Scale: 1:48. A contemporary full hull model of the sailing frigate HMS 'Constance’ (1846). The model is highly detailed both on deck including guns, spare spars, boats and shot garlands, as well as being fully rigged, including stun sail yards. The model, mounted on its original wooden baseboard, is said to have been made for Sir Francis Baring (afterwards Lord Northbrook), who was First Lord of the Admiralty from 1849–52.

The ‘Constance’, designed by Sir William Symonds, was launched at the Royal Naval Dockyard Pembroke in 1846 and was among the last of the true sailing frigates. It was the largest of the ‘Vernon’ class measuring 180 feet in length by 52 feet in the beam and a tonnage of 2132 tons burden.

With a crew of 500 men, the Constance’ was taken out to Valparaiso by Captain Sir Baldwin Walker, later Surveyor of the Navy, who praised the ship highly. Having battled through a hurricane and then rounded Cape Horn he was able to report the ‘Constance’ as ready at once to sail round the world if need be, a state of affairs confirmed by Captain G. W. Courtenay to whom it was handed over on arrival. In 1862, it was converted to screw propulsion and was one of the first ships in the Royal Navy to use compound engines, although they were not at that time sufficiently developed to be a complete success. Finally, the ‘Constance’ was paid off in 1868 and later scrapped in 1875.