The Art (and Sport!) of Ship Modeling with Olha and Kroum Batchvarov

In this episode of the SeaWatch Podcast, we sit down with Olha and Kroum Batchvarov—two remarkable individuals united by a love of ships, history, and precision craftsmanship.

Olha shares her inspiring journey from discovering ship modeling in Ukraine to building a successful YouTube channel and full-time career as a model builder in the U.S.—including her surprising experience competing in ship modeling as a recognized sport.

Kroum, a leading maritime archeologist, takes us inside the world of shipwreck excavation, including his work on the famed Vasa and Black Sea Maritime Archeology Project. He explains how archeology and modeling intersect—and the stories ancient wrecks still have to tell.

We explore the challenges and joys of building historical ship models, restoring old kits, working from archeological data, and inspiring the next generation of modelers—including more women in the craft.

Whether you're into modeling, maritime history, or just love a good story, this conversation has something for you.

Check out Olha's YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/@OlhaBatchvarov
Check out Kroum's YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/@kroumbatchvarov-archaeologist