Historical Ships

This is where most collections begin. Historical ship models carry more visible craft than any other type we sell, because the rigging, the gun decks and the stern carving are all built rather than moulded, and all of it is on show.

The ships people look for

The range covers the vessels that hold their place in maritime history and in most people’s imagination. Ships of the line and Royal Navy vessels including HMS Victory. Voyages of exploration and settlement, such as the Golden Hind, the Mayflower, HMS Endeavour, HMS Beagle and the Santa Maria. The fast tea and wool clippers, above all Cutty Sark. Galleons, frigates, Viking longships and Chinese junks. Where a ship changed rig or armament during her life, the model represents her at a recognised point in that history.

What you are looking at

Hulls are planked in timber over a built frame, then faired, painted or left bright depending on the vessel. Decks are laid plank by plank. Gun ports are cut and lidded, with carriages and cannon fitted individually. Figureheads, quarter galleries and stern decoration are carved and gilded rather than cast as a single unit.

Rigging is set up in the correct sequence, lower masts first, then topmasts, standing rigging, then running rigging through individual blocks. Deadeyes are turned in and ratlines tied by hand. On a fully rigged model that work runs to hundreds of separate operations, which is the main reason a tall ship model costs more than a hull of the same length.

Sails, or no sails

Both are offered across the range and it is genuinely a matter of taste. A full suit of set sails is dramatic and fills the space. Furled sails or bare poles show the hull, deck and rigging far more clearly, and take up less room. Neither is more accurate than the other, since ships spent their lives in both states.

Practical points before ordering

• Check the stated height and width, not just hull length. Bowsprit and yards add considerably to both.
• Keep rigged models out of strong direct sunlight, which fades cord and timber over time.
• A display case is worth budgeting for from the start. Rigging cannot be dusted without damage.

Common questions

Do you sell HMS Victory and Cutty Sark as finished models?

Yes. Both are among our most requested subjects and appear in more than one size and quality range. Kit versions of the same vessels sit in our model ship kits section.

Are these accurate to the real ship?

They are built from established plans and reflect the vessel at a recognised point in her service. Our Premier range carries the closest detail, and a full research based build to a specific date is available as a custom commission.

Which is the best first historical model to buy?

Something in the region of 50 to 80cm with a single gun deck is easier to house and dust than a large three decker, and shows the same craft.