Undetermined scale. This is a model at its most utilitarian and represents a design concept for a Royal Naval guided-missile cruiser (circa 1957), commissioned by the Ministry of Defence (MOD). Even in these days of sophisticated computer-aided design modelling, ‘real’ models can convey design information more easily than two-dimensional drawings on paper or a screen. The making of design models like this one is a tradition in shipbuilding that, in Britain, can be traced back over 300 years.

This model is an early design concept produced to put forward ideas and promote discussion about features such as superstructure layout, and type and placing of armament. The MOD initiated a series of design studies around 1948 for ships that might be in service in around ten years' time, and they became known as ‘1960 cruisers’.

The model most closely resembles the ‘1960 Large Cruiser design’, which was missile-armed, though its twin funnels and general layout is also similar to the three ‘Tiger’-class cruisers, ‘Tiger’, ‘Lion’, and ‘Blake’, that were launched in 1944-45 but not finally completed to a new design until 1959, 1960 and 1961 respectively.