Scale: 1:24. A contemporary design full hull model of the SY 'Turbinia' (1894), an experimental fast yacht. Constructed in the builder’s style, the model is decked, equipped and rigged. The ‘Turbinia’ was built by Brown and Hood, Wallsend-on-Tyne, and launched in 1894. Measuring 100 feet in length by 9 feet in the beam it displaced 44 tons. It was powered by the world’s first turbines producing 2,000 initial horsepower which turned originally one shaft but was later replaced with three, each fitted with three propellers.

In 1884, the Hon Charles Parsons, a junior partner in the firm of Chapman, Parsons and Company of Gateshead, planned and developed a completely new form of rotary engine. This was the steam turbine, a motor in which rotary motion is produced by steam power impinging on a series of vanes or blades fitted on a revolving drum. Turbines were originally used in driving electric generators and pumps, and Parsons was convinced that they could be successfully adapted to marine propulsion. Parsons then formed the Marine Steam Turbine Company and commissioned the steam yacht ‘Turbinia’ to be built, on which his turbines were fitted.

In 1897, Parsons amazed the world by running his yacht at a speed of 34.5 knots during Queen Victoria’s Jubilee Review. As a result of this successful outing, the steam turbine was to become the most advanced form of high-powered unit for the propulsion of ships. In 1898, the Admiralty ordered turbine engines for HMS ‘Viper’, and in 1901, William Denny built the Clyde steamer ‘King Edward’ with turbines. Larger ships powered by turbines soon followed with the world’s most powerful warship HMS ‘Dreadnought’ in 1906 and RMS ‘Mauretania’ in 1907.

The original vessel is currently on display at the Discovery Centre, Newcastle-upon-Tyne.