From Miniature to BIG

Have you found any coal that you could fit to complete the model?

As it happens it is supposed to come with an optional 'coal load' accessory, but it is missing from the package.  I'm chasing the retailer about that as I may use it, although I'm more likely to make an insert myself on a 3D printer and then put real coal on the top of it as it will look more realistic.  In some ways its nice that they thought to make it an optional accessory rather than just lumbering you with a plasticky looking one like you get on most ready to run models.

Oh, Mallard, the beautiful "blue Spencer"! 

I suppose you already have the other preserved A4, Sir