While doing some work with the Hull Maritime Museum (England) I had the opportunity to look at a lifeboat model which dates from the late 1800s and is a Royal National Lifeboat Institute boat. It was usual to present a generous benefactor with such a model. As you can see, she needs some TLC but upon close inspection all of the parts are there and the rigging blocks and metal tackle are particularly well made. A good clean would go a long way, but the biggest job would be the sails (which are silk) and the stitching is so incredibly fine I wonder if they were made by a dressmaker. Sadly, the model will not be displayed until some restoration is done, but the list of similar projects is long.
