fastened to a large block of wood attached to the outside of the hull and supported by an extra stout rib. The block is known as the wart, and is fastened by osiers, knotted on the outside passed through both the rudder and wart to be firmly anchored in the ship.
There are 16 tapered planks per side. The garboard planks are near vertical where they attach to the keel. The garboard planks are narrow and remain only slightly wider to take the turn of the bilge. The topside planks are progressively wider. Each oak plank is slightly tapered in cross section to allow it to overlap about 30mm the plank above and below in normal clinker (lapstrake) style. Iron rivets are about 180 mm apart where the planks lie straight and about 125 mm apart where the planks turn.
At the bow, all of the planks taper to butt the stem. The stem is carved from a single curved oak log to form the cutwiter and has one land for each plank. The inside of the stem is hollowed into a v shape so the inside of the rivets can be reached during construction or repair. Each of the crossbeams has a ledge cut about 25 mm wide and deep to take a removable section of decking. Sea chests were placed on top of the decking to use when rowing. Most likely on longer voyages sea chests were secured below decks to act as ballast when sailing. The centre section of the keel has little rocker and together with flat midships transverse section the hull shape is suited to medium to flat water sailing. When sailing downwind in strong winds and waves, directional control would be poor, so it is likely that some reefing system was used to reduce sail area. In such conditions the ship would take water aboard at an alarming rate if sailed at high speed.
The ship was built to carry 32 oarsmen, and the oar holes could be hatched down when the ship was under sail. It utilized a square sail of approximately 110 square metres (1,200 sq ft), which, it is estimated, could propel the ship to over 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph). The mast could be raised and lowered. While the ship was traveling in shallow water, the rudder could be raised very quickly by undoing the fastening. Dendrochronological dating suggests that the ship was built of timber that was felled around 890 AD. This period is the height of Norse expansion in Dublin, Ireland and York, England. The Gokstad ship was commissioned at the end of the 9th century during the reign of King Harald Fairhair. The ship could carry a crew of 40 men but could carry a maximum of 70. The ship's design has been demonstrated to be very seaworthy.
Both kits have the same price: in total I spent € 230, including VAT and shipment. A price (115€ each) quite interesting also if the kits are rather simple. The completed model should look like in the images 01 and 02 here below.
Length: 610mm, Width: 260mm, Height: 370mm01 gokstad35-2.jpg  02 gokstad35-1.jpg  The kit of this model, shown in the photos 03 and 04, looks like this:03 P1100347r.jpg  04 P1100348.jpg  Inside there is the materials, drawings and building instructions. On the internet there are also downloadable files with the same instructions at: http://www.dusekshipkits.com/viking-gokstad-1-35
That's all for now, but the adventure has just to begin . . Cheers, Jack.Aubrey
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 Looking forward to the build Jack as I love Viking ships  Rgd Martyn Building ?
Completed. Soliei Royal . Sovereign of the Seas . Virginia . Scotland . San Felipe . Corel vasa , Santisima Trinadad X section , Vasa
Next Build ?
