Andrew William Wilkie

 Andrew William Wilkie, Pearl Harbour 2018 at the U.S.S. Missouri

Andrew Wilkie’s passion for ships began at a very early age of 5 years old when he first saw the motion picture ‘Poseidon Adventure’ by Irwin Allen (The master of disaster). This is when the flame and excitement ignited, soon transitioning to the love of RMS Titanic and her tragic story. This was long before Titanic became the icon it is today. Having a love for artwork, Andrew drew many pictures of Titanic when he started Elementary school. It was a few years later that he found interest in naval warships, with specific interest in the British and Italian navies. Sharing this interest with a few friends, Andrew studied Ocean Liners and Battleships intently till his teen years at which time his interests changed.

Andrew never forgot his childhood love affair with ships however, it wasn’t until 2003 that he decided he needed a hobby. He wanted a hobby that would encapsulate his love for ships and for drawing. It was at that time he decided to create a 3D computerized model of a battleship, but not just any battleship. It had to be a battleship no one had ever created in 3D before. Remembering a not so well-known battleship from his youth, the WWI Austro-Hungarian battleship SMS Viribus Unitis, seemed like the perfect candidate. After some research he was able to obtain plans of the ship from Erwin Sieche (Naval Historian) in Vienna, Austria a friend of Friedrich Prasky (Master Model Builder) who drew the plans. Andrew would spend the next three years creating the 3D model, with many late nights that resulted in the model you see on this website.

In 2005, Andrew contacted James Delgado the Director at the Vancouver Maritime Museum in hopes of collaborating on a project that could be beneficial to the museum and himself. Upon meeting Jim, it was decided that the Hudson's Bay Company 1835 Steamer S.S. Beaver would be the project. With assistance from John McKay who published a book and drawings about the ship and with historical assistance from others like Mark Gardner and Frank Rozee, Andrew embarked on this journey to recreate the Pacific Northwest's favourite little steamer.

Andrew wanted to share what he has learned over many decades, with others who share similar passions for ships, in a format of this website which you see here. Andrew lives in Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada and continues to research ships through an ever-increasing library of naval and passenger liner books. He can be reached through the contact details below.