Gjøa Model Ship: First Vessel Through the Northwest Passage

In 1845, the best-equipped expedition of its time sailed into the Canadian Arctic to cross the Northwest Passage: 128 men and two warships. Not one came back. Nearly sixty years later, a Norwegian succeeded with six men and a small 21-metre fishing boat. That boat was the Gjøa, and this is the model kit that recreates, plank by plank, the ship that redrew the map of the world.

With the OcCre Gjøa model ship kit, you'll build the vessel Roald Amundsen sailed to complete the first-ever transit of the Northwest Passage at 1:45 scale — the sea route through Canada's Arctic archipelago that links the Atlantic and Pacific through the ice. A wooden ship model kit designed for seasoned builders and for anyone ready to take on a model with real history behind it.

The History of the Gjøa and Amundsen's Expedition

The Gjøa was a modest fishing vessel built in 1872 — just 21 metres long and 47 tons. Where others sent reinforced warships, Roald Amundsen deliberately chose this small boat: its shallow draught of less than one metre let it navigate the shallow Arctic channels and shoals that had grounded every major expedition before it.

On 16 June 1903, Amundsen slipped out of Oslo at night to escape his creditors, with a crew of just six men. For 22 months, the Gjøa was locked in the ice off King William Island, in what is now Nunavut, at an anchorage today known as Gjoa Haven. Rather than give up, Amundsen used the time to learn survival techniques from the Inuit and to pinpoint the location of the Magnetic North Pole.

On 26 August 1905, they spotted a ship approaching from the west: the Northwest Passage had been completed for the first time in history. The voyage ended in San Francisco in 1906, and Roald Amundsen became the most celebrated explorer of his era. Today, the original Gjøa is preserved at the Fram Museum in Oslo, alongside the legendary Fram, the ship Amundsen would later take to the South Pole.

Gjøa Model Specifications

The Gjøa model faithfully recreates every detail of the original ship, based on museum documentation. Key specifications:

• Scale: 1:45
• Model length: 725 mm (28.5 in)
• Beam: 295 mm (11.6 in)
• Height: 665 mm (26.2 in)
• Number of parts: 1,991
• Estimated build time: approx. 480 hours
• Difficulty level: Intermediate
• Materials: Limewood, walnut, sapelli, brass, and sewn cotton sails

The kit includes:

• Laser-cut wooden sheets
• Hand-sewn, historically accurate sails
• Cast metal and brass fittings
• Scale plans based on documentation of the original vessel
• Step-by-step instructions with video tutorials

The Gjøa Model and the Conquest of the Northwest Passage

Building the Gjøa isn't just assembling a wooden ship model — it's recreating, with your own hands, the vessel that achieved what no explorer had managed in three centuries. Every deck plank, every line of rigging, and every cotton sail brings you closer to the feat that changed the map of the planet forever.

It's an ideal project for modellers seeking a build with genuine historical depth, and a natural companion for anyone who already owns the Fram, Amundsen's other great ship. Both vessels share a museum in Oslo; now they can share your display case too.

Who Is This Model For?

This wooden ship model is recommended for intermediate-level modellers who enjoy detailed, long-term projects. If this is your first serious sailing ship, the step-by-step instructions and video tutorials guide you through the entire build. If you're already an experienced builder, the Gjøa offers a challenge with a genuine historical payoff.

Frequently Asked Questions

What scale is the Gjøa model?
The OcCre Gjøa model is built at 1:45 scale and measures 725 mm (28.5 in) in length once assembled.

How many parts does it have, and how long does it take to build?
The kit contains 1,991 parts, and the estimated build time is around 480 hours, depending on the modeller's experience.

Is it suitable for beginners?
It's an intermediate-difficulty kit. It's not the simplest model to start with, but it includes step-by-step instructions and video tutorials that make it accessible with time and care.

What was the Gjøa?
The Gjøa was the Norwegian sailing vessel Roald Amundsen used to complete the first-ever transit of the Northwest Passage between 1903 and 1906. The original is preserved at the Fram Museum in Oslo.