Aster Gauge 1 Live Steam LNER Gresley Class A3 4-6-2 Loco & Tender No. 4472 'Flying Scotsman' — Steamline Ltd.

LIM18. Aster Gauge 1 Live Steam LNER Gresley Class A3 4-6-2 Loco & Tender No. 4472 'Flying Scotsman'. With single chimney, banjo dome and paired with a corridor tender, and in lined LNER apple green livery. This is a live steam model, factory built by Aster Hobbies of Japan, number 30 of a Limited Edition of 230 models (typically half were factory built and the other half released as kits). As can be seen from the photographs, it has never been steamed and in fact has only been unpacked from the original factory packaging for the first time for the photos below. The scale is 1:32 Gauge One (45mm) and overall length is 68.7cm (Loco and Tender) with a weight of 5.9Kg. The model is in brass and stainless steel with a copper boiler, spirit fired (Methyl Alcohol), and fitted with a host of features including - Walschaerts Valve Gear (Bore: 12mm x Stroke: 20mm), 2 Safety valves, Pressure gauge, Gauge glass, Blower valve, Regulator valve, Bypass valve, Lubricator valve, and Superheater. With Walschaerts & Gresley/Holcroft derived valve gear operated by a screw type reverser. It has a ceramic wicks tube type alcohol burner. See the photographs below of the full specification. The model comes with its original Aster box and all packing pieces (plus the outer shipping box), instruction manuals, display track, tools and accessories (unopened) plus green touch-up paint (unopened) and Aster steam oil (unopened). If the next owner plans to steam it then it is recommended that it should first be checked over by a live steam engineer as a safety precaution. Due to the value, insured shipping (UK and International) is by DHL only at cost price. The prototype was into service from Doncaster Works in February 1923. It was renumbered by the LNER to No. 4472 in March 1924 and again in May 1946 under the LNER renumbering scheme to No. 103 (later, BR No. 60103). It spent its last 10 years either at Grantham or Kings Cross and was withdrawn from KC in January 1963 for private preservation by Alan Pegler, much later becoming part of the National Collection. It ran with a corridor tender in LNER days from April 1928 until October 1936, and again in preservation. £4500.