Testimonials

When Steve took on the restoration of our “Kogge” it had been a part of our family for almost 70 years. Originally given to my parents as a wedding present it had to withstand the often clumsy attention of me and my 3 siblings and after my parents’ passing the transport first to my brother in Potsdam and later to me in Hastings. And the transport over land did not suit the old lady at all. The main mast had snapped in two, the bowsprit had also fractured, the rigging looked as if a cat had played with it. It was a sorry sight (see pictures in Portfolio) and ultimately it was my daughter who said enough is enough. She found Steve at Maritime Models and after we reviewed his website and read the many enthusiastic testimonials I had a feeling that he might just be the man for this job.

From the start Steve’s approach was thoroughly professional but yet friendly and relaxed. He reviewed the pictures we had submitted to him and then sent back a reply that just simply expressed confident optimism that he should be able to restore the old lady back to her former beauty. Not just 10 years but 70 years younger!

So our “Kogge” made another overland journey from Hastings to Hereford and there she remained until last month when I picked her up again. I have to admit to a few nerves when I approached Steve’s house but when I caught sight of the ship all I felt was pure delight and real gratitude towards Steve for the astonishing job he had done. Not only had he repaired to broken woodwork without leaving a trace but had also re-rigged the entire boat and replaced small details that I had not even known were missing until I Steve had pointed it out to me. A sterling job!

Now we have our Kogge back here by the seaside in Hastings where she takes pride of place in our house overlooking the English Channel. My wholehearted thanks again to Steve and I simply could not recommend anyone more than him when it comes to restoring model ships.

I recently acquired a Bowman Aeroboat II, a rubber powered model boat from the 1930s. It was in extremely poor condition, it had been badly repainted grey at some time and the aluminium cowling was missing as was the brass rudder. Steve from Maritime Models was the only restorer I contacted who felt they could try and bring the boat back to its original condition. Steve kept in regular contact as the model was refurbished and I actually picked the Aeroboat up last week, and it has been beautifully restored, every detail had faithfully been replicated down to authentic paint colours and manufacturers markings. It looks like it was just made yesterday and totally met the instructions of the original commission and I can’t wait to try it out. Not just that, Steve is an incredibly friendly and helpful person, I can’t speak highly enough of his skills except to say he will soon be restoring another Bowman for me soon.

We found an old model Clipper at a French bric-a-brac, which we thought would be a nice feature in our office in London – we own a shipbroking company. On closer examination of the model it appeared to be missing several small parts, it’s masts we a mess and sails dirty and moth-eaten. We approached Steve at Maritime Models to have it restored. Steve is friendly, knowledgeable and experienced. He was able to replace cannons, rails; sails etc and give the Clipper’s hull a new lick of varnish. It now looks like new. We have no hesitation recommending Steve’s services.

Having received a damaged model intended for a 50th birthday present, I was devastated to find that it had been all but destroyed in transit from the sender. I approached Steve at Maritime Models to gain an assessment of whether there was a repair possible, and found Steve to be most professional in his approach to procuring the repair. His positive approach, enthusiasm for the restoration and helpful nature was matched by his helpful and reassuring updates throughout the restoration, keeping me in touch with the detail of any obstacles which he encountered along with honest suggestions to enable them to be surmounted. He left no stone unturned to deliver a superbly restored model and his work is recommended. Top bloke!

I can’t thank you and your wife enough for all the work you have put into the restoration of The Lark. For far too long The Lark languished, not aided by the attentions of small grandchildren, and until I found your excellent website I despaired as to what to do. I never dared to hope for such a thoroughly complete and professional restoration. The Lark now looks magnificent and I am very much looking forward to giving her a sail when we have better weather.

I first saw this little model when I was 9 years old in 1966 at my Boarding School, Brondesbury at Stocks in Hertfordshire. It was the ‘House’ Mascot. I was immediately taken by it. Every year near Trafalgar Day on 21st October the school celebrated The Royal Navy and The Revenge naturally formed part of this.

Although no one at the time seemed to know who actually made the original model, there is a most interesting description attached to its unusual mounting:

H.M.S. REVENGE
1577 – 1944
DEO, PATRIAE, AMICIS.
( God, Country and Friends )

The model of Sir Richard Grenville’s ‘Revenge’ is mounted on the metal flag taken from the Admiral’s barge of the 25,750 ton Battleship ‘Revenge’ launched in 1915, the eighth ship of the name in the Royal Navy.

This flag was presented to the school by Deirdre Bacon (1945-1950) in memory of her grandfather Surgeon Rear Admiral Sir William Ireland de Courcy Wheeler M.D., F.R.C.V.S. who died in the service on the 10th September, 1943.

When the school closed down in 1973 the headmistress, knowing my fondness of the model, and assuming she had committed it to safe hands, presented me with The Revenge. I was thrilled.

I have to say that at that time it was not in great condition and in need of re-rigging. Initially this was undertaken by someone in Cheltenham. It was returned with very coarse rigging and I was somewhat disappointed. Nevertheless I placed it on a wide window sill in my sitting room, where it remained for many years.

Sadly my headmistress’s assumption took a further knock when last year a friend’s dog decided to look out of the window and jumped up on it disaster. The masts were broken, the sails torn and the rigging splayed all over the place, as if the ship had emerged from one of its most furious battles. In desperation I contacted Maritime Models, Hereford.

All I can say is that this was inspired advice. Steve Parks has been fantastic, he took a look at the model and has now completely re-rigged her in authentic materials and has made good the masts, taking great care to keep the original sails.

I am absolutely thrilled and proud to have The Revenge back home. It is now in a cabinet away from naughty paws and I hope at last fulfilling my headmistress’s wishes!

Many thanks Steve Parks and Maritime Models

I asked Steve to make a model of a revolutionary experimental gunboat sloop (the Netley) built in 1792 and fitted with 16 carronades.

Steve built the Netley over a period of 3 months producing a highly accurate and detailed model from the plans I gave him. As an ear surgeon used to carrying out microscopic surgery his attention to detail and accuracy and his ability to rig the ship was remarkable.

Steve sent me photos of his work in progress throughout the build and a happy relationship developed between us. I was happy to pay a deposit at the start and final payment on completion.

Thank you Steve

We were overwhelmed with the quality of the job you had undertaken on the Chinese junk. It far surpassed our expectations and we will be recommending you to friends. My wife’s mother and brother came today for my mother in laws birthday. Both of them remember the junk in its previous distressed state and were impressed with the restoration.

The back story to the junk was that my wife’s grandfather was an army chaplain. In the late 1920’s he was posted to China. He purchased the junk whilst in China and brought it back to the UK in 1928. The boat had quite a stormy life including being sailed on the sea in Egypt by my wife’s grandmother when she was in Egypt with her husband and my mother in law during the second world war.

I first remember the boat in the 1970s on the front room mantle shelf of my in law’s house. At this point it was starting to show its age. We rediscovered the junk, when we came to sell my mother in law’s house 3 years ago. At this point it was very distressed and languishing in a dusty box in the attic. I was tempted to take it to a charity shop but given its history and sentimental value we brought it home.

I am so glad we did especially as in its newly restored state it is now sitting very proudly on the window sill of our landing.

Once again thank you for all the work you undertook and the forensic analysis to discover where the missing bit went.