Steam Travelling Gantry; Warship

Scale: 1:48. A model of a steam travelling gantry (circa 1880-1890). The model is constructed largely of wood with some metal fittings and finished in realistic colours. The cross-section of the dry dock represents a series of steps down to the dock base, and has been painted to represent a granite finish with a series of wooden keel blocks, running along the centre-line of the dock floor. At either end of the section, the various components can be seen representing cement, granite, wood and earth. Amidships section of a vessel, which looks to be amour-plated, so maybe a warship, is sitting on the keel blocks and is supported by three sets of wooden shores, between the dock wall and the outer hull. The cross-section of the hull shows the make up of the iron frames, the four wooden decks, supported by pillars and the addition of amour-plating and wood sheathing above and below the waterline. There is large travelling gantry, painted almost entirely in red, which runs along a set of rails, parallel to the edge of the dry dock. Off the gantry is a pair of smaller gantries, powered by a small steam engine on wheels, with central lifting hook below. The whole model is fitted into a rectangular mahogany display case, mounted on a black moulded base and complete with a glazed wooden framed top, with a black matt finish.

Original size: 850 mm x 1185 mm x 660 mm