¹⁄48

The Oliver Cromwell

"New MSW crew-mate Raul Guzman (raulguzmanjr) shares a fine portolio of a magnificent model subject, 24 gun privateer, The Oliver Cromwell, in his first MSW photo feature!"

Vessel History

The Oliver Cromwell was a 24-gun privateer. She had previously been a merchant ship but in late 1776, at Philadelphia, was rechristened to help in the colonial cause. She carried a crew of 150 and may have had as her original name Juno. The Oliver Cromwell's short, but lucrative privateering career only lasted 3 months.

The model...

My model has been built in 1/48 scale using the plans drawn by Harold Hahn and using a boxwood timbering set from the Lumberyard. Various hardwoods were used. Hull planking is apple, the black parts are ebony. Deck planks are made from maple and the brown is either walnut or Indian laurel.

The red for the bitts and bulwarks is bloodwood as are the cannon carriages. I try to resist painting and use the natural colors of the wood. Carvings are a combination of boxwood and epoxy putty. This model was completed in 947 hours and 29 minutes working 286 actual working days.

About the artist...

I am a 55 year old retired school teacher. I taught Texas History for 28 years and many years ago wanted to get back into model making to make models I could use in my class room lessons. As a teenager I had made plane and car models. I decided that I should try to make a ship that I could use when I taught about the explorers.

Once I made a wooden ship model, I knew that this is the type of model I wanted to build from now on. I have been building about 21 years or so and have built about 42 ship models or ship related dioramas. Some of my models have been entered in contests in Texas that last few years and have won to date 71 awards.

Besides using my retirement for building models, I spend a considerable amount of time riding a bicycle. I was instrumental in forming the bicycle team in our area, Team McAllen, 28 years ago. I have been consistently riding/training for the last 28 years. I live in McAllen, Texas with my wife Rita and my devoted and loving friend, my pet dog Pee Wee. You can see more of my work at my website, here.