Entièrement fabriquées à la main, nos maquettes sont réalisées dans nos ateliers par nos artisans spécialisés dans le travail du bois, de la résine et par des bijoutiers qui conçoivent l’accastillage. Leur travail est uniquement guidé par le souci de la qualité et la précision des finitions.
Plans
In order to be as faithful as possible to reality for our scale models, we work from precise, original plans and numerous photos. Templates are made in order to develop a prototype that is subject to meticulous controls. As an official licensee of the shipyards with which we develop our partnerships, we work from all the data and official plans provided by them.
Sanding and varnishing or painting
Then comes the long process of sanding and varnishing and/or painting, according to a unique procedure. To obtain a perfectly smooth hull and deck, 8 to 10 coats of varnish are applied (for varnished wood models) or 4 coats of paint and 2 coats of finishing varnish (for painted models), interspersed with increasingly fine sanding. The final phase consists of applying several coats of gloss varnish to achieve a "mirror effect" for mahogany boats.
Base
As for the bases, they meet the same quality criteria as our models. They are made of varnished wood for wooden models and painted wood for other models, and undergo the same varnishing and sanding processes.
Packaging
Finally, we take particular care in packaging our models.
Each model is specially packaged to protect it during transport.
The yachts are protected in a wooden crate, which is then strapped to a shrink-wrapped pallet.
Each stage of production is subject to rigorous controls. A final quality check is carried out before each product is dispatched.
Un “Certificat d’Authenticité KIADE Maquettes” numéroté est alors délivré et garantit la conformité de la maquette.
Structure
WOOD: Made from noble woods, our model boats are constructed using planking for the hull, and batten for the deck. In order to guarantee the long-term stability of our models, a special technique ensures an excellent grip on the wood, avoiding the risk of cracking. What's more, since wood is a living material, special care is taken in selecting and drying it, which is essential for its long-term stability.
RESIN: Made from polyester and fiberglass, our models are built using the same process as real boats. A silicone imprint is taken on a master made from the original 3D plans, enabling production of the hulls. A long sanding process is then carried out to reproduce every detail as faithfully as possible.
Fittings and saddlery
A selection of detailed photos allows us to produce brass or chrome-plated brass fittings that meet the requirements of real jewelry pieces. To do this, our jewelers draw each of them to create specific molds. This way, we obtain pieces that are faithful to reality. All saddlery and sail elements are handcrafted and sewn using the original materials when possible or substitutes if the original material cannot be used for our models.