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Aster
Construction |
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THE PRODUCTION PROCESS
| The design of an Aster
locomotive starts with obtaining fully detailed original blueprints and photos of the full
sized locomotive. The Aster engineers then analyse the blueprints and make scale
drawings for each of the several hundred parts that go to make up the model. From
these drawings a pilot model is made and its performance is tested by the Aster
engineers. Fidelity of the pilot model is checked by American, European or Japanese
authorities depending on the origin of the prototype. Any changes required to
enhance the quality of the model or to improve the production process are made.
Finally, 30 different makers share the manufacturing of the 300 to 800 different parts
that make up the model. Between 20% and 40% of the production run is assembled
in the factory with the remainder packed as kits. The kit assembly
illustrations and instructions are developed during the course of building the factory
assembled models. |
MATERIALS
Pipe lines are made of copper
tubes. Stainless steel wheels are made from a highly accurate moulding process. |
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| Water and fuel tanks
are made of brass. |
Smokebox, boiler
casings, etc are made of stainless steel. |
PRECISION
| Main frames are laser cut within 1/100 mm
tolerance. The valve gear parts are also laser cut resulting in no burs as you
would find with conventional press cutting. 
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STEAM POWER
| The valve gear systems are correctly modeled in
Aster locomotives for the ultimate in realism. All boilers are factory tested and
safety devices such as safety valves, gauge glasses, pressure gauges and axle pumps are
included. 
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