When sailors have good wine, They think themselves in heaven for the time. John Baltharpe
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 Rank: Super-Elite     Groups: Registered
Joined: 30/01/2013 Posts: 4,604 Points: 13,607 Location: Monmouthshire UK
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Looks a very nice kit Jack, looking forward to it Steve
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Rank: Vice-Master Groups: Registered
Joined: 28/05/2014 Posts: 938 Points: 2,823 Location: Milan (Italy)
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And now let we open the box to start discovering its content . .At first the model plans in 1:35 scale: this is a single sheet. This fact is not surprising as a viking ship is not a three decker, but something much more simple. In the same photo the paper version of the assembly instructions. 01 P1100351.jpg.  Unfortunately (but it is not my case) for non english mothertongue, the instructions are written in English, but the online version are also in Czech, French and Spanish. At a shallow reading it seems clear and quite simple; if there are some inaccuracies they are not established at this time; it's probably necessary to start working before finding something wrong. Below some sample scanned pages to be taken as an example. 02 gokstad35-english_1414511927-3.jpg.  03 gokstad35-english_1414511927-4.jpg  04 gokstad35-english_1414511927-5.jpg  Finally, the actual content of the kit: laser pre-cut pieces of plywood and veneer of various thicknesses. 05 P1100349.jpg  In the next post we will see more in detail these pieces. Sincerely, Jack.Aubrey
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Rank: Vice-Master Groups: Registered
Joined: 28/05/2014 Posts: 938 Points: 2,823 Location: Milan (Italy)
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Let's see the content of the kit item per item . . in the box we find some pre laser cut plywood boards wrapped in a plastic wrap to protect them from "accidents" . . 01 P1100350.jpg  Keel, frames or bulkheads, and a base for the pedestal . . 02 P1100356r.jpg  Deck, various rods, probably to be used in building the tree and the several oars . . and, in the upper left, some smaller pieces, some of them made with metal, packed in plastic envelops. . 03 P1100353r.jpg  The strakes . . as you can see they are not straight strips, but pre-cut pieces rather crooked . . meaning a design with a 3D CAD software. . 04 P1100354.jpg  Other strakes, the round shields, that characterized these boats, and fine wood fittings for the deck . . 05 P1100355.jpg  That's all for now, the kit presentation ends here . . . Now all what remains to do is to start building . . but you will have to wait for it until I'll come back in Tuscany (planned for mid December), here I work only on the "Brick de guerre de 24". Sincerely, Jack.Aubrey.
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Rank: Super-Elite Groups: Registered
Joined: 30/01/2013 Posts: 4,604 Points: 13,607 Location: Monmouthshire UK
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Looks good, the pre-cut planks will save a fair bit of work Steve
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Rank: Administration   Groups: Registered, Forum Support Team, Administrators, Global Forum Support Team, Moderator, Official Builds Joined: 09/11/2012 Posts: 8,301 Points: 23,991 Location: East midlands
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Looks a neat kit. Good luck with the clinker planking. Not something I`ve ever tried, but looks like it could be a bit fiddly. Regards delboy271155 (Derek) COME BACK GUY FAWKES "YOUR COUNTRY NEEDS YOU"
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Rank: Vice-Master Groups: Registered
Joined: 28/05/2014 Posts: 938 Points: 2,823 Location: Milan (Italy)
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stevie_o wrote:Looks good, the pre-cut planks will save a fair bit of work Sure Steve, with this kind of ship pre-cut planks seems to be mandatory . . trying to use straight strips is practically near impossible. delboy271155 wrote:. . Good luck with the clinker planking. Not something I`ve ever tried, but looks like it could be a bit fiddly. Hi Derek, the clinker planking is a new experience for me, hope will be succesful. Thankyou Steve and Derek for your appreciations, Jack.
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 Rank: Pro Groups: Joined: 24/08/2009 Posts: 48,827 Points: -13,348
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You don't see many model Viking ship builds. Good luck with its build, should be an interesting one 
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Rank: Vice-Master Groups: Registered
Joined: 28/05/2014 Posts: 938 Points: 2,823 Location: Milan (Italy)
