TVAG - Houston's Ships - Handbuilt Gaming Models

Since before your Sun burned hot in Space, Richard Houston, has been playing with--and making--war games figures and models. For some thirty years, he produced miniatures of weapons, vehicles, and especially artillery. However, like the Sorcerer's Apprentice, once he gets started on something, he just won't stop!

	Houston's Ships
Hand-built, fully finished ship models for gaming and collecting.

Boilers And Breechloaders, riverine and coastal naval warfare rules to accompany these Gunboat and other models, is now available from TVAG in its FOURTH Edition, and in both Print and PDF formats. War gamers now have a definitive game system for rating and using any Gunboat models in their Colonial era games. Further, these rules are perfectly compatible with the classic The Sword And The Flame 20th Anniversary Edition, and the Colonial Campaign rules, The Sun Never Sets, also available on TVAG's "Rules" Page.

Richard has produced many Gunboats specifically designed for war gaming over the years, but finally went into full scale production almost 30 years ago, having sold any number of his creations to collectors and gamers who sought him out and are now proud to have an original "Houston" on their mantles or in their collection of game accessories.

All Houston's Gunboats are waterline models built on thick pine hulls. Superstructures are basswood and foam board, with metal fittings, sometimes printed card stock textures, and fully painted. Most ships come with weapons, and some with complete crews. These are heavily built and with reasonable care will last a lifetime of gaming. Indeed, upon "retirement" each could proudly move to the display case or mantle.

The models are "one of a kind," built with gaming in mind, having removable decks, roofs and other details for easy access to interior play-spaces.

Houston's Custom Shipyard
Richard will build virtually any model seen here and in his Gallery on commission, and for the same basic price. Much of his best work has been to meet requests of gamers and collectors with specific needs. Price is determined by the proposed size of the model, the amount of detail, weaponry (if any), and any special features.

As a general rule, the basic hull size is 18" and could start at about $150.00. For each additional inch of length, figure approximately another $10.00 added to the price. Hulls wider than 4" or 5" will further increase the cost. While a few museum quality models have been made and sold for up to $500.00, the majority have been half that and less (indeed, several under $100.00).

If you know what you want--or just have a notion you want to develop--contact TVAG and your ideas will go to Richard. The more info you can provide (especially photos, drawings, etc), the better you can communicate what you want made. Commonly, he will take your specifications and work up a design on paper and send it for approval or modification. Once the particulars are settled, we'll quote you a price and you can go from there. No money is ever required up front.

Depending on what other commissions may be ahead of you, it usually takes Richard from two to three weeks to complete a model, after which photos will be taken and E-mailed for approval. If all is as you expected, payment will then be requested. If it's not, there is no obligation to buy--we know we can sell it to someone else!

A recent commission customer wrote friends upon receiving his model, "With amazing speed, The (Virtual) Armchair General and Houston's Ships has my gunboat finished. Interesting, classic design, lovely, utilitarian for games and fun. What in 2-3 weeks? Holy cow! I did not realize Richard Houston would make custom models at such a reasonable price through TVAG. Patrick Wilson has always given me prompt A+ service plus cheerful/positive extra conversation."

So, Gunboat, Dhow, Junk, Submarine, Q-Ship, Freighter, Destroyer, Torpedo Boat, or whatever, you CAN afford one of Houston's Ships for your very own, and sooner and more easily than you may ever have imagined!

NEWS FLASH! "Houston's Naval Guns and Ship Fittings" have returned and are now exclusively available from TVAG. Follow this link to the bottom of the page, and from there to the fully illustrated and expanded listings, including a number of items never previously available. Prices have also hardly changed since Richard first offered these, and now many guns can be bought complete with appropriate crew figures for lower combined prices.

Everything from deck mounted machine guns and cannon on a variety of mounts, to boat davits, ventilators, hatches, and crew figures, to heavy artillery for Forts and large Gunboats, and even Alien Guns for your Victorian Science Fiction vessel designs, are here. And if there is sufficient demand, it is possible a few more items may be offered as well--and even some altogether new ones!

