Transylvanian Ship Models Ltd.
1905 Ogden Ave. V6J 1A3 Vancouver, BC, Canada

Final chapter of this extensive project, constructing an Edwardian style display case to match the time when this ship was built. It is a 100% varnished mahogany wood. Will post more photos when is finished. Thanks for your patience.... Cheers Lucian

A quick update on the Pacific Reliance model, rigging on the fore derricks with all the cargo winches installed, fore and aft stays on the foremast all with working turnbuckles to adjust a proper tension on the standing rigging. Work still in progress on the main mast. I will get back with an other video when the model is completed. Cheers to all!

1:100 scale, scratch built model of the HMCS "Vancouver" a Halifax Class frigate for the Royal Canadian Navy. Commissioned by a Canadian client, it took more than 2,000 hours to finish.

Over the Christmas Hollidays productivity is real slow if any, still I managed to do some progress on my project, the builder's model MV "Pacific Reliance" built in 1926 at 1:48 scale (over 12' long). As you can see in this short video, the ship name and registration port were cut from brass and instaled on the bow and stern. Forecastle and poop decks instaled with all the specific hardware, please note the electric windlass among many other custom made parts all from brass. There is still a lot of work ahead so please bare with me as I will post more videos as soon as I complete new stage. For more details about my business, please send a direct email or msg. New commissions are always welcome.

From my photo collection of past projects, this is a 15 foot long model completed in 2014. More info if you scroll down the page.

New restoration project, a 1926 builder’s model of the motor ship Pacific Reliance. This model was badly damaged by gross negligence and improper storage over the years. Hull had a 5mm crack alongside the keel which needed a special treatment to properly cure. Now the hull is painted with the same color scheme as original and is well secured on a solid mahogany base. I will post more as I made more progress. Good luck to everyone!

Restoration of a hundred year old builder's model. A selection of before and after photographs. This massive ship model was badly damaged over the years. Her hull was cracked in several spots, she did not have a stand, paint was peeling off and the entire ship was covered with a thick layer of dust. Rigging was all broken, missing life boats and broken or missing rails. The restoration process took more than 3,500 hours to complete and consisted in a whole dismantling, cleaning and refinishing of every single part. Missing elements were fabricated from scratch in such a way that they matched the original. Original drawings were followed to assure accuracy with the real ship. For more information please visit my web site at www.shipmodel.ca Enjoy the video!

This is a 1:48 scale scratch built model of the CPR steamer "Princess Norah" as she was in 1938. With individual pear wood planked decks, brass fittings and superstructures the whole model took some 2000 hours to build. She was a popular coastal steamer serving the Alaska route from Vancouver BC.

1:200 scale scratch built model of the River class frigate of the Royal Canadian Navy as she looked in 1944. One cent coin is for reference only. Model was built mainly from brass and was commissioned by an Naval officer who served on her during the war.

This was a large 1:48 scale 3.7m (12') long builder's model, which was badly damaged in a flood. As you can see in these photographs, it needed a complete repaint job, and fabrication of many parts and components which were totally destroyed including a new display case. M.V. "Silver Cypress" was built in 1930's and she was wrecked after only 9 years of operation, was declared a total constructive loss and abandoned, was recovered and rebuilt by Japan and used until the end of ww2.

A 1:200 scale model scratch built mostly from brass of a smaller class of WW2 ship, the Castle Class corvette. This particular model was commissioned for a Norwegian client who served on board after she was transferred to the Norwegian Navy.The 1 Cent coin is for reference purpose only. This model was featured in Model Shipwright 2013.

1:48 scale model scratch built for the Good Hope Cannery Fishing resort in BC Canada.

Total restoration of the CPR "Empress of France" builder's model. This is a 1:48 scale massive model built in 1913 and was badly damaged by decades of neglect and improper storage. With the original display case lost, the damage was accelerating and it was the bold action of a group of enthusiasts and history lovers who managed to raise the funds necessary to restore this wonderful piece of art. The restoration process took more than 3500 hours and now the model is properly displayed in Laque LaBiche museum in Alberta Canada. For any additional information or similar project please contact me either by phone or email available on this site.

