Scale: 1:48. A contemporary full hull model of the frigate ‘Pique’ (1834), complete with stump masts and mounted on its original wooden baseboard. Launched at Devonport Dockyard in 1834, the ‘Pique’ was one of the first of a new class of medium-sized frigates designed by Sir William Symonds, Chief Surveyor of the Navy. Measuring 160 feet along the gun deck by 48 feet in the beam and a tonnage of 1633, it was a fast sailer, but excessive pitching and rolling severely limited the use of its 32-pounder armament.

In 1835, on a voyage from Canada to England, it lost its rudder, but managed to reach home safely with a jury-rigged one (see SLR0749). It then saw action in 1837 at San Sebastian, Spain, giving assistance the Foreign Legion and a year later was sent to Mexico to protect British interests against French invasion at San Juan de Ulloa, Vera Cruz. In 1840, it was sent to Syria where there was a threat of war with Egypt and later in 1854-55, took part in the Crimean War, on the Pacific coast of Russia. ‘Pique’ was to end its days as an isolation hospital at Devonport from 1871 to 1910 and was eventually broken up by shipbreakers Cox in Falmouth.