Ship Hector Restoration – Custom Window Engraving by CustomCuts

Bringing History to Life: Our Work on the Ship Hector Windows

At CustomCuts, we’re always up for a challenge — especially one tied to local heritage. That’s why we were honoured to be approached by Brian Kellock, who has been involved in the Ship Hector restoration project from day one.

This wasn’t just another job — it was about helping preserve history.

The Project

Brian and the Ship Hector team had pre-made window slabs and were looking for someone who could engrave authentic elements into them — something that would reflect the style and character of the era when the ship was first built.

It had to feel true to the time but also be bold enough to stand out in a modern restoration. We were excited to take it on.

The Challenges

The window slabs were already built when we came in, which made things tricky. We had to:

• Carefully design and 3D model all of the elements

• Go through several rounds of testing and alignment

• Get approval on each element before engraving

• Line everything up perfectly so it looked centered and balanced — no second chances

Honestly, this was one of the most nerve-wracking jobs we’ve taken on. A single slip could ruin an entire piece. But with time, patience, and a lot of CNC programming, we got there.

What We Learned

This job pushed our 3D skills more than ever before. It took dozens of hours of computer work and CNC time to bring everything to life in clear pine (1.5" thick). The final finish will be handled by another team, but we’re proud to have laid the foundation.

And along the way, we got a huge boost from Chris Pelletier, a 3D expert in the U.S. who gave us some amazing guidance. Big shoutout to Chris — your help made a real difference.

What’s Next

The final windows are being installed in the restored Ship Hector, and we can’t wait to take a trip down to see them in place. A huge thank you to Brian and the entire team for trusting us with this important part of the project. It was an honour to be involved.

We’ve included some behind-the-scenes images of the process below — from concept to carving — and we hope it gives you a glimpse into the care and precision that goes into this kind of work.

👉 If you’re working on a historic project, a restoration, or just something that needs real attention to detail — we’d love to be a part of it. Contact us anytime to discuss your next challenge.