Lego Class A4 Pacific Sir Nigel Gresley

What is it?: The model you see infront of you is based on a steam engine known as an A4 Pacific and is known as the fastest class of steam engine in the world. This individual model is based on an Engine known as Sir Nigel Gresley. This name given to the Engine is taken from the man who designed it.

Why did I build it?: I have always had a passion for steam locomotives as a whole and Lego, so lego trains to me was a match made in heaven. My favourite Lego trains are always ones based on real life counterparts e.g; The Emerald night, The Maersk train, The Horizon express etc, but i find that as far as steam trains go, there are not many, and i find there are so many other designs of steam trains to be explored and shown through lego. Even with the Emerald night having a range of features that are distinctive to a steam locomotive, there is still a massive of different designs that haven't been shown.

Why do I believe this would make a greta lego set?: I believe this would make a GREAT lego set as it has an appeal across multiple generations of people as it is significant in multiple different ways that will find different types of people being able to appreciate it for different reasons.

ONE being that is has a striking appearance. When it comes to the appearance of the locomotive, it has has a massive amount of effort put into the detail. All over the body, a wide range of features can be seen, ranging from curved, to polygonal, to utilitarian. The effort that has gone into making this model emulate the presence of the real thing is rather significant. 

TWO being the function/playability of the model. This model is fitted with power contains and is able to move under the control of a remote. Just to elaborate on this, on the Emerald night, the motor is in the cab, stopping a driver being stood inside, on this model, the motors are stored internally within the boiler (The long cylinder bit that sits above the driving wheels) with the IR receiver sitting in the firebox (the bit between the boiler and the cab) and the battery box sitting in the tender (The coal car). This arrangement of the power functions allow it to be used as a moving toy without the functioning parts compromising the aesthetic of the build.

THREE being the design/construction of the model. This model uses a range of building techniques that may be challenging to some people. With its odd shape and curvature, such as the arch above the driving wheels and the sloped front of the boiler, this may be intriguing to a range of builders that may want to take on the build and maybe learn from the techniques used and be inspired to make their own designs of trains. Going back to the aesthetic of the train, this will get the attention of the older fans having appreciation of a lego model with more difficult techniques on an older looking model (which has proven to be popular with the lego aston martin), and will get the attention of younger fans based on the fact that it is a steam locomotive and the distinct presence of it will get their attention.

FOUR being the historical significance of the locomotive the model is based on. The A4 Pacific is based on one of the most famous classes of any train in history, this class in particular holds the world record for the fastest steam locomotive (Mallard). This model in particular is showing a different colour scheme, but is still the same class of locomotive. At the time this locomotive was a mix of beauty, power and function of the peak of railway engineering.

This model, to me, is a representation and culmination of the old and the new. This was the first time trains were made aerodynamic, baring in mind this was in the 1930s. Trains today are still using the sloped front and this is a great representation of how great ideas can transcend time, and how the old and the new can coincide together. The aesthetic of this model, the techniques, the overall view of it and its striking appearing in contrast to other trains, and the history of the thing it is based on show how great ideas can exist both within the old and the new.