Custom Ship Models

Custom Construction and Custom Builds

We gladly accept commissioning of Custom Builds

 Our Plane models and Ship models come from the finest woods and materials available. Our mahogany wood is pre dried and seasoned before the process of carving is ever started. After the many hours of carving and sanding to get the exact shape of the subject model.

Our craftsmen have been working with wood for many years. Our builders have been in business for over 30 years! They have a serious head start over any of our competitors!

The hand painting process takes many hours and you can see the quality in the detailed numbers, call signs and general details of each model we sell.

The Aircraft and Ship models we build are not toys!

They are not intended to be played with, however they can be admired by young and old alike.

Our "Made to Order" line consists of aircraft, ships, helicopters, space craft, plaques, and other models that we commence production on once we receive your order. These models are made to match the image you see here using blueprints and specs on-hand in our production facility. Production & Delivery time for a Made To Order model is approximately 12-16 weeks.

While the full price will show in the shopping cart and on your receipt, we will only charge your card an initial deposit equal to 50% of the retail price. We will charge the remaining balance after we send pictures and once production is complete. When your model is prepared for shipping.

In addition to our "Made to Order" models, we can build any model to fit your exact specifications through our "Custom Model Program". This is the perfect way to recapture those memories that will last a lifetime.

Custom Orders  

We gladly accept the commissioning of Custom Builds. All we need is pictures if possible and dimensions including the beam. Please read the info below as to some insight as to the process.

Commissioned models ideal size would be 30 inches or longer. Smaller models are generally more expensive and time consuming!

We have chosen the best builders in the business to supply our customers with the finest quality products available. The finished product is a some of it’s parts. We have searched the world over to find the best and most competitively priced models available.  

       -     Brass Cannons. Chrome and Brass plated details 

-     Woods such as Walnut, Cherry, Oak and Teak, Yellow Siris, Rosewood, Light Ebony, Blackwood, Mahogany and others 

-     Thick canvas sails that hold their shape and remain wrinkle-free 

-     A solid wood base with supports for the ship or boat 

Now with the highest quality materials available, we have the model built.   

There are five stages of production: research, design, component construction, assembly and inspection.  

Research

Our builders use every available resource to insure that our models are authentic as possible.  

We obtain copies of the ship's original plans (if available), artist's renditions, and drawings, or when possible pay a visit to the original ship (USS Constitution in Boston Harbor, HMS Victory in Portsmouth, England, USS Constellation in Baltimore Harbor and Cutty Sark in Greenwich Pier, to name a few).  

Design

With our research complete, we use specialized software called CAD (Computer Aided Design) to draft a 3D image of the ship and a majority of the tiny pieces.  

Component Construction

Once we have made the necessary pieces (over one thousand for a majority of our models), we start construction. We have a specialized production process with experts at each stage. This allows the models to be made faster, yet still meet our strict quality standards.  

Hull and deck planking:  

The model is built using the plank-on-bulkhead construction method. This is a painstaking process that is the most time-consuming and most difficult part in building a model ship. If this process is done perfectly, the model looks as it should; if not done perfectly, the model looks obviously wrong. To build the hull, the following steps are taken:    The bulkheads are slotted over the keel (the ribbed frame of the hull).  

The individual wood planks are soaked in water so that they can be shaped around the bulkheads to conform to the hull.  

Each individual plank is perfectly shaped and glued to every bulkhead of the ship.  

Special-sized planks are cut and added to the hull, just like construction of the real vessel, to fill in any gaps between planked areas.  

A second layer of planking is applied over the primary planks to complete the hull.   

The hull is now sanded and layers of clear coat are applied to protect the wood.  

The gun ports are cut out from the side of the hull according to the plans. After planking the hull, we carefully lay the deck planks and paint the hull the colors of the real ship.   

Details added:  

With the hull now complete, we add all of the details and fittings to the model (cannons, ship's wheel, stern details, figurehead, etc.) and the model is painted.  

Masts, rigging and sails:

Tremendous skill and patience is required to tie the hundreds of extremely small knots needed to complete the rigging.  

Again, if this process is done perfectly, all of the lines are taut and there is equal tension on the masts. If not done perfectly, many lines will be loose and look obviously wrong. We use various colors and varied thickness to ensure the rigging lines are as accurate as possible. The masterfully stitched sails are made out of thick canvas (so that they will not wrinkle). We typically position the sails so the model will look as if it were at full sail.  

Every stage of production is carefully overseen to insure the highest level of quality. Once a model meets our high quality standards, it is made available for sale. After an order is placed, each and every model is inspected before it is shipped to you.  

The finished product will be shipped by common carrier fully Insured. Also If you order in quantity, your order will be shipped on pallet(s) by common carrier. Please call for quote. 

Display cases:

Beside preventing dust, a display case always increases the value of your model and will help it hold it’s value. We suggest that you put the ship in a display case. 

Examples of our custom builds 

Please E-mail your information to 

or contact one of our experts by the methods below

Bob & Dee Dee Winfrey Owner’s 

www.shipmodelsuperstore.com

www.militarymodelsonline.com

704-254-3573   

8:00 AM to 5:00 PM EST. Monday- Saturday Sundays 12:00 to 5:00 PM EST

PO Box 611 

Marshville, NC 

28103