Scale: 1:48. An impressive model of ‘Libertad’ (1890) almost certainly made by the shipbuilder, Laird Brothers of Birkenhead, which built the actual vessel. The detailing is impressive too, especially the decorative scroll-work wrapped around the stern of the model. We can see a stern-mounted lifesaving device here, silver-plated like many of the model’s fittings. The two port-side boats are either being launched or brought on board, companion ladders have been lowered on both sides of the ship, while the starboard guard rails have been partially collapsed, or coiled up, as though the guns are about to be employed.

‘Libertad’, like her sister ‘Independencia’ were typical of examples of foreign warships of the period. The trend among the smaller navies of the world, towards the end of the 19th century, was for small armoured ships with comparatively heavy guns. These Argentinean coast defence ships each had two 9.4-inch breech-loading guns, four 4.7-inch quick-firing (QF) guns, four 3-pounder QF guns and two torpedoes. They had an 8-inch partially armoured belt, and heavily-armoured turrets, yet they were only 240-feet in length and 2336 displacement tons.

‘Libertad’ was completed as the ‘Nueve de Julio’ and was not renamed ‘Libertad’ until 1892. She remained in service until the end of the Second World War, acting latterly as a depot ship for submarines.