Paper Shipwright Card Models

Based in Cambridge in the UK, Paper Shipwright has been publishing high-quality paper/card models since 1999. The company was founded by British designer David Hathaway to provide a way to market his designs.

Coming from a childhood spent making models of all types and a career in computer software development, David started designing card models as a way of satisfying his creative instincts - and was also driven by the desire to create models of the subjects that fascinated him, rather than the then commercially available models.

Self-publishing gives full control over the process of getting a model to market - and allows a lot of freedom in choosing subjects. Most of the ships were chosen because they have an interesting story behind them - or are unknown by mainstream modellers - or are just "beautifully ugly little ships".

Each subject is exhaustively researched and designed based on original drawings and sources wherever possible. All the models come printed on light card and include a history of the vessel, English instruction text and full assembly diagrams.

The range of models published reflects the market niche David initially identified - namely smaller Victorian-era warships, but has since expanded to include later vessels as well as civillian subjects and some buildings with a maritime theme.

A partnership formed in 2006 with Trinity House has resulted in the launch of a growing range of models featuring English and Welsh lighthouses. Working around the coast (both clock-wise and anti-clockwise) from a starting point in East Anglia, it is hoped to release a number of models each year - and with over 90 lighthouse to create models of, this is not a short-term project.