Scale: 1:48. A contemporary builder’s half block model of the Russian armoured ship ‘Novgorod’ (1873). The model is built of wood in ‘bread and butter’ fashion and is mounted to a front-silvered mirror which then gives the impression of a full hull model: a Victorian idea to reduce both the cost and display space of the model. The model is partly painted. The hull is polished mahogany and fittings include three starboard propellers and their wooden conical mountings. It is complete with a single stayed funnel, a steam and rowing cutters, superstructure placed forward with a stove pipe atop and a raised bridge aft with a double steering wheel.

The idea of a circular ship was first proposed by a Scotsman, John Elder in 1867. This was later taken up in Russia by Admiral Popov and subsequently, two ships were built, the ‘Novgorod’ in 1873 and the larger ‘Vice Admiral Popov’ in 1875.

The ‘Novgorod’ was originally laid down at St. Petersburg and on completion of the hull it was dismantled and transported by rail to Nikolaiev on the Black Sea. The hull measured 101 feet in diameter and had a displacement of 2706 tons. It was armed with two 11-inch breech-loading guns mounted in a 9-inch armoured turret. The propulsion was a set of six steam compound engines driving propellers capable of speeds of up to 6 knots. The ‘Novgorod' remained on the active list until 1902 and was little more than a floating fort.