Description

Larger of two towing tank models of the experimental vessel Lucy Ashton. Model is built of thick wood lifts faired on the outside and painted gray. Solid hull with three large rectangular cavities in the middle. An unpainted wooden block is nailed into place in the midships cavity.

The original Lucy Ashton was a paddlewheel steamer built in 1888 and operated on the Clyde River in Scotland. In 1950, she was purchased by the British Ship Research Association, fitted with jet engines, and used to test drag and water resistance. This work sparked a number of ongoing research projects, including the construction of this model at MIT.