Scale: 1:100. A contemporary full hull model of the SS 'Normandie' (1932), a passenger liner. Constructed in the builder’s style, the model is decked, equipped and rigged. The hull is inscribed with ‘Normandie’ on port and starboard bows, and ‘Normandie Havre’ on stern.

The two original display plaques are inscribed ‘Turbo electric quadruple screw passenger liner "Normandie" launched 29th. October. 1932 Maiden voyage 29th. May. 1935 Gross reg. tons 83.423 Length overall 1029ft. 5ins. Beam 119ft. 5ins. Capacity 3326 souls Havre-Southampton-New York service fastest crossing Ambrose Light to Bishop Rock 3 days, 22 hours, 7 minutes. Built by the Chantiers et Ateliers de Penhoet at Saint-Nazare France Model presented by the Companie Generale Transatlantique Ltd. London’ and one inscribed ‘Modeles en reduction J. Montera 5, Rue des Prevoyant La Courneuve’. ‘Cie G.IE Transatlantique’ inscribed on the flag.

This ship was designed to compete against the ‘Queen Mary’ with the build subsidized by the French government and occasionally referred to the ‘floating debt’. It immediately captured the Blue Riband from the German ship ‘Bremen’ with a record-breaking passage of 3 days 22 hours and 7 minutes.

In 1941, the ‘Normandie’ was seized in New York by the United States government and was in the process of being converted for use as a troopship. Unfortunately, a fire broke out in a pile of mattresses stacked in a corridor and soon took hold, spreading throughout the ship. Instead of controlling the fire with the onboard apparatus, the port authorities decided to pump hundreds of tons of water on board which then froze in the scuppers and the extra top weight caused the ship to heal over and sink. The hull was later raised and scrapped in 1946.