Scale: 1:96. Built by Messrs John Lewis & Sons, Aberdeen, this small coastal merchantman depicted in her wartime colours, with a gun mounted on a makeshift platform at her stern, typifies the many vessels that braved the dangers of enemy aircraft, E-boats, and mines in British coastal waters during the Second World War.

Built as the ‘Balcombe’ (1925), it was sold to Robertson’s of Glasgow in 1931, its name changed to match the other ‘jewels’ of their fleet. It survived the war and was again sold and renamed, joining the Holderness Line in 1949. It disappears from Lloyd’s List after 1957.

It is not clear why this model was made but it could have been a presentation piece with its brass-turned pillar supports, hefty French-polished mahogany base, and ivorine plaques. As a model it is unremarkable and the uniform grey paint finish to hull, deck, superstructures, fittings and equipment, hides a multitude of sins, but it embodies the significant role that ordinary ships like these played in the war.