Several weeks ago I posted a short video of a small boat being removed from the mould having done the planking. Here it is now completed and ready to be delivered to her new home in New Zealand. It is the model of a British 24’ longboat from the late 18th Century. With the exception of her planking which is mahogany, the entire boat is built from boxwood. Her stand is Pacific Juniper. I am looking for new orders, please PM or send me an email for more details. Thank you!

I just finished a new set of drawings for the Union Steam Ship Company of BC Catala A handsome steamer built in 1926 in Scotland She was 229’ long 37’ beam and 12’ draft. There are three sheets: 1. Lines... 2. Outboard profile and rigging 3. Plan view of boat deck, promenade deck and upper deck. This set is offered for sale in two versions: Scale 1:48 $ 225.00 Scale. 1:96 $ 125.00 Shipping is included for North America, rest of the world please ask for shipping cost. I accept Paypal or e-transfer. See more

You can see in this short video the main fuel tanks (3,500 Gal. each). They are made of copper sheet, also the compressed air tanks you can see them above the fuel tanks. I still need to paint them. StRoch had two more smaller fuel tanks forward of the cargo bay. Adjacent to the starboard tank there is a smaller tank for lube oil and on top is a small work bench with some tools for the mechanical repairs. Thank you for watching.

Merry Christmas to all our friends! Craciun fericit la toti prietenii nostri!

Long boat being removed from the mould as soon as planking was completed.

A new model for a New Zeeland client, this is a 26’ long boat at 1:18 scale. In the second video you can see how it was planked on a wooden former or a mould. She will be equipped with oars, thwarts, gratings, two masts etc. I will keep you posted with the construction progress.

The main generator on the StRoch was a 5kw DC. Powered by a two cylinder diesel engine, it was coupled with a mechanical clutch on the same shaft with the auxiliary compressor. In these pictures you can see the model of the above geny made of brass before It will be covered with a boring grey paint. Note the fan propeller inside the radiator casing. Thanks for watching.

Several new pictures of the StRoch model, showing the completion of the after storage rooms, battery room with all 55 wet cells, a small corridor where is going to be installed a diesel stove used for central heating and the gyroscope made be Sperry. More to come. Thanks for watching!

I just received an other patient to restore to the old glory. The official story is that a cat play a little with it.... But from my experience is the owner’s years of neglect, improper storage and most important, lack of a suitable display case. Mortal enemy of any ship model is accumulated dust, it is very time consuming to clean it off and quite risky to do more damage. If you have a model that looks like the one above, do not wait, send it to me and I will take care of it. I will send you a bill in return

New bulkheads added to the after section of the StRoch hull. They are not finished yet as I need to paint the grey color.I am getting increasingly difficulty to photograph the details due to the small size and lack of space even for my phone. I will post more photos soon.

Few more items added to the St Roch model, the heat exchanger and two tanks, one for antifreeze and the other one for distilled water needed to top up the batteries. On the aft side of the bulkhead I just started to build a diesel stove that was used for central heat. More stuff to come, thank you all. Cheers!

Starting to build the storage areas behind the aft engine room bulkhead, including the small workshop on the starboard side which houses the 18HP diesel generator and compressor. More to come.

Completion of the St Roch model engine, this was scratch built from brass copper and aluminium, it is 140mm long (less than 6) and has around 520 individual parts. The video shows the engine before was painted and a short time lapse of final assembly. Clutch engaging mechanism still has to be painted. Work will continue with air tanks, fore and aft engine room bulkheads, generator, battery room and gyroscope unit. Will keep you posted as I made progress. Cheers to all!

A short update on the construction of the StRoch engine. The StRoch model is built at 1:24 scale and is a plank on frame type model. Although the engine is not yet completed it is made entirely from brass and aluminium and there are around 370 individual parts. When done most likely there will be more than 500 parts in the engine alone. I will post more images as I progress with this project.