Robert Vaughan

Robert Vaughan is an amateur Historian, Researcher, and Age of Sail Ship Modeler. He hopes to teach, learn, and spread his enthusiasm for this fascinating hobby to others in his writing.

Robert Vaughan is a Museum Rat that currently resides in Burlington, North Carolina which gives him ready access to many of his favorite museums and sources of information on many topics.  He has been modeling since boyhood in the ‘60’s and ‘70’s with a multitude of Revell cars and airplanes.  His first wooden attempts were WWI aircraft, covered in fabric.  His first ship was a plastic Pirate ship from Revell, and it set my course in all things maritime.

My first “serious” wooden ship model was a viking ship back in 2000, which was just good enough that I thought I could do better next time!  3 ships later, I am nearing completion of the Buccaneer by OcCre, which has been a great learning experience.  The next ship will be The Rattlesnake privateer, which has been in research for a year now.  I am currently gathering every last stitch of information on the Brig “Niagra” for a possible first-time scratch build.

  I have been awed and inspired by the work of August Crabtree and Harold Hahn.  They both were dedicated, and practiced craftsman, and both left a legacy of excellence.  They both also laid claim to the title that I cherish for myself, “Professional Small Boys”  We all share curiosity, enthusiasm, and determination.

Following retirement from Training Dogs for Law enforcement work for many years, and several years as a photojournalist for newspapers in Michigan and Ohio, I have settled into a period of pursuing my joy and satisfaction in ship modeling, and sharing my experiences in writing, with the occasional lecture on maritime history and modeling to schools thrown in for a good time!

I am finding that this course has been a great help as I recover from the loss of my dear wife, CarolAnn, to an aneurysm. After 37 years of marriage, my loss has been difficult, but this community has been supportive and comforting.