Collecting & painting 'pre-Dreadnought' warships (Part 3)

During 2025 I friend bought me 2 warship waterline models from the pre-Dreadnought period. At a car boot sale.... Unknown scale, unknown Country of origin but probably European... I liked them very much, I got intrigued by them but couldn't find which warship type they were or from which country. After some months I decided to paint them like British pre-Dreadnoughts in their Victorian colour scheme: black hull, white deck house and ochre yellow funnels (see photo).

Several months later I read on a war game blog some remarks about like wise ships, from 'Minifigs'. A lively discussion erupted between a small number of readers, as there apparently were several companies who had produced likewise models in different scales. On an internet auction I bought some additional models and I decided to paint them as all my white metal models had lost most of their paint. More people had painted them; sometimes in their real world colors, sometimes from a fantasy country (see pictures below from some blogs). Most models of warships are grey, but the green ones are from Austria-Hungary (when they had an Adriatic Fleet, from 1867 to 1918).

Anyhow, I tried to get more information about my waterline models as it was clear that they all were very different. In scale but also in kind of metal. According to my investigation a British company called B.M.C. (Brighton Manufacturing Company or Brighton Model Company) started production of waterline warship models in the early 1900s. In scale 1:1200 (100 ft to 1 inch) and 1:1800 (150 ft. to 1 inch). During the Victorian Age more people had time and money to buy toys and at the same time a Naval Arms race developed between the Great Powers. Not only toy model train sets got popular; waterline warships as well. Also the first 'Jane's Fighting Ships' publication became available in this time ('standard' recognition scale: 1:1200), which was a helpful source for the Jane Navel War Game (from the same author). Companies tried to develop ship models for this game but were also asked by Governments to develop recognition models for the military (to train look-outs onboard ships and pilots). The following early companies emerged.

Bassett-Lowke (UK). their first models were hand-made of wood, with wire masts and guns. Probably scale 1:1800. Advertised as 'most accurate representations to actual ships' they were quite rude compared to today's toy standards. According to Wikipedia, there were at least 2 reasons to change production to white metal. First, these metal models could be made by machines (cheaper & quicker) and secondly: from 1908 onwards the company was not allowed anymore to sell their highly accurate models as this would help a possible enemy (like Germany). The concern of the censors was that the accuracy of these detailed models of Royal Navy ships could give vital information to the enemy. In order to have some representation of the Royal Navy for their war time catalog, Bassett-Lowke replaced their prohibited Royal Navy models by purchasing the less detailed metal ship models of the RN made by B.M.C. These metal B.M.C. models while detailed, had their origins as game models and were therefore less accurate depictions of RN warships. The company stopped trading in the 1960s.

B.M.C. (UK): their production of metal waterline warship models started around 1903 and stopped in the 1920s(?). In scale 1:1200 (100 ft to 1 inch) and 1:1800 (150 ft. to 1 inch). These more than 100 different models were hollow cast (the inside was open), painted and with wire masts. At starboard rear end most models had a specific number, in Roman numerals: B.I HMS Duncan, B.II HMS Swiftsure, B.III HMS King Edward VII, and B.IV HMS Lord Nelson etc.. The ship models could be purchased individually or could be purchased in numbered boxed sets (Bassett-Lowke). They were actually toy-like, although they represented specific ships, and one could distinguish several warship classes and -types.

Boucher (USA): E.H. Boucher Manufacturing Company began making large-scale display models for the US Navy in 1905. From 1917 (USA had entered WW1) production grew as more official customers required recognition models scale 1:1200. 

Crescent (UK): under license they copied (in die cast metal or 'pot metal') the models from B.M.C./ Basset Lowke. From 1920s towards 1980. I believe mostly in scale 1:1800 (painted). Without masts but very crisp hollow casts. They used in the beginning the same model numbering as B.M.C, although in Arabic numerals (B1: HMS Duncan, etc.).

Minifigs (UK): a British firm who produced wargame toys from the 1960s onwards. They made waterline ships as well.

Timpo (UK): They made 1:1800 scale waterline ship models from 1930s onwards.

Dinky: apparently they made waterline ship models next to their large range of cars.

Wiking (Germany): a well known continental European Company. Started in the 1930s, mostly with scale 1:1250 (the metric equivalent of 1:1200). Their last ship catalogue is from 1975 I believe. They are still in business but only as a manufacturer of car models (1:87) for model train enthusiast.

My current collection:

1903 HMS Swiftsure (1:1800; Crescent B2)

Pre-Dreadnought battleship, initially designed for Chili, 11,800 tons, 4x10-inch main armament. Model length: 82 mm. Arabic numeral & crisp open casting points towards Crescent. Repainted from Victorian trim (1st picture of this blog) into period-correct grey. Torpedo nets & booms still visible at model (during WW1 removed).

1904 HMS Lord Nelson (1:1800; Crescent B4)

Pre-Dreadnought battleship Nelson-class, 16,500 tons, 4x12-inch main armament. Model length: 82 mm. Arabic numeral and crisp hollow casting points towards Crescent. Repainted from Victorian trim into period-correct grey. Torpedo nets & booms still visible at model (during WW1 removed).

1906 HMS King Edward VII (1:1800; BMC or Crescent; no nr.)

Pre-Dreadnought battleship King Edward-class, 16,350 tons, 4x12-inch main armament. Model length: 81 mm. No number visible (B.III or B3 expected) but hollow casting and 2 masts (rear is missing) makes this possible B.M.C.? Painted in period-correct grey. Torpedo nets & booms still visible at model (during WW1 removed).

1909 HMS Indefatigable (1:1800; B.M.C. nr. XVI)

Battlecruiser Indefatigable-class, 18,800 tons, 8 x 12-inch guns. Model length: 91 mm. Roman numeral (XVI) points towards B.M.C. Painted in period-correct grey (including blast bags main armament). Torpedo nets & booms still visible at model (during WW1 removed).

1900 HMS Highflyer (1:1800; ? no nr.)

Protected cruiser 2nd class, 5,600 tons, 11 x 6-inch guns. Model length: 80 mm. Hollow casting. No information on manufacturer. Painted in period-correct tropical trim (operated during WW1 in West- and East Indies).

1914 HMS Birmingham (1:1800; ? no nr.)

Light cruiser Chatham-class, 4 funnels, 5,400 tons, 8 x 6-inch guns. Model length: 81 mm. Hollow casting & 2 masts makes this possible B.M.C. No information on manufacturer. Painted in period-correct grey.

1903 B-class destroyer (1:1800; ? no nr.)

30 knot/4 funnels destroyer, 470 tons, 1 x 12 pounder gun, 2 torpedo tubes (18-inch). Model length: 45 mm. Closed hull with 1 mast. Unknown manufacturer. Painted in period correct black.

1915 WW1 Flower class minesweeper (1:1800; ? no nr.)

Minesweeper Acacia or Azalea-class, 1200 tons, 2 x 4-inch guns. Model length: 47 mm. Hollow casting, 1 mast makes this possible B.M.C. Painted in period-correct light grey.

1904 Devonshire-class Cruiser (1:1200; Bassett-Lowke or B.M.C.)

Armoured cruiser Devonshire-class, 11,000 tons, 4 x 7,5-inch main armament. Model length: 116 mm, crisp hollow casting including 2 masts points towards Bassett-Lowke. Removable stern deck house missing. Painted in period-correct grey.

1907 D-class submarine (1:1200;? no nr.)

D-class submarine, 550 tons, 3 torpedo tubes. Model length: 54 mm., closed hull cast. Unknown manufacturer. Painted in period correct black.

1930s K-class submarine (possibly 1:1000: ?)

Possible K-class submarine, 1,900 tons, 8 torpedotubes (18-inch). Model length: 77 mm. Massive hull, periscopes visible. Unknown manufacturer. Painted in period correct black.