A 17th century Dutch fluit

[Michael Mash]

Hello Ab:
I enjoyed reading about the donation of seven of your models to the ‘Huis van Hilde’ in Castricum. What a wonderful thing that they will display your ships, made with these materials next to all the others. It is recognition well deserved, and I am sure it is a pleasure for many here to know there are museums that appreciate this kind of work.

I looked up “Arnold de Lange” on the internet. Many of his paintings appeared. And most of them seem to have your favorite Dutch 17th Century ships as their subject matter. The “The Zierikzee off Flushing” appears to be a beautiful work or art. I’m looking forward to seeing his work using your ships as “painter’s models” for future scenes. To be able to collaborate and create a working relationship with another artist like this is an exciting thing.

Warm Regards,
Mike

[Seahorse]

Congratulations.
The models in the museum are a great "prize" for the modeller.

Greetings
Tomek

[abhovi]

I have another fluit model to show you. In fact i made this one before (it's a small fluit based on observations of a robot submarine, because the ship lies on a depth op 120 meters in the Baltics), but results with hanging sails brought me to an experiment, in which I wanted to picture sailors sitting on the yard while handling the sails, as was done in those days (because the yards did not have foot horses, like in later times).'One hand for the ship, one for yourself'.
Overall length of the model: 40 cm, scale 1/77.
Perhaps you like it.

[Michael Mash]

Hello Ab,
These are excellent images . . . showing the crewmembers everywhere.
They give proper perspective to the overall size of the vessel.
Again the work is superb, and the photos are brilliant.
Mike

[Bluenoser]

Gorgeous. Photos are fabulous.

[RdK]

Ab,

Superb build as always! I salute you!

But two questions:
Why are the sails so clean? (you know my opinion about sails... )
Why do the flags look like they'd need some ironing (did you considered using different material for flags?) ?

Anyway, looking forward to seeing more of your work!

Dankje wel!
Radek

[abhovi]

Thank you Michael, Bluenoser and Radek.

Radek: in reality the sails are much less white that on the picture and about the flags: I carefully paint them on transparent paper, cut them out, wrinkle them to small balls, carefully open up and do it again. No wonder that they might need some ironing. But I like them this way. They shows the strength of the wind (even if there is no strength :-))

[Greg S.]

Wonderful ship model!

[Philip]

A remarkable piece of work. So lively!

[et2B]

Love the figurines, just gives that little extra to the model.

Are the lines of the hull available somewhere/how?