Stuart No.4 high speed vertical engine

We always hold that great modelling is 80% observation - it's surprising how many beautifully made models one sees exhibiting excellent craftsmanship, but bearing only superficial resemblance to a full-size prototype.

This, in contrast, is an exquisitely made model of a vertical engine - acutely observed and built to an excellent standard by somebody who evidently had extensive knowledge of the full-sized prototypes.

Based on an early Stuart No.4 with slipper crosshead - an elegant design looking like a miniature No.1 - it has been modified from standard with much added detailing. Pictures opposite show exactly what has been done, but the things we note and like about this one include:

• Contoured top cylinder cover with a central doping plug, hold down studs showing equal threads through bar-turned nuts.
• Tapped jacking holes in cylinder and valve chest covers for removal without damaging mating faces
• Tail rod gland for slide valve
• Valve chest drains, piped to base
• Flanged and bolted steam valve, finely proportioned spoked handwheel with knurled rim
• Crosshead lubricator pot, piped through to slipper guides
• Oil pots fitted to main bearing straps
• Fully machined balanced crankshaft
• Double nutted big end bearing, pinned gudgeon pin nut
• Solid flywheel, keyed to crankshaft
• Mechanical lubricator, driven from eccentric strap, finely made with brass tank and knurled hand wheel

Mounted on a wooden base, we suspect at some later date - it's not of the same quality as the engine (and the crosshead mounting screws would, surely, have been anathema to a man who'd gone to the trouble of making bar-turned nuts for the engine).

The engine runs, as might be expected, every bit as well as it looks.

Complete with vintage, Henley-era blueprints. Something of a miniature masterpiece - we like this one.