On my daily surfing expedition I stumbled across an announcement from Model Expo that it's carrying a new line of wood ship kits from the Czech Republic: http://www.modelexpo-online.com/search.asp?SKW=cat1_s@%20dusek&srccode=mad13 .
I know absolutely nothing about these things beyond what's on that website. But the pictures certainly make them look like serious scale ship models. I find the statement that "there's plenty of strip stock for shaping the oars" a tiny bit intimidating, but it looks like the basis for some serious and attractive models may be here. (My only other reservation is that the sheer on the Gokstad Ship looks a little flat - but one can never tell from such photos how much is due to the kit and how much to the builder.) The two Greek ships and the Knarr look pretty believable. And the Czechs certainly have built up a fine reputation for producing quality kits. And the prices, as such things go these days, aren't bad. I'd like to see one of these in the flesh.
Later edit - Here's something equally interesting - the manufacturer's website, with prices in Euros: http://www.shipkitshop.com/?dusek-ship-kits,18 . I checked the current exchange rate; the Euro is worth about $1.31. So these prices are a LOT lower than Model Expo's. But I have no idea what the cost of shipping would be. (Model Expo doesn't ship for free.)
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