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Sunday, January 3rd, 2016It's now about fifteen days I settled in Tuscany, near Pisa, where the weather is much better than in Milan, especially in this winter, till now without rain and with pollution . . During the Christmas and New Year time I thought about how to transform the garage, I rented this summer, in a shipmodeller workshop where spending some time with my preferred hobby, even when I stay here in Tuscany, quite far from my main workshop. As I previously wrote in this topic, not believing feasible to continue working on the "Brick de 24" when I'm away from Milan, I thought to build a Viking ship model starting from a kit. The "Brick de 24" is the model I'm currently building in Milan from scratch and described at .... I have already presented the Viking ship kit earlier in this topic and now there is no need to write more. Instead, before I can start to seriously do something, I had to plan and get some simple "furniture" absolutely necessary to me for working: 1 - a usable worktable2 - a couple of shelves, 3 - an upgrade of the existing lighting4 - an electric radiator to heat a little the workshop when, during the cold days that will sooner or later come, it will be certainly needed, although the weather here is not like in Milan. Easily archived steps no. 3 and 4, for solving the first two I planned a visit at the IKEA shop in Pisa, but later I changed my mind. So I went to a carpenter's shop and there I noticed that I could get the wood needed for scratchbuilding my furniture among pieces of debris cuts, offered highly discounted for sale, having anyway an very good quality. I then realized that buying a power screwdriver/drill/hammer and the wood I'll have spent the same money to buy what I needed at IKEA. But at the end I'll get also a drill . . tools missing here, and I would enjoy even for a few days great DIY sensations. After purchasing the drill (it also sounds a great tool) the shelves were built in a short time. Then I started the worktable. The pieces were cut in measure at the carpenter's shop and I had only the job to mount, glue and screw the several elements. Below a couple of pictures of the worktable in two different states of construction. I believe to finish it definitely tomorrow installing a lower shelf. 01 P1100395.jpg  Below, the worktable with the final top shelf added and already used by one of my five assistants to test its features and functionality . . 02 P1100398.jpg  Now I just have to better organize the layout of the garage and take out the materials and tools I brought from Milan. Then I'll can finally start the Viking ship. Greetings to all and happy Epiphany. . Jack. PS: At the beginning I think to leave them as natural wood but may be I'll reconsider this choice later and paint them with woodfiller
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Rank: Super-Elite  Groups: Registered
Joined: 31/05/2010 Posts: 5,679 Points: 17,011 Location: Wiltshire
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That looks a really good work table. Hope the cat allows you to use it at some point (they like to claim everything as their own ) Happy New Year to you. Happy Modelling
BUILDING: Hachette Spitfire Mk 1A, Constructo Mayflower
SUBSCRIPTION COMPLETE (Awaiting building): USS Constitution, Sovereign of the Seas, 1:200 Bismarck (Hachette)
COMPLETED: Porsche 911, E-Type Jaguar, Lam Countach
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Rank: Vice-Master Groups: Registered
Joined: 28/05/2014 Posts: 938 Points: 2,823 Location: Milan (Italy)
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Tuesday, January 5, 2016Everything is now ready for the inauguration !! The worktable is ready, the shelves as well. . the chair is temporary, too low, but soon another most suitable will come from Milan. However improvements can always be done provided they will be needed. So I can finally say that I could start doing something serious from now. I'm starting to study the drawings and the assembly instructions of this Viking ship. For the moment I have some concerns about the rigidity of the hull framing, I fear some kind of deformation. This will probably happen if I'll strictly follow the provided instructions. I think there is a strong need to think about a building slip useful for a capsized assembly that will allow me to work keeping held the hull until the installation of almost all the planks. But it is not so intuitive about how to do it ! I'll sleep on it ! Let's hope in a viable solution . . The worktable finished . . 01 20160105_172550.jpg 
The two shelves side by side . . 02 20160105_172543.jpg  An overview of the workshop: worktable, shelves, radiator, water, lighting enpowered and desktop backup, only the chair is unsatisfactory.03 20160105_172533.jpg 
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Rank: Pro  Groups: Registered
Joined: 11/11/2015 Posts: 273 Points: 792 Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota USA
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Hey Jack, Nice workspace Jack. I loved the ship you bought. I looked up the website you provided and contacted them. Turns out they ship to the USA also so I purchased the Viking Longship. http://www.dusekshipkits.com/viking-longship-1-35
Good luck with your build I will be watching it. Ron Best Regards,
Ron
On the bench: DeAgostini '67 Ford Shelby Mustang, Hachette Space Battleship Yamato 2202, Agora Models T-800 Terminator
Finished builds: DeAgostini Toyota 2000GT
In the Stash: Losing count...
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Rank: Pro Groups: Registered
Joined: 11/11/2015 Posts: 273 Points: 792 Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota USA
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Hi Jack, I had one question though and maybe you can answer it. In the pictures it shows all the shields being the same color. Did the Vikings not have different colored shields to represent family crests or to denoted which tribe they were in? When I watch the television show "Vikings" all the shields on the sides of the ship are different. Not sure how accurate that is. I will definitely have to do some research on this. Ron Best Regards,
Ron
On the bench: DeAgostini '67 Ford Shelby Mustang, Hachette Space Battleship Yamato 2202, Agora Models T-800 Terminator
Finished builds: DeAgostini Toyota 2000GT
In the Stash: Losing count...
