4 inch scale Garrett agricultural engine

A particularly well-built 4 inch scale Garrett agricultural engine, twenty years in the build and completed in 2018 - it was first steam tested at that time.

It's come to us from the builder, a man now in his eighth decade who had found a half ton traction engine starting to get on the large side to manoeuvre about.

It's complete bar boiler cladding - not a big job to make and fit and colour matching will be dead easy - the engine has been painted in John Deere green, lined out in black and white.

The thing that stands out about this engine is the silky smooth feel of the motionwork and steering - fit and finish of all parts is to a high standard, it runs virtually silently and, with the characteristic heavy-rimmed Garrett flywheel, will run down to a mesmerically slow tickover.

Boiler was supplied new by Valentine in 1997, welded steel with expanded tubes and flanged backhead. It didn't actually get to see a fire until twenty years later - there's no point in hurrying these projects!

The engine has been steamed on half a dozen occasions. It runs beautifully and mechanically remains in as-new condition.