Full hull model of the 'British Diver' (1984), an Atlantic 21 lifeboat, built at a scale of 1:12. Set within a perspex waterline, the model depicts the vessel’s launch at Whitstable, Kent, and is complete with five figures along with the models SLR2529 (RNLI tractor) and SLR2891 (RNLI trailer). All three models can be displayed separately. The lifeboat has ‘British Diver’ on its port and starboard quarters; ‘R.N.L.I. B-560’ on the port and starboard sides; ‘Evinrude’ on the outboard motors; and ‘B-560’ on the deck.

The Atlantic 21 class, originally developed in 1972, is a modern all-weather lifeboat with a rigid lower hull built of glass reinforced plastic (GRP) and an upper inflatable sponson made of rubber proofed neoprene. Powered by twin outboard engines, these shallow-draught boats are capable of speeds exceeding 25 knots and were designed to operate in the shallow river estuaries and coastline where the deeper draughted lifeboats were unable to operate. This class has now been superseded by an up-dated version, the Atlantic 75, and is gradually being replaced.