In the case of British outline locomotives our models are built to a scale of about 16mm to the foot. European models are built to the LGB scale of 13.5mm to the foot, but are compatible in size with 16mm scale locomotives. Models built with a mind for the North American market are built to a scale of 15mm to the foot (ie. 1/20th scale), and are compatible with Bachmann and LGB American rolling stock.

Our engines are built to 32mm (gauge '0') or 45mm (gauge '1'). Certain models are gauge adjustable by the owner. This is done very simply by laying the engine on its side on a cloth and with a small bladed screwdriver, slackening the grub screws that hold the wheels in place, then sliding the wheels to the required gauge. The axles have pre-drilled dimples to aid accurate gauge setting. This means that you do not have to measure the gauge once you have set the wheels.

All our engines have weatherproof internal gas firing. The gas we recommend is Butane, which is the same as cigarette lighter gas.  The burner is enclosed within the fire tube in the boiler. This means that the engines can be run in almost any weather condition and are completely safe indoors.

Our boilers are silver soldered and tested to twice working pressure. They are fitted with safety valves set at 50psi and are all fitted with pressure gauges. Boilers are of the centre flue design - ie. where a single tube runs the length of the boiler. Some are of the 'T' flue design where the horizontal tube enters a vertical tube at the front end. This gives added water capacity as it allows the boiler to be extended up into the smoke box.

All our engines are fitted with radio control for both speed and direction.  We use the 40MHz waveband which offers reduced interference and increased operating range. There are also more frequencies to choose from in this waveband, which is especially useful if you are operating more than one engine at a time. The 27MHz waveband is only used on locos intended for the North American market. Some of our engines are fitted with a special speed/direction valve and only require one channel for the control of both speed and direction. Other locos, such as "The Countess" require one channel for speed control and the other channel to operate the direction control.

This is very simple. You fill the engine with gas, oil and water as described in the instructions. Turn on the gas control gently and apply a light to either the top of the chimney, to the underside of the smoke box, or to the open smoke box door. The flame will "pop" down into the flue tube and onto the burner.  Once the fire has stabilized you can turn up the gas control and allow the engine to raise about 40psi pressure. You then switch on your transmitter, the locomotive's receiver, and simply drive away. In all our designs the gas has been programmed to run out before the water as a safety precaution.

The bodies of our engines are constructed from etched brass. This process allows us to reproduce fine detail including rivets, beading around the cab doors and cab roof ventilator slides. All locos are further enhanced with castings of lost-wax brass to represent the fittings on the original (or prototype) locomotives.

We use an acrylic paint system, which is very hardwearing and retains its showroom finish almost indefinitely. Where possible we try to match actual railway colours such as GWR green and LMS crimson lake.

All our locomotives are supplied with a bottle of steam oil, a syringe for filling the boiler, and a gas adaptor which screws onto readily available gas cans. We recommend Butane gas such as Taymar or Parasene, which can be obtained from hardware stores, or DIY superstores such as B&Q or Focus Do-lt-All.