A Little VANITY
I was wondering how long this minor obsession we have, for building miniatures of our favourite craft, had been going on.
Mark Pearse’s model of John Crawford’s VANITY
I’d imagined that around the time of the first America's Cup (1851), it would have been wealthy patrons commissioning scale models of their vessels for drawing room trophies, who kicked the whole thing off. But I was about 4000 years out! Miniature boat models appear in Egyptian tombs as far back as 2000 BC — votive offerings to carry the dead into the afterlife. The Greeks and Romans continued this tradition but these weren't trophies or toys; they were sacred objects.
But it’s the 17th and 18th century when things really got going, in terms of serious model making. The British Navy Board required shipbuilders to submit highly detailed scale models before a warship was commissioned …a kind of 3D blueprint. These models, built from softwoods, which allowed for extra precision, are seriously beautiful. Just have a walk around the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich, England.
As yacht racing took off in the 19th century wealthy patrons began commissioning scale models of their vessels as trophies and display pieces and model-making shifted from being a practical endeavour to deeply decorative one. And although we should probably make a distinction between pond yachts which were actually intended to sail, and purist models, the two skill became intertwined as “pond yachting” became a craze in Victorian parks, becoming a proper sport in the early 20th Century. Clubs formed across Britain, France, and America with one design classes like the Marblehead and the Ten Rater, . they were often exquisitely built from solid mahogany or cedar, shaped and ballasted with amazing attention to detail.
Post-war, plastic kits democratised the form, bringing model making to the masses. Airfix, Revell, and others produced yacht and sailing ship kits affordable to any hobbyist. If you are over fifty the chances are that you still remember the smell of glue, which you may have liked a little too much!
In the late 20th Century there was a backlash to mass production which saw a renaissance of serious studio craftsmen — particularly in Italy, the UK, and the US — producing heirloom-quality models for super yacht owners and collectors. Carbon fibre, CNC machining, and photochemically etched brass fittings became standard amongst high end craftsmen.
Non of this explains the underlying question… Why do humans have an undeniable urge to capture the beauty of a sailing hull in miniature?
All this is a long winded way of leading to an extraordinary email I received this week from a long time SWS reader and contributor John Crawford custodian of the Ranger Class VANITY
John writes….
Mark,
Since we last spoke Mark Pearse has completed the 1:12 Scale model of VANITY.
It has taken over two years and is an amazing work of art. We agreed that a conventional varnished cradle was not the way to display the model and we opted for an ‘on the hard at Noakes’ as the most suitable and appropriate approach.
I have attached a selection of 20 photos in an attempt to describe the process of building an accurate replica of the original build. The first photo is of the full size mylars being lofted on the floor of Noakes sail loft followed by strip planking in April 2001. The second photo has Bill Gale admiring the completed hull.
The remaining photos are progress shots of the model which as you can see includes 1:12 scale strip planking..!
VANITY is a special yacht for me. This year is the 25th anniversary of her launch at Noakes.
She races each week in the SASC Classic Div, she won the SASC Club Championship last month, sailed to Hobart for the 2007 WBA and we are planning to sail her to Hobart again in the New Year for the 2027 WBA Festival.
Mark Pearse has a superb eye for detail and the model really does take your breath away.
I realise I’m biased but fine models have an intrigue all of their own and this is certainly one.
Cheers
John
So without further ado, here are the beautiful images that John sent through. Click on each to enlarge and admire!
