Scale: 1:48. A very good quality shipbuilder’s model of HMS 'Mastiff' (1914), although it has been poorly restored. The fittings, in particular, have at some point been painted grey, obscuring detail, and some of the delicate railings have been distorted.

The Admiralty-designed ‘M’ class were the standard destroyers of the First World War. More than 80 were built to this specification, and a further 29 were constructed according to individual builders’ plans. The design was repeated in 1916, with only slight modifications, and known as the Admiralty ‘R’ class.

HMS ‘Mastiff’ was one of the Thornycroft-built variants of the standard design and all six of the company’s ‘M’-class destroyers were faster than the Admiralty’s boats. In addition to the higher freeboard, their distinguishing characteristic was the flat-sided middle funnel. Developing 6,800 horsepower more than the standard vessel’s designed output, the ‘Mastiff’ reached 37.5 knots on its trials and in 1915 was reputed to be the fastest ship afloat. Its war service was spent chiefly with the Harwich Force and Dover Patrol, and it was present at the Battle of Dogger Bank.