Scale: 1:48. 'Trenchard' (1950) was a stern wheel river cargo and towing steamer, built by William Denny & Brothers of Dumbarton, for a highly specific area of operation. Her owners, United Africa Co. Ltd., used her on their service between Burutu, at the mouth of the River Niger, to Garva, at the top of the Benue River, in Nigeria. Twin stern paddles are driven by a triple expansion engine mounted right at the bow of the vessel. Her wide beam is given manoeuvrability by twin rudders.

The model was made by the builders of the vessel. William Denny were famed for the high quality of their models and this one is no exception. It looks as though no expense was spared as fittings and equipment have been meticulously replicated and plated in gold and silver, which gives one the impression that the company were proud of the vessel they had built. Denny’s of Dumbarton were early casualties of the downturn in the British shipbuilding industry and, in 1964, they went into voluntary liquidation. As part of the disposal of their assets they presented the NMM with this model.