Rui Matos, 45 years old, with first "real" model at the age of 7 (Airfix blister box Cutty Sark).  Always kept an interest in naval models (1/72, 1/35) and changed focus to 1/700 scale after the first trip to IPMS/UK - Scale Modelworld back in 2006. What made this happen was the perfection of this small scale ships, the possibilities of telling a more complex story in such a small space and the great fellowship between ship modelers! Apart from being a member of FWL and other online ship modeling communities, he's also co-founder and currently President of one of the oldest modeling clubs in Portugal: AMA - Almada's Modeling Association. and responsible for "Revista de Marinha" (Navy Magazine) scale modeling column, a magazine that focus on Maritime aspects and issues, from Navy to Merchant and Fisheries,  published for 75 years, in Portugal. He's able to finish three to five modeling projects per year (a rather poor production rate)

Jim Smith - AKA Freighter:  Retired Project Manager AGE: Old enough to remember ship models in the windows of shipping companies in the City of London and of the London Docks in the late 1960's when they were still working to capacity.   I worked for both Royal Mail Lines and Furness Withy in my youth and had the privilege of seeing and visiting ships in London before the advent of containerisation. I subsequently moved on to the motor industry.   SHIP MODELLING:  I remember my dad making the Airfix 'Southern Cross' (in green plastic!!) in the mid-late 50s.  My first ship model was probably HMS Shannon by Airfix - I still have it some 40 years on!  Then a long gap.  Returning to modelling when the kids grew up, my first build was the 'Hikawa Maru' hospital ship.   My current interest is the Japanese Merchant Marine - this includes trampers, liners, wartime conversions and auxillaries.  I build the occasional 'warship' but my first love is for merchant ships.   As well as being a member of FineWaterline, I am Chairman of the Chelmsford Model Club and a member of IPMS SE Essex (Southend on Sea Model Club).  I visit a number of shows in the UK - so come over and say Hi

Peter Fulgoney. A founder member of Finewaterline, and member of the Royal Institute of British Architects - my day job, my contribution to the model ship world is a submission of five or six reasonable builds every year together with a Warship News column for Scale Millitary Modeller International magazine together with various ship model features.   My interest continues mainly because of the wonderful group of people the hobby attracts and because the community is so small, this makes us an even tighter unit with a high level of comradery. I will promote our website, and builds we have through the magazine, website submissions, and attendance at the various shows in the south east, and we look forward to seeing you there, and having a good discussion about ships and kits.

Roy Allen. Ex Royal Navy Hydrographic Branch, now doing something far more boring and mundane.
Founder member of Finewaterline and also founder member and current club secretary of the Staffordshire Moorlands Model club. 1/700 was my scale, however now finding the increase in 1/350 kits a great pull and a lot easier on the eyes, if I'm honest finding a set of plans and scratch building a ship has always been my favourite though. I also on occasions drift into Maritime aircraft, sci-fi and figure painting, but I'm still patiently waiting for some decent 54mm WW1 or WW2 RN figures to turn up on the market. I find the ship building community although small to be big of heart and have made many long turm friends both here in the UK and abroad.
Out side of modeling I like to spend as much time out doors as possible, be it walking or gardening. My other great passion is football, in this case Stoke City, who I have supported for well over forty years.   

Don McKeand aka Finnfan.  Retired headteacher. My interest in ships began when growing up near the Port of Preston and joining the World Ship Society which had a branch meeting in the Seaman’s Mission on the docks there. My first ship model was one of the Frog 1/500 scale frigates.  Model making interests are mainly waterline ships, but I also make aircraft and motorcycles as well as riding full sized classic motorcycles. Subjects which are out of the ordinary, or generally overlooked, attract my attention, so this means that the majority of the ships I make are scratch built. Such vessels as escort sloops, ships converted from commercial vessels, auxiliary support craft, tugs, minesweepers, ships of the Finnish Navy as well as cargo and passenger ships all feature. Even better is if there is a story attached to a vessel which has featured in a book, ships visited or ships on which friends have served - in some cases leading to a model being made as presents for them. Since joining Finewaterline I have started to make moulds of several of the ships which interest me so that they can become available to others in the form of the “craftsman” resin kits.

Born in 1964 in Zuerich  in Switzerland where I lived  and sailed until the age of thirteen. Continuing school( and sailing !) in the UK my nautical interests expanded  into serious sailboat racing as well as my own business in the Yachting industry; manufacturing sails and covers. I had always built model boats in some format or other —early in the  1990’s it became  very serious when I discovered  early GMM  Photo-etched railings…!! Since then I have endeavoured to build my way through my huge stash of kits; this  perfectly laudable( some say laughable!)  endeavour becomes increasingly infeasible as my spheres of interest retrogress to earlier transitional sail-to-steam vessels along with my own  increasing demands of accuracy and scale fidelity. Founder member of Finewaterline.com and part of the moderator team at www.modelwarships.com .
Along with running my business I also  indulge in classic cars…. all of which  makes it still appear miraculous to me that model ships actually get researched and built!… I aim at a realistic production rate of 5-7 modelships a year pending scale with 1/700 being the preferred scale as it allows easy comparisons among ship of different years in one wall-case.  I limit myself to one 1/350 ship a year.. due to space constraints!
I live happily near Southampton  with partner Katrin, small daughter  Alexa and a trio  of cats and chickens.

Founder member and Treasurer of FineWaterline.
I took up ship modelling about 9 years ago after seeing and being inspired by Pearl Harbor which reawakened an interest in modeling. In my teens I  had built 1/35 scale armour, painted Napoleonic figures  and had a model railway. The tanks remain in the loft at my parents’ house and the railway languishes in my garage. These days I only build ships.  I will build other scales, but lean very heavily towards 1/700 scale which I aim to keep doing for as long as my eyesight will let me. I’ve explored various periods of ships, from Nelson’s era, via WW1, WW2 and I am currently indulging my interest in building post-WW2 aircraft carriers. I suppose my interest in ships comes from growing up on Wirral, spending hours watching ships on the Mersey or sneaking a peek over the wall into what was being built at Camell Laird. Like don, Mike and Roy I’ve had a hand in mastering FW kits which is very enjoyable.
 
Although there are not many of us, the model ships community is fantastic, with a real sense of camaraderie and I’ve made many friends through modelling. Manning stands at shows is great fun and gives us all ample time to chat modeling, ships and anything else that comes to mind.
 
Outside of shipmodelling, I’m a football fan and have followed the (mis)fortunes of Tranmere Rovers for the last 30 years. Also, I’ve a passion for Italian cars,  late 1960s/early 70’s rock music and visiting historical sites – going down old mines being a particular favourite.

Santiago Ezcurra.  Dear friends, my name is Santiago Ezcurra and was born on June 4, 1977 in Mar del Plata, Argentina, where I live and work as a lawyer. The attraction to the modeling began when I was a kid watching my father build his models. I took my first steps just stealing his unassembled models and ruined it completely! Then I dedicate myself to modeling sporadically until I finished my studies and began to spend more time on the hobby. In 2006 I joined IPMS Argentina - Mar del Plata and currently I’m the webmaster of the site that you can visit from the links section of FW. In addition to naval models, occasionally i have made ​​some small military vehicles such as willys jeep, kubelwagen, etc.. But my favorites are the ship models, both full hull or waterline. Also I like to make scratch build models, especially when the kit is not available. Surfing the web I leant of FW and joined the site thanks to Mike, that allowed me to show my models and share with you this exciting hobby, I'm hoping to go on much longer! Finally, I comment that I live with my wife Gaby and our dog Umma. I like football too and  I am a supporter of River Plate, which is experiencing the worst moment of its rich history navigating for the first time the murky waters of the second division…