Great Eastern's construction was so groundbreaking that it ground its investors' bank accounts into the red. They sold the then-named SS Leviathan to the Great Eastern Ship Company who creatively renamed the monster out of either self-flattery or unconscious masochism. A traditional stern-first launch was ruled, er, unlikely due to her length. Attempts to vault her off the slip in a slide launch resulted in what many may consider problematic: two men killed and several injured as the Great Eastern cowardly refused to enter the water. The second attempt resulted in such innovative solutions that the pioneering engineers founded an entire new company. 

The ship spent the next eight months fitting out before finally going underway slightly interrupted by a steam explosion that sent one of her funnels into orbit, marking another first for mankind. This would have resulted in a broken back for mere mortal ships, but the Great Eastern was constructed with the bones of the Great Old Ones. She just shrugged off the explosion and continued on her merry way. 

The Great Eastern was then assigned to the transatlantic passenger line. Her arrival into New York resulted in much pomp and circumstance until enterance fees and a blown sewage pipe soured American desire to stay aboard the monstrosity. While an engineering success, the Great Eastern was so far an utter financial failure. The ship was then contracted to carry British soldiers to Quebec in case the American Civil War spilled over into Canada. An unprecedented 3000 people were aboard the ship. In addition, Great Eastern not only set a new record for a transatlantic crossing, but blew away the needed time for tugboats to drag the ship into dock. 

1861 proved rather eventful for the vessel. She waxed boredom during a major hurricane that destroyed most other vessels, though her propulsion systems did take serious damage. Great Eastern still proudly sailed into port after emergency repairs. She was fitted with swag canons to protect against dastardly American raiders. By 1862, the giant was finally starting to turn a profit, much to the surprise of everyone. During one transatlantic trip, she suffered a Titanic-like engagement with a rock, gashing a hole 9 feet wide and 83 feet long... with little effect on the seakeeping abilities of the ship. The rock was unable to be reached for comment, given that the lucky/luckless monster effectively killed it. 

In 1864, the vessel was finally auctioned off where she spent time laying other pipe for about every transatlantic line. When I say "almost every transatlantic line," I basically mean all of them layed from 1864 until the mid 1880's. By this time, accretion redered the hull a floating Great Barrier Reef. This, along with other logistical and structural issues, doomed the ship to being what every modeler fears: a shelf warmer. For a time, she functioned as a massive billboard and tourist attraction. She hosted parties and even had a relatively advanced gym on board. In 1886, she participated in the Liverpool Exhibition where she struck and sunk one of her tugs, adding to her already serial killer-like tally of nine ships. 

By 1888, the Great Eastern had reached the end of her colorful life. Her fate remained uncertain, with some considering restoration as either a museum ship, a floating hotel, or even using her to literally ram land to help build the Panama Canal. The latter was... not entirely serious. She was beached in 1889 and later broken up. Her mainmast was used as the flagpole for the Liverpool F.C. stadium, granting footballers an unholy and tyrannical advantage over their hapless opponents. 

Here ends the story of one of the most interesting and colorful vessels ever put to see. That'll do, Great Eastern, that'll do. 
 

SS Great Eastern is quite possibly one of the most interesting vessels ever built. She had no right to be as well-engineered as she was. Not only that, but she boasts a heck of a story. Combrig's rendition is accurate and excellent. Free Time Hobbies lists the full hull and waterline copies at $218.95 and $164.96 respectively. They're not cheap, but the kit and subject are worthy of the cost. 

Thank you to both Modelwarships and Combrig for this review sample.