Gjøa – Build the Ship That Changed the Map

With the Gjøa model kit, you bring one of the most significant vessels in polar exploration history into your home – a ship that made history not through size or strength, but through intelligence, observation, and understanding.

The Gjøa was the expedition vessel of Roald Amundsen, the first person to successfully navigate the entire Northwest Passage. Between 1903 and 1906, this small sloop – originally built as a fishing and sealing vessel – proved that navigation through ice depends not only on force, but above all on knowledge and precision.

While other expeditions failed, the Gjøa turned the unknown into measurable science. The crew spent two winters in the Arctic, studied terrestrial magnetism, and located the Magnetic North Pole – a key contribution to modern navigation.

A Model with Historical Depth

Building the Gjøa is far more than a traditional model-building project. Step by step, you retrace Amundsen’s journey – an expedition where every decision determined success or failure, and ultimately changed the course of history.

This model is part of the OcCre Polar Collection, alongside the famous Fram. Both ships belong to the same era, the same spirit of exploration, and are today central exhibits at the Fram Museum in Oslo.

High-Quality Materials & Authentic Construction

• Lime wood
• Walnut wood
• Sapele wood
• Brass
• Cotton

Each component has been carefully designed to deliver a realistic and highly detailed building experience.

Technical Specifications

• Scale: 1:45
• Length: 725 mm
• Width: 295 mm
• Height: 665 mm
• Number of parts: 1,991
• Estimated build time: approx. 480 hours
• Difficulty: Intermediate

Kit Contents

• Step-by-step assembly instructions
• Video tutorials
• Scale plans
• Laser-cut plywood parts
• Wood strips in lime, walnut, and sapele
• Metal and brass fittings
• Hand-sewn sails

The Story Behind the Model

The Gjøa was not the largest or strongest ship of its time – but it was the only one to successfully complete the Northwest Passage. Amundsen and his six-man crew proved that progress does not come from strength, but from understanding the environment.

Today, the original Gjøa is exhibited at the Fram Museum in Oslo, where it stands as one of the most important artifacts in Norwegian polar history.

More Than Model Building

Building the Gjøa is an invitation to think differently: not simply to move forward, but to understand direction.

Because when north is not fixed, following a course is not enough – you must learn how to read it.

age recommendation: +14

WARNING! Not suitable for children under 36 months due to small pieces which may present a chocking hazard - DANGER OF SUFFOCATION !