Historical Ships

Historic subjects live or die on research. A ship of the line looked different in 1778 and 1805, and a clipper’s rig changed through her career, so the first question is not which ship, but which ship in which year.

Research before construction

We work from surviving draughts, contemporary records and, where a vessel has been preserved or reconstructed, survey photographs. That research settles the rig, the number and placement of guns, the stern and quarter galleries, the decoration and the hull colour scheme. If you want her as she appeared at a particular battle, voyage or refit, we build to that date and tell you what the evidence supports.

Traditional construction

Hulls are plank on frame or carved and planked in timber. Decks are laid plank by plank and treenailed where the scale allows. Gun ports are cut and lidded, carriages and cannon fitted individually, and figureheads, quarter badges and stern carvings cut and gilded rather than cast from a generic pattern.

Rigging

Set up in the correct sequence, with served standing rigging, running rigging through individual blocks, deadeyes turned in and ratlines tied by hand. Sails can be set, furled or omitted. Rigging is the main driver of build time on any historic commission and cannot be shortened.

Other options

If a standard subject will do, our ready made historical ship models cover the best known vessels, and tall ship kits let you build one yourself. A fitted case is strongly recommended on any rigged commission.

Common questions

Can you build a ship from a museum’s plans?

Where the plans are available to us and permitted for use, yes. Tell us what you have access to at enquiry stage.

Why does a rigged model cost more?

Because rigging is hand work measured in hundreds of separate operations, not a component that can be bought in.