My B/L Flying Scotsman is a good fifty years old, maybe more. I bought it from a guy in Cardiff who told me that it was originally in kit form.
I think that the makers were appealing to the amateur engineering market of which there were many and indeed still is (think of the thousands of Aster models that have been assembled over the years)
The engine, I was informed would travel in a straight line but not really pull anything. This all changed after John Shawe changed the boiler and most of the plumbing. Other than that most of the original is still intact. It had a new super heater about eight years back and that's it.
By the way it is Gauge 3, 22.5 scale running on 2 1/2 inch gauge track
I think that the makers were appealing to the amateur engineering market of which there were many and indeed still is (think of the thousands of Aster models that have been assembled over the years)
The engine, I was informed would travel in a straight line but not really pull anything. This all changed after John Shawe changed the boiler and most of the plumbing. Other than that most of the original is still intact. It had a new super heater about eight years back and that's it.
By the way it is Gauge 3, 22.5 scale running on 2 1/2 inch gauge track