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Description

Half Moon Model Boat Kit

History

In September 1609, the Dutch-commissioned vessel ?Halve Maen? (meaning Half Moon in English) reached the Hudson River after a voyage that took them to the New World, under the instruction of the Dutch East India Company.

The ship was captained by Henry Hudson, who was born in England around 1565. After crossing the Atlantic, the Half Moon first reached land at latitude 41? 43?. Captain Hudson originally thought this location to be unclaimed, and thus named it New Holland, but eventually discovered that they had landed at Cape Cod.

From there, the journey took them north, the Half Moon and her Captain successfully navigating Chesapeake Bay and then Delaware Bay. Subsequently, they reached the mouth of the Hudson River, which the Captain named Mauritius River in recognition of the Dutch Lord-Lieutenant Maurits.

After sailing up the river and reaching modern-day Albany, New York, Captain Hudson decided to turn around and sail back, deeming the river too narrow to navigate. He named the natives living on either side of the estuary Manahata. What Captain Hudson didn?t know is that he had successfully navigated the islands of what we know now as Manhattan and Long Island. He reached the Atlantic and sailed back to Darmouth, England.

In 1618, the Half Moon ship was destroyed after an attack from the English on Jakarta in the Dutch East Indies.

Type of vessel

The Half Moon was a ?vlieboot?, which was similar to a carrack, a three or four masted sailing ship developed during the 15th Century. These types of vessels were most commonly used amongst Europeans for the purposes of exploration.

Their size made them ideal for ocean voyages, with the large hull providing stability in ocean waters and storage space allowing for the holding of cargo and provisions. The square-rigging on the foremast and mainmast provided generous speeds, whilst the lateen-rigging on the mizzenmast allowed for greater manoeuvrability.

Two replicas of the Half Moon have been built, one in 1909, which was built by the King of Netherlands and given to the United States to mark the 300th anniversary of Hudson?s Voyage. The other replica was built in Albany, New York, in 1989.

Further details of the model ship kit

This kit was built by the Italian manufacturer Corel, who have a fine reputation amongst model makers for their high quality and accurate scale replicas, typically of historical vessels. Corel have been trading for many years and have a good rate of satisfaction amongst our customers. If you would like to view other ship model kits by them, please click here.

All building instructions come in English and all parts needed to build the boat are provided in the kit. The only exception is tools are not included; please click here if you would like to view our offering of tool kits.

Additional information
Volumetric Weight 4 kg
Length (cm)

54

Width (cm)

16

Height (cm)

53

Difficulty

Advanced

Hull Type

Plank on Frame

Scale

1:50

Vessel Type

Galleon

Product Type

Model Kit

Language of Instructions

English, French, German, Italian

R/C Compatible

No

Length (Inches)

21

Width (Inches)

6

Height (Inches)

21

Delivery & Returns
Delivery

We ship worldwide using FedEx, with tracking details provided once your order has been dispatched. Most model kits are delivered within 10-14 days if in stock, while handcrafted ready-made models may take 12+ weeks depending on production schedules. Due to the bespoke nature of ready-made models, staged payments may apply. Please inspect deliveries on arrival and report any damage immediately.

Returns

Standard models, kits and display cases can be returned within 14 days of delivery if unused and in original condition, with return shipping arranged by the customer. Faulty, damaged or incorrect items should be reported within 24 hours of delivery. Please note that bespoke and custom-made models are non-returnable and non-refundable once production has begun.

FAQs

We stock a wide selection of wooden model ship kits from leading manufacturers including Billings, Mantua, Corel, Amati, OcCre, and more. Kits range from beginner-friendly builds to highly detailed, expert-level projects.

Yes! We have a dedicated Beginner difficulty level in our range, designed for those just starting out or looking for a great model to build together with kids. These kits are straightforward, enjoyable, and a brilliant introduction to the hobby.

All kits include the core components needed to complete the build – timber parts, rigging, fittings, and instructions. Most kits don’t include paints, glues, or tools, but we’ve made that easy to solve. Our Essentials Tools Bundle covers every glue and tool you’ll need, and our Essentials Paints Bundle includes general paints, varnishes, and brushes to get you finished and looking great.

Some kits don’t include sails, and some have specific paint requirements – where this applies, you’ll find these available as add-ons directly on the product page. We’re also expanding our range of kit-specific paint sets over time, so you can get exactly the right colours for your model rather than working from a general palette.

You’ll typically need scalpels, tweezers, clamps, sandpaper, and wood glue or PVA as a minimum. To save you sourcing everything separately, we sell an Essentials Tools Bundle that includes everything you need to get building straight away. It’s a handy addition to any kit order, especially for first-time builders.

We offer a range of RC boats that are ready to run (RTR) or almost ready to run (ARTR) straight out of the box – no conversion needed. We also stock 70+ RC-compatible model kits for those who want to build their own. If you’re looking at a specific kit, check the product page or browse the RC Compatible category on our site to see whether it supports RC conversion. We don’t sell individual RC conversion components separately.

We don’t sell individual spare parts directly, but most of our manufacturers offer warranties covering missing or damaged components. If you run into any issues with your kit, just get in touch and we’ll contact the manufacturer on your behalf to arrange replacement parts to be sent directly to you.

It really depends on the kit and your own pace – and that’s part of what makes the hobby so enjoyable. Beginner kits can take around 20 to 40 hours, while our most advanced professional-level kits can run to 1,200 hours or more. Many of our customers work through a model over 3 to 6 months, fitting it in around daily life. There’s no rush.

Yes. We only stock kits from the best manufacturers available. All of our brands are carefully selected and we hold them to a high standard – if a manufacturer can’t consistently deliver the quality and reliability our customers expect, we won’t continue working with them. Simple as that.

Where available, we include a downloadable copy of the kit instructions directly on the product page. Please note that not all manufacturers make their instructions available online, so this won’t be present on every listing – but where we have them, you’ll find them there.

This varies by kit and manufacturer, but most of our wooden model ship kits are constructed primarily from laser-cut wood – typically a combination of plywood for structural parts and lime or walnut wood for planking and detailing. Kits also commonly include metal fittings, rope, fabric for sails, and plastic or cast metal parts for smaller details. If you need clarification on a specific kit before purchasing, feel free to contact us.

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