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Rank: Vice-Master Groups: Registered
Joined: 28/05/2014 Posts: 938 Points: 2,823 Location: Milan (Italy)
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Nytetrain wrote:Hi Jack,
I had one question though and maybe you can answer it. In the pictures it shows all the shields being the same color. Did the Vikings not have different colored shields to represent family crests or to denoted which tribe they were in? When I watch the television show "Vikings" all the shields on the sides of the ship are different. Not sure how accurate that is. I will definitely have to do some research on this.
Ron Hi Ron, interesting question. The Vikings TV series is available also here in Italy, but unfortunately I never saw any episode, so I can't judge. Surfing the internet I've seen many interpretations for the shields colors, all different, all the same, two alternate colors and so on. I attach here some images of this model and of some modern replicas. 01 Vikingsheimar_7190_zpsz3eqwsz5.jpg  02 gEL4A2885_zpssbwfjywu.jpg  03 Gokstad-ship-model_zpsnxaufpgp.jpg  04 dyflin2_zps1eh0spfu.jpg  Perhaps the best source may be the following book: https://drive.google.com...lRiazQ/view?usp=sharing It is quite old but seems very accurate. I've not read it yet but I think I'll do in the near future as I'm building the same ship. An interesting point is the image on page 3 where there is the same shields pattern used for the Dusek kit. May be you can read it more easily than me and come to an answer, if an answer there is, before me. I hope you will keep me informed 'cause the matter may be interesting for the finishing of my model. PS: another question may be the color of the sail: white, red, or with stripes ? Regards, Jack.
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Hi Jack and Ron as a bit of a Viking history fan and have read a lot of the research into the Vikings it is a bit hard to say what colour the shields where as the wooden part of the shields rots away leaving just the shield boss and a few nails. A few have servived in very wet conditions but no paint has servived In the 9/10 century they would have a very limited paint colours as they were made of natural pigments. Also the same thing with the sail but they had a lot more colours of dye so stripped sails are possible. Hope this helps rgd Martyn Building ?
Completed. Soliei Royal . Sovereign of the Seas . Virginia . Scotland . San Felipe . Corel vasa , Santisima Trinadad X section , Vasa
Next Build ?
When sailors have good wine, They think themselves in heaven for the time. John Baltharpe
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Rank: Super-Elite Groups: Registered
Joined: 27/01/2014 Posts: 5,060 Points: 14,980
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You've built yourself a nice looking work area there Jack. Looking forward to seeing you put your skills to work with the Viking ship
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Rank: Vice-Master Groups: Registered
Joined: 28/05/2014 Posts: 938 Points: 2,823 Location: Milan (Italy)
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Friday, January 8th, 2016
This day is important 'cause it's the offical starting date of this build.
I started by assemblying the first building slip I planned, the right side up one. The process is still on the way, 'cause I found a lot of tools and materials missing or unusable. For example I took with me from Milan a new pack of polyurethane glue I bought time ago, but I discovered it was mainly dry and so unusable. Then I found the need for a small hammer and other similar misfortune. Today I'll continue the same task hoping to finish it.
Rgds, Jack.
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Rank: Super-Elite Groups: Registered
Joined: 31/05/2010 Posts: 5,679 Points: 17,011 Location: Wiltshire
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Jack All very nice. Looking forward to seeing this one start to take shape. Happy Modelling
BUILDING: Hachette Spitfire Mk 1A, Constructo Mayflower
SUBSCRIPTION COMPLETE (Awaiting building): USS Constitution, Sovereign of the Seas, 1:200 Bismarck (Hachette)
COMPLETED: Porsche 911, E-Type Jaguar, Lam Countach
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Rank: Vice-Master Groups: Registered
Joined: 28/05/2014 Posts: 938 Points: 2,823 Location: Milan (Italy)
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