HMS Gladiator (1896); Warship; Cruiser

Scale: 1:192. A half block model of HMS Gladiator (1896) showing damage received on the starboard side. It is made entirely in wood with additional fittings in lead, brass, and copper. The hull is painted a flesh pink below the waterline with black topsides and light brown decks and superstructure. The underwater hull, which is fitted with a ram bow, has a single bilge keel, a propeller shaft supported by an A bracket, and two rudders. The two masts and three funnels are finished in a medium brown with black bases and tops. On either side and aft of the funnels are six ventilation cowlings painted a dark brown with red painted hoods internally. There are an additional six smaller ventilation cowlings painted black located at various positions aft of the bridge, along the main deck, and towards the stern. Fixtures and fittings include six boats, five of which are painted white, and a single steam cutter painted black and red. The main armament consists of five guns painted silver together with five smaller calibre guns mounted alongside and on the raised superstructure. The damaged area is amidships and shows the internal layout of the four decks which are painted red and the transverse bulkheads, deck beams, and accommodation above which is painted white. The whole model is mounted on a wooden backboard painted a sky blue which is protected by a glazed mahogany case. There is a wooden plaque on the top of the case with the number: '127' on case. A plaque inside the case is inscribed: 'HMS Gladiator. Hole made by SS St Paul in Gladiator's side, 25th April, 1908. Model designed and Made by R. Kitchen'. There is another plaque on the outside of the case which is partly legible: '...constructive depth 1911'.

Object Details

ID: SLR1280
Collection: Ship models
Type: Half block model
Display location: Not on display
Creator: Kitchen, R.
Events: Collision between HMS Gladiator and US liner St Paul, 1908
Vessels: Gladiator (1896)
Date made: circa 1911
Credit: National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London
Measurements: Overall model and case: 328 x 1092 x 211 mm