Netherlands flag

Netherlands flag — a Constructo accessory for wooden ship models

This is a small finishing accessory, not a ship model. The flag is intended for wooden models of sailing ships and boats, that is, for builds where the hull is planked with wooden strips and the details are completed with fittings in brass and other metals. It is fitted right at the end of the work, when the model is rigged and ready for the display case.

The real subject

The Netherlands flag is a horizontal tricolor made up of a red, a white and a blue band. Dutch ships were among the most important on the world routes in the age of sail, and Dutch naval symbolism therefore appears on a large proportion of historic models of merchant and warships alike. The exact shades and the ratio of the sides changed over the centuries, so with a particular subject it pays to compare the form of the flag with period documentation.

Usage tips

Let the flag straighten out before fitting and only then give it a shape. A light wave, as if the field were flying in the wind, is obtained by drawing it over a rounded edge and fixing it with very thinned PVA glue. Attach it to the flag halyard with thin thread, ideally in the same shade as the rest of the rigging, so that the knots are not conspicuous. Secure the edges of the field only gently so that they do not start to fray, and protect the finished model from direct sunlight, which fades the colors.

Who it is for

• For builders of wooden models of Dutch sailing ships and boats.
• For finishing or replacing a flag on a completed model.
• For modelers who do not want to print and sew a flag themselves.
• For display models, where even small finishing is judged.

It is a separate accessory, not a complete ship model. Glue, thread, paints and other materials are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.