Gnat (1898); Service vessel; Tug

Scale: 1:24. A half block model of the steam tug Gnat (1898), made entirely in wood and painted and polished. The hull is polished wood below the waterline made from a number of horizontal timber section, and black above with an unpainted strake and gunwale. Hull details include a large propeller cavity, painted black and rudder. Other features include a stump foremast; superstructure with enclosed bridge, single funnel and ventilator; low superstructure or hatch aft; and ensign staff. All the deck fittings are polished wood with some scribed details, apart from the roof of the low superstructure or hatch cover, which is painted white. The model is displayed on a rectangular mahogany backboard with bevelled edges, made in two halves, joined horizontally, which is a dark colour below the indicated waterline, and a light coloured wood above. The two halves of the backboard have separated slightly at the joint. Hand-rendered on centre bottom of backboard ‘J Constant. 11, Billiter Square. London’. Hand-rendered on top right-hand corner of backboard ‘No117 S.T. Gnat. length 72.6 Breadth 18.6 depth 9.10’.

Object Details

ID: SLR1292
Collection: Ship models
Type: Half block model
Display location: Not on display
Vessels: Gnat 1898
Date made: circa 1898
Credit: National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London
Measurements: Overall model: 287 x 985 x 122 mm; Backboard: 339 x 1139 x 18 mm