The Models Currently Available

HS-167 USS Warrior

Another Great Lakes American Warship model from the War of 1812 from a kit compatible with 25mm war game figures. She carries two guns, a stern mounted Carronade on a swiveling base for bearing to either side, and 32-pdr forward on a similar mounting. The detail is outstanding, and the accompanying photos speak for themselves.

Price: $270.00
(Special packing, Postage, & Insurance: Domestic, $20.00, Overseas, $40.00. Actual costs may be less due to model sizes and weight.)
Bow View
Stern Gun
Bow Gun
Overhead View

HS-187 River Gunboat

A blank canvass on which you may paint your Imperialist dreams of riverine dominance. No specific national ownership is implied, so she can be British, German, French, etc, as you may wish. She measures 18" x 5" and comes armed with with a 12-pdr (3") Gun with half-round shield forward, and two 5-barreled Nordenfelt MG's which may be mounted as shown on the second deck amidships, or wherever you please just to keep the gawkers (and boarders!) away. Model has cast metal ladders, and hand made metal railings, as well as interior details as seen in the attached photos.

Claim her for your own, specify your choice of Naval Ensign to fly from her stern, and we'll send it along for free.

Price: $150.00
(Special packing, Postage, & Insurance: Domestic, $20.00, Overseas, $40.00. Actual costs may be less due to model sizes and weight.)
Port Side View
Midships View
Stern Quarter
Interior View
Second Deck View Forward
Wheel House Interior Forward View
Wheel House Interior Aft View
Starboard Quarter Waterline View

HS-184 US "Liberty Ship"

Richard has just outdone himself (again) with this first attempt at an historic ship design that cries out for sailing to action! A generic version of a WW II Era "Liberty Ship," this model will be nothing less than a perfect addition to anyone's collection for Pulp and other Adventure Games.

Besides being heavily armed for most any action in the North Atlantic, the Murmansk Run, or supplying garrisons across the Pacific, this model can be the base of operations for adventuring anywhere from WW II to the present. She measures a stunning 25" x 6" and mounts two WW I (or older!) 6" guns and a pair of 20mm Oerlikons, all in removable gun tubs so she can be steam to (supposedly?) less hostile environments.

Her two deep holds have removable hatch covers for loading everything from arms shipments to King Kong's baby brother, and working booms for winching them aboard. All superstructure spaces are accessible and detailed within, while the wheelhouse is a little jewel of its own. Twin searchlights are on the bridge, and cast metal ladders and more hand mail metal railings run throughout the ship.

Once again, if you can't write a dozen scenarios for this model, go sit with the black gang and wonder why you're not the Captain!

Price: $250.00 SOLD 5/18/13
(Special packing, Postage, & Insurance: Domestic, $20.00, Overseas, $40.00. Actual costs may be less due to model sizes and weight.)
Port Bow View
Stern Quarter View
Starboard View, "Disarmed"
Holds & Superstructure Interior View
Interior View Fore & Aft
Second Deck Interior
Boom Detail View
Bridge/Wheelhouse View

HS-180 Ancient Greek Galley "B"

A decided change of pace, but this is one of two unique offerings not to be repeated. Both models were begun sometime back and were for Richard's personal collection, but the time came to finish them up and let them go. Not only are these suitable for a variety of game types, they even come with complete crews of rowers, oars, a complement of period warriors. The figures are (we believe!) old Dixon's from their Trojan War range some thirty years ago, but in perfect shape and ready for priming and painting.

This Galley comes with 14 Rowers, Oars, and 10 Warriors with shields and weapons. Otherwise, the same materials as the first were used in construction.

Price: $125.00

(Special packing, Postage, & Insurance: Domestic, $20.00, Overseas, $40.00. Actual costs may be less due to model sizes and weight.)
Steering Board
Starboard View
Stern View
Port View
Rowers, Oars, & Warriors

HS-181 Ancient Greek Galley "A"

Very like the first of the pair, this model has a cloth sail and twine rigging, with a hull of cut pine and basswood. The accompanying figures include 16 rowers, oars, and 10 soldiers with weapons and shields. Indeed, the price of the figures alone, even if still available, would be on the order of 80% of the total price for them and the Galley!

Price: $125.00
(Special packing, Postage, & Insurance: Domestic, $20.00, Overseas, $40.00. Actual costs may be less due to model sizes and weight.)
Port Bow
Sample Rower w/Oar
Stern View
Midships View
Crew, Oars, & Warriors

HS-182 54mm Steam Launch

Another change of pace project, this one aimed at collectors and war gamers who appreciate the joys of the original Toy Soldiers, those in 1:32 scale, or 54mm.

While this model does not include the Britain's Gun and Soldiers here to help establish size), the photo clearly shows it will accommodate similar armament and crew/passengers.

Perfect for some up-river business in Africa or Asia, this model can be utilized in several ways. In games like Funny Little Wars , such a steam launch (or "Pinnace") can be used for towing barges of troops crossing broad waters, or landing on enemy shores.

The hull is made of pine and basswood, while the boiler is partly metal, has a tall brass funnel, with wheel and anchor also metal. Though the flagstaff flies British Colors, practically any flag can be requested at the buyer's choice and supplied printed in the same 1:32 scale at no extra charge.

If this model stirs up enough interest, Richard might make other models in the same "Collector's" scale, but still within a War Gamer's budget!

Price: $130.00
(Special packing, Postage, & Insurance: Domestic, $20.00, Overseas, $40.00. Actual costs may be less due to model sizes and weight.)
View Of Interior
Wheel & Boiler Detail
Port Bow

HS-185 USS San Pablo

This is the 8th and last (?) version of the classic American Gunboat for China Station (not to mention a rather popular film) which Richard has made, and with each new version, he added more details and features, making this one the best to date.

Armed with a 3" (12-pdr) BLR forward, and a 20mm Oerlikon aft, the model does not have any crew with it. However, the usual special features are here again, such as the the removable 2nd Deck and deck house roofs, revealing detailed interiors, and the particularly neat Wheelhouse. Hand made metal railings accompany the cast ladders, and the "canvass" deck rails covers are braced with steel pins in their proper positions.

Price: $225.00 SOLD 5/18/13

Bow Shot
Midships
Port Stern Quarter
Weather Deck Wheel Station
Wheel House Interior
Chart House Interior
Exploded View

HS-163 Imperial Russian Torpedo Boat (c. 1900)

A lovely little model that can shoot and scoot! Two fixed forward firing torpedo tubes are backed up by four 3-pdrs, and the model comes with crew shown. As usual, the wheelhouse roof is removable to show interior details, and many nice touches will be found elsewhere. Whether for the mantle, floor game, or table top, this Battleship killer looks good under the Tricolor.

Price: $100.00
(Special packing, Postage, & Insurance: Domestic, $20.00, Overseas, $40.00. Actual costs may be less due to model sizes and weight, so feel free to inquire.)
Stern Battery
Bow Torpedo Tubes and Wheelhouse
Midships View

HS-164 French Torpedo Boat (c. 1900)

Another recent gem from Richard's work bench, this little giant-killer comes with crew, two torpedo tubes amidships which can bear almost straight forward and to the sides and rear, and a pair of 3-pdrs for amusing the pursuing Torpedo Boat Destroyers. The wheel house roof lifts off to show the interior, and fine details may be found all over the model. Priced to move!

HS- Ship Name

Description

Price: $
(Special packing, Postage, & Insurance: Domestic, $20.00, Overseas, $40.00. Actual costs may be less due to model sizes and weight.)

The Guarantee
Richard Houston personally guarantees to refund the purchase price (minus postage) if anyone is not satisfied with his product and returns it in saleable condition.

About That Postage Thing...

Since my Shopping Cart system can only charge postage on a fixed rate of increase, it is possible that when you click the Button you will not be charged all that is due, especially for our Friends outside the US.

If this happens, TVAG will invoice you for the difference via PayPal shortly after your payment has been recorded.

Similarly, if you are somehow overcharged for postage, that difference will be refunded as well.

Outfit Your Own Warships
Houstons's Naval Guns & Ship Fittings
Page 2

And while you're cruising the docks, wander over to the new
Houston's Freighters
Page 3

So, now why not go into Houston's Gallery and see some of his models you've missed (but he might make again for you!)
Page 4

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