The last decade has seen an enormous increase in orders throughout the world for large luxury yachts, these have come from private individuals and the management teams of multi-national companies. This trend to larger and more luxury finished craft, with their marine architect designed hulls; specialist interior design and advanced navigation and satellite communications equipment, has found a new breed of owner, the successful business person. With virtually unlimited spending power only the best is acceptable for them and their companies.

While ship modeling has been around for centuries, the 17th Century Shipwrights used the half model technique to carve new yacht designs. As the era of naval architects producing scale line drawings had not yet arrived, full size craft were built by the boat builder using these models. Visit any Maritime Museum and you will see excellent models depicting craft throughout the ages although you will not see many models on display featuring the mega yachts of the last decade.

To help fulfil a need, John Bertola is now specialising in the field of modelmaking and has built an international reputation, with designers and boat producers from around the world. He has had a long standing affinity and interest in ship building and sailing, while having crewed on many ocean racers throughout the sixties and seventies. With his previous photography and graphic art training his thirty years experience as a commercial artist and designer is now put to good use with an excellent eye for detail.

Models are built from the actual line plans of the full size craft, where these are available. On 'opening' models interior fittings are of course built to scale. The scale of the model depends on the dimensions of the full size craft. Most models up to 50ft are built on a 1:12 to 1:20 scale, while most of the mega yachts of l20ft to 150ft areona 1:25 or even 1:50 scale. They are constructed mostly in aluminium, but plastic wood, fibreglass. brass and steel are used where necessary, If the yacht has been built, a photographic session is held and prints produced before commencement of building the model. These photographs are constantly referred to with the drawings during construction of the model.

There's no doubt that super models do create great miniature yachting art and will continue to give the owners years of pleasure with prices, which compared to paintings, make them excellent value.

Prices vary depending on the extent of detail required, from simple hull forms with enclosed cabins to models which open to feature complete interiors built accurately to the finest detail.