Hi Adam, I know far more about real ships than models, but my guess is that they are most probably scratch built. However, all the kit manufacturers have made kits of tugs, so these may well be from kits. Somebody else on here may well recognise them. 'Cervia' was the last tug built for Ship Towage in 1946 and I think there is a kit still being made.
On a personal note. with a degree of name dropping, the MD of Ship Towage, was the commodore of our local yacht club and I sometimes sailed with him, racing his Dragon class yacht, 'Hai Lung', that would have been in the 1950's. About twenty years later, I found 'Hai Lung' abandoned in a boatyard in Faversham. I bought her and gave her a complete restoration.

Cheers, Nerys

Thankyou very much Nerys, spot on! I knew id come to the right place. In terms of the model, would there have been a particular maker or was it make it up yourself at home sort of thing? These will be for sale in the near future i am just trying to get them appraised properly and hopefuly find a good
Home for them. Stunning things to look at.
Regards Adam

The photographs are mainly of a steam tug called 'Dragon' and a couple of photos of 'Giant'. The funnel markings of both tugs are that of William Watkins, who were major tug operators on the Thames. In 1950, they amalgamated with two other companies to form Ship Towage London Ltd. Their tugs would always be based at Gravesend ready to assist shipping going to any of the docks. I talk of a time past when London was a major port and The Royal Group, The Surrey Commercial, The India group and Tilbury were all huge groups of docks swarming in ships loading and unloading. One of their former tugs, the 'Cervia' is undergoing restoration in Ramsgate.