Half-hull models

Juergen Oltmann, Schulweg 9,  D-28790 Schwanewede, Germany,  
Tel. +49 421 62 48 22, maritime-kunstobjekte@web.de.  

Half-hull models have accompanied shipbuilding for centuries. They served the shipbuilders as tool, to demonstrate the form of a ship's hull or for positioning the steel plates, which form the outer skin of the ship' s hull.

With the building of yachts half-hull models played some - modest - role. Rather than a tool for shipbuilding they were more often just beautiful show pieces. People do enjoy the elegant forms in their living rooms or their offices.

Some of the pictures on this page are available as high resolution photographs. If you click on such a photo you will get that photo in high resolution.

Mr. Oltmann's half-hull models of yachts or ships are almost exclusively made as individual unique items. In design, e.g. size, details, colours of the wood or painting, wood selection, the design of the ground plate, etc. they can be very different - just as his customers like to have them.

In making the hulls several wood layers are glued one above the other. The form of the hull is cut by templates to the final form. Depending on the design, he adds the cabin, the cockpit, and some details on deck or at the hull (e.g. the ship's name). Then the model is fixed on the ground plate.

Half-hull models, made of wood.

The half-hull models can be painted or be left in their natural appearance. For ground plates different materials are available: plywood with hardwood bandings, hardwood (with or without framing), marble, linen cloth, sea charts or sail drawings as background, etc.

The production time could be approx. 4 weeks. The prices depend on design, materials and work hours. A half-hull model of approx. 40 cm length with cabin and ground plate costs about 500 Euro.

The two photos show a half-hull model of the Schweriner Einheitsklasse, designed by Drewitz in Berlin.
Length over all 6.00 m. Only few of these boats can be seen today on the Schweriner See.