HMS 'Bellerophon' (1866)

Scale: 1:24. A sectional model of the deck in the midship area of HMS 'Bellerophon' (1866), central battery iron clad, 24 guns. The model is largely constructed in wood with a stain and varnish finish, apart from the circular riding bits and vents and the anchor chain compressors and controllers, which are made of metal and painted black.

The model shows the upper deck and lower deck and is complete with deck beams, hatch coambings, turned deck pillars and a single piece of wood with the deck planking inscribed. Running centrally down the model from the bow there is a pair of anchor chain controllers operated by long handles, located either side of a small wooden hatch. In the middle of the deck is a pair of circular riding bits which double up as vents for ventilation below the decks and is situated just forward of a large wooden hatch. There are also a pair of cable compressors which stop the cable when paying out and retrieving the anchor cable from the chain locker below decks. There is also another wooden hatch incomplete with the two circular metal lids for the ventilation bits for storage.

The whole model is mounted on a rectangular moulded mahogany baseboard with four turned bun feet. On the underside of the baseboard, hand written in large letters in ink is "Sheerness yard". There is a paper label applied to the top deck which reads

Original size: 190 mm x 618 mm x 354 mm