HMS 'Hercules' (1868)

Scale: 1:12. Instructional model depicting a midship section of the hull of the HMS 'Hercules' (1868), a central battery ironclad, as used for a target to test the proposed construction to render the ship shot-proof. The outboard hull is painted a gloss black with a varnished natural wood deck and black capping. The interior is finished in black together with sections of varnished natural wood decking with the large metal vertical frames made from copper and painted black. At either end of the hull section, is a combination of wood fillers and metal frames in various layers and depths to illustrate the construction and armour protection of the hull. The model is complete with a pair of threaded bolts and nuts which would suggest that the model comes apart vertically to show the construction of the hull between the layers of the inner and outer skins. The whole model is mounted on a stained and polished mahogany rectangular baseboard with four turned bun feet. There are various hand written labels glued to various parts of the model which read, "Portion of Side of "Hercules" INO 1920-332", "Bath Timber Support" and "RNM p19 Model of Hercules Target Scale an Inch to a Foot". Label on Inner Hull "Inner Skins Plating or Wing Passage Bulkhead". Labels inside model read "Armour Plate 9 Inch", "Armour Plate 8 Inch", "Inner Wood Banking" and "Wood Banking..."

Original size: 265 mm x 535 mm x 228 mm