Some ship modelers ease into the hobby through a lifelong interest in the sea. Others arrive by way of a childhood kit that sparks a passion. For Kevin Kenny, the path was neither so gentle nor so predictable. His journey began in a Trinidad boardroom, during an argument over a museum budget.
Kevin, then a marketing executive for Angostura — best known for its rum and bitters — was overseeing the creation of a small company museum. A hired historian insisted on commissioning a model of the Dr. Seegert, a German ship with historical ties to Trinidad. The lowest bid came in at $15,000 — far beyond the budget. Frustrated, Kevin blurted out that he could build it himself for less.
His boss took him at his word. The company’s financial controller was instructed to supply him with “any tools Mr. Kenny wants.” With a blank check in hand and no recent modeling experience, Kevin suddenly found himself with a fully equipped workshop — and a new challenge.
From First Model to Lifelong Hobby
Kevin’s first effort involved adapting a Cutty Sark kit to resemble the Dr. Seegert. The build took six months and, while he can now spot countless inaccuracies, it served its purpose for the museum. More importantly, it rekindled a creative spark.
His second project — a scratch-built model of the paddle steamer Venezuela, also for the museum — deepened his love for the craft. He immersed himself in historical research, sourcing plans from around the world. Over time, he added more historically significant ships to his to-build list, many connected to Trinidad’s maritime history.
The HMS Thorn and a Nine-Year Build
Kevin’s most ambitious undertaking to date has been a scratch build of HMS Thorn, a Swan-class sixth-rate ship. Inspired by David Antscherl and Greg Herbert’s five-volume Swan series (which he calls “the best set of books any modeler can own”), Kevin began the project with enthusiasm — and quickly realized he was in over his head.
Rather than rush, he chose patience. The build has stretched over nine years and more than 130 YouTube videos. Along the way, Kevin has refined his skills, tackled complex problems, and embraced the reality that mistakes are inevitable in model building. His videos show not only his successes but also the errors — and the fixes — that are part of any serious build.
“It’s just a journey,” he says. “There’s almost a sadness when the model is finished, because you’ve been bonded with it for so long.”
Building in the Tropics
Modeling in Trinidad presents unique challenges. The tropical climate brings pests like drywood termites, capable of destroying a model in months if untreated. Kevin learned this the hard way when he spotted telltale droppings under a nearly completed build. Now, he treats every piece of wood with insecticide before finishing, ensuring long-term preservation.
The Caribbean also offers advantages — namely, access to some of the finest hardwoods in the world. While many modelers rely on imported boxwood, Kevin works with juniper, coffee wood, and the dense, ebony-like wamara. Many of these are so plentiful locally that they’re used for shipping pallets. Their fine grain and variety of colors provide striking visual contrast in his builds.
Tools, Techniques, and Honesty
Kevin’s YouTube channel, launched before the Thorn build, serves as both a record of his work and a resource for other modelers. Dissatisfied with the lack of instructive content online, he decided to share his process in detail — including every misstep.
His filming strategy is simple: learn a new skill on one side of the model (off camera), then record the correct method on the other side. The result is a collection of videos that are candid, approachable, and instructive. His willingness to admit errors has earned respect from some of the hobby’s most accomplished builders.
In terms of adhesives, Kevin relies heavily on PVA glue, often mixing it with fine sawdust from the same wood to create seamless, color-matched fillers. He stresses the importance of scale accuracy, noting how easy it is to inadvertently oversize components without careful measurement.
Research and Preservation
Research is a major part of Kevin’s process, especially for historically significant ships. His next major build, HMS Ulysses, has deep personal resonance: it carried his mercenary ancestor to Trinidad in 1797. He’s already collected the quarter-inch scale plans and rough-framed the model.
Kevin also thinks ahead to the future of his collection. With 14 completed models and limited display space, he faces the common modeler’s dilemma: what happens to them after he’s gone? While some will remain in the company museum, others may need new homes in institutions that can ensure their preservation.
Advice for New Modelers
For those just entering the hobby, Kevin’s guidance is straightforward:
- Start with an easy kit. Avoid discouragement by learning the basics on a manageable project.
- Join a club. The connections and advice from fellow builders are invaluable — and today, many clubs meet virtually.
- Invest in good reference books. Kevin warns against buying large, general titles with little practical value. Instead, seek out focused, detail-rich works from specialized publishers.
He also emphasizes patience, the courage to fix mistakes, and the value of enjoying the process without rushing to completion.
Looking Ahead
With the Thorn nearing completion — fully rigged, by his estimate, within the year — Kevin is eager to begin work on the Ulysses. He also has half a dozen other historically connected ships on his research list, many of them steam vessels with scarce surviving documentation.
The arrival of AI tools has already helped him uncover sources once locked behind institutional barriers. “It’s almost like being an investigator,” he says. “Every week, some little trail pops up and I find another piece of the treasure.”
For Kevin, each model is more than a display piece; it’s a tangible connection to history, a record of craftsmanship, and — thanks to his videos — a teaching tool for others who share his passion.
Hear the full conversation with Kevin Kenny — including more about his nine-year Thorn build, unique Caribbean woods, and YouTube channel — on the Ships in Scale podcast: