Kon Tiki Model Ship Kit South American Raft – Mantua (MA703)

The Kon Tiki South American Raft Model Ship Kit is manufactured by Mantua Model Ships & Mantua Model Boats. Mantua have built its reputation on large, elaborately detailed ship model kits. Their ship model kits use photo-etched brass, cast metal fittings, cast metal and machined turned brass fittings. The detail in their range of large ship models is exceptional.

History of the Kon Tiki South American Raft

Intrigued by Polynesian folklore, biologist Thor Heyerdahl suspected that the South Sea islands had been settled by an ancient race from South America. According to legend, this migration was led by the mythical hero, Kon-Tiki. Heyerdahl decided to prove his theory by duplicating the legendary voyage.

He built a replica of an Indian balsa wood raft and set sail from Peru on April 28, 1947 with five other adventurers. After three months on the open sea, encountering raging storms, whales and sharks, they sighted land – the Polynesian island of Puka Puka.