Aster's Duchess of Sutherland

[main131]

Like most Aster models this Duchess is kit built. Particular care has to be taken to get the valve timings right but once set up the loco is an easy runner with considerable power.
It will run on 3 bar for as long as you have water in the boiler and spirit in the tank. My version will run for 40 minuets on one tank full but the water will need topping up at very regular intervals as I am inclined to leave the by-pass closed. It doesn`t seem to want to prime but I do bring it in for a stop every 5 minuets  or so just to check it over. It is nice to run with the cab roof on but it is easier to check all the settings with it off and when stationary.
I have seen several versions at `meets` and generally folk seem to run their engines with industrial meths which can be water free.
They also run better with the fire hole door slightly open to get a better draft round the fire and in full forward gear. This might sound obvious but I know of several owners of larger engines who prefer to slacken off the reverser. This does not work on my Duchess!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DR4MEpeQ-SU&list=UUjUA51QsBdV8jf0f2fUIfBA

 

 

[Richie]

Very nice Trevor

 

[daveyb]

yes that very nice,, i like how its not zooming round but plodding round at a normal speed

lovely stuff,,,

 

[royale]

My favourite loco, Trevor, and the Aster model is superb. Nice to see it steaming at a steady realistic speed and not rocketing around at a scale 200 mph.

 

[KeithT]

V-e-r-y nice indeed.
I struggle to think of the cost of the entire train though....!