Docked ship worth restoring

Q

. I am looking for an opinion about this ocean liner that was passed on to my son. It was made by my husband’s grandfather sometime before he set off for the First World War. It is in rough shape. My husband stripped the lifeboats, which I do have, but didn’t get any further. It is 1.83 metres long (six feet). It originally had a steam engine in it which was eventually replaced with an electric engine. We actually have home movies of it putting about on the lake. The family calls it the Titanic but apparently it is possibly modelled after the Lusitania. I’m wondering if I should invest in restoring it and getting a display case for it.

Sandra, Calgary

A

. I’m siding with RMS Lusitania, but I’m not sure. The Cunard shipping line passenger ship was the largest in the world and made its maiden voyage in 1907. In 1915, during the war, it was sunk by a German torpedo off the coast of Ireland. These large ship models can be expensive and three years ago a 3.66 metre (12 foot), highly-detailed example of the RMS Mauretania — a sister ship of the Lusitania — was sold at auction for 162,000 pounds sterling. I would get some expert advice on its restoration, which will warrant having a case built for it. As it is, I’d estimate its value at, minimum, $1,000. Restored, it will definitely sail to several new horizons.