Bought this in Mauritius. Remembering my RAF experiences in Singapore I made a discounted offer but it seems haggling is no longer traditional when buying things in the Orient. The young lad looked worried and had to telephone his boss before my offer was accepted.Where he did show confidence was in wrapping up the thing (surely a degree-level task) enabling me to bring the package home without damage.
The model is HMS Superb, a British 74-gun third rate, which played a significant role during the Napoleonic wars. At Trafalgar Superb was so damaged by storms cables were passed round the hull to keep the vessel together. Nelson paid tribute to the commander: "My dear Keats, be assured I know and feel that the Superb does all which is possible for a ship to accomplish".
Another example of degree-level wrapping and an excellent example of the Navy’s ability to improvise.
