Tell me, Mrs Achenbach ...
... what attracts you to model boats?
When I started, in the mid-eighties, we were in Cuxhaven and had been blown in. We passed a toy shop in the town and I saw a kit. It had always appealed to me! So I bought the "Bluenose II", a Newfoundland fishing vessel built in 1921. On board, I immediately started painting and sanding, while the rest of the crew almost died of boredom. I, on the other hand, always had something to do.
What happened next?
Next I discovered the "De Groene Draeck", the yacht of the former Dutch queen. I almost despaired at this one! The stem at the front and the stern are all individually planked. I couldn't manage that at first. So the hull lay around half-finished for almost two years. Then I learnt how to treat the wood so that I could bend it and then pin it to the hull with pins. That was a shit job! But I enjoyed it - every fitting on deck is homemade. What's more, everything on board is movable.
How many sailing ships have already been built at your modelling yard?
Five in total, including a kite that I planked twice, first with wood, then with veneer. Sometimes I spent a whole day or even longer on a single plank! But at some point I didn't know what to do with all the boats, and then it wasn't worth building any more. The last one is the "Lilla Dan", a Danish training ship. It was my husband's favourite boat.
Model making is a male domain. What is it like to be one of the few women in this profession?
I don't care, I'm not an emancipated woman. I've always stood my ground and I don't really care whether I do things with women or men. I also don't want to push anything just because I'm a woman.
What exactly fascinates you about modelling?
I like doing things with my hands and have already done a lot of crafting and building! But the work should also occupy my mind. In addition, I used to teach sports, among other things, and it was always loud there - with modelling, on the other hand, you sit quietly at the table and fiddle around. That's always been good for me. That's probably why I stuck with it.
How long do you build a boat?
I never counted the hours! Otherwise I would have gone mad.
Have you ever wanted to build a real ship?
No. But my husband and I worked together on the empty fuselage of a B31, so when the children were small we were in the shed until one o'clock every night. I also once brought my son's pirate into the living room to paint it here.
Do you have any new construction projects?
No, my hands are no longer up to it. I also miss being able to do it with my husband - he has since died. It's daft on your own.
