HMS Hotspur (1870); Warship; Turret ship

Scale: 1:48. A half block model of the port side of the battleship HMS Hotspur (1870), made entirely in wood and painted dark brown below the waterline, a narrow white stripe above and black above the waterline. Hull details include a ram bow, uninterrupted row of square portholes, bilge keel, port side propeller and shaft, and rudder. There is a short, prominent forecastle, waist with a railing and a long main deck extending almost to the stern. Other fittings include stump foremast and mainmast, and a single large-diameter turret with provision for two guns. The model is displayed on a backboard painted off-white with a mahogany-stained frame (right-hand side of frame currently missing). Inscribed on plaques are ‘276’ and ‘Hotspur - Coast Defence Ship - 1870. High freeboard turret ship. The original so called "turret" was merely a circular armoured breastwork with 4 ports for a single gun. This was afterwards replaced by a revolving turret. Built at Gvern. Sold 1904. Original Armament: - 1 10in. ML and 2 6in. BL. Dimensions: - Length 235ft. Beam 0ft. Displacement 3060 tons. Speed 12 Knots’. The plaques are currently detatched.