Philip Warren

Last updated
Philip Warren
Born1930or1931
Dorset, England
OccupationModel ship maker
Years active1940s–present
Known forBuilding the "Matchstick Fleet" of over 500 ship models and 1,000 aircraft

Philip Warren (born 1930or1931) is an English ship model maker best known for building a matchstick Maritime Fleet. His collection includes models of over 500 vessels and 1,000 aircraft, as well as of all the Royal Navy ships since 1945. [1] [2]

Contents

Life and work

Philip Warren was born in Dorset, England, and was a director of a stationery wholesale company before his retirement. [3] He started building models of naval boats at the age of 17 due to a fascination with ships. [4] His interest in warships came about due to going through childhood in World War 2. [5]

When he first began model making, he used balsa wood to make models. [4] He switched to matchsticks because he found that material more suitable for static waterline warship models, [4] and because matches were common. [3] His models are hand-built and are made in 1/300th of the scale, using matchboxes, matchsticks, a razor blade, and glue. [6] [7] Completing his models requires him looking at photographs, drawings, and plans of real ships. [8] His largest model is 1m (3ft) long. [3]

Models

Warren's earliest model was the Royal Navy's HMS Scorpion. [4] Following its completion, he built a different destroyer, a battleship, a cruiser, and later an aircraft carrier. [4]  As the years passed, his attention to detail and accuracy improved, making models with many moving parts, including missile launchers, radars, gun turrets, swing wings, and helicopter rotors. [9] His collection of models includes 500 vessels and 1000 aircraft from World War 2 battleships to nuclear-powered submarines and modern aircraft carriers. [1] [10]

Philip Warren's matchstick ships. Shown here is the HMS Ark Royal Philip Warren barcos con cerillos.jpg
Philip Warren's matchstick ships. Shown here is the HMS Ark Royal

In his over 70 years [11] of model making, he built one or more of each class of Royal Navy ships from 1945 to the present day, including 7 Leander class frigates. [5] [10] In addition, he has also built Commonwealth ships. [10] Warren has constructed 60 US ships, including four supercarriers, two battleships, and various cruisers. Additionally, he built around 50 ships from various Navies of other nations. [12]

Warren’s ships take him approximately 1,500 matches to build. [13] and can take over a year to finish. [12] Adam Aspinall from The Mirror states, “Each vessel is correct to the tiniest detail.” [12] In 1989, Philip gave the United Kingdom's Prince Andrew a model of the frigate Campbeltown. [9] Trend Hunter named Warren the “Hobby King of Hobbydom” due to having built models of all of Britain's warships since the end of the Second World War. [14]

Exhibits and recognition

Warren's work, has been displayed by the Fleet Air Arm Museum and Nothe Fort. [10] [2] [15] The Duke of Gloucester honored him with a glass trophy for his service to the Northe Fort community for his yearly display of his matchstick fleet. [15]

Personal life

Philip Warren was married to his wife Anita for 47 years until her death. [3]

References

  1. 1 2 Cooper, Tim (2023-09-01). "Remarkable model navy fleet made from over a million matchsticks looking for new home". Forces News . Retrieved 2024-12-29.
  2. 1 2 "Matchstick Fleet by Phillip Warren". National Museum of the Royal Navy . Retrieved 2025-01-19.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Sticking power got me a fleet of tiny warships". Metro. 2013-08-18. Retrieved 2024-12-29.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 "Matchstick Fleet by Philip Warren". Radio Ninesprings. Retrieved 2024-12-29.
  5. 1 2 Cooper, Tim (2018-06-18). "The Matchstick Royal Navy: 70 Years In The Making". Forces News . Retrieved 2025-01-19.
  6. ↑ Rudgard, Olivia (2021-08-22). "Matchstick maestro adds to his model fleet thanks to Telegraph readers' generosity". The Telegraph. ISSN   0307-1235 . Retrieved 2024-12-29.
  7. ↑ Aspinall, Adam (2018-06-12). "Master modeller makes fleet of 484 warships from one million matchsticks". The Mirror. Retrieved 2024-12-29.
  8. ↑ "Philip Warren's Matchstick Fleet". Love Weymouth. 2021-08-03. Retrieved 2024-12-29.
  9. 1 2 Warren, Philip (2012-12-03). "Philip Warren: The Matchstick Fleet". craftsmanshipmuseum.com. Retrieved 2025-01-19.
  10. 1 2 3 4 Warren, Philip (2023-11-06). "Philip Warren: Making a Matchstick Fleet". The Miniature Engineering Craftsmanship Museum. Retrieved 2025-01-19.
  11. ↑ "Dorset man creates 1,600 matchstick models in 62 years". BBC News . 2010-08-27. Retrieved 2024-12-29.
  12. 1 2 3 Spooky (2010-08-30). "Master Modeller Builds Unique Matchstick Armada". odditycentral.com. Retrieved 2025-01-19.
  13. ↑ "Brit craftsman uses matchsticks to make ship fleet!". Oneindia . Asian News International. 2010-08-26. Retrieved 2024-12-29.
  14. ↑ Young, Meghan (2010-10-22). "Philip Warren has Replicated Every British Warship Since WWII". TrendHunter.com. Retrieved 2025-01-19.
  15. 1 2 Percival, Richard (2018-06-09). "Matchstick model maker Philip Warren recognised for his work by HRH The Duke of Gloucester". Dorset Echo . Retrieved 2025-01-19.
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