Scale: 1: 48(?). A contemporary full hull model of the 120-gun first-rate HMS ‘Royal Albert’ (1854). The rather ‘basic’ hull has been repainted in the past and it is fairly certain that it was used to illustrate and demonstrate the sailing rig of a large warship during the introduction of steam to the navy. The masting, spars, sails, running and standing rigging are extremely detailed and of the highest accuracy, and even include the stunsails which are rigged on the lower and topsail courses.

The ‘Royal Albert’ was originally laid down at Woolwich in 1844 as a sailing ship but was lengthened and converted to screw on the stocks and eventually launched in 1854. Measuring 220 feet in length by 60 feet in the beam and a tonnage of 5637, she was fitted to carry troops and was the flagship of Sir Edmund Lyons in the Black Sea Fleet. In 1858, she was the flagship of Sir C. H. Fremantle in the English Channel, but eventually was paid off as ‘unfit for service’ in 1861. She as later sold to Castle, Charlton, for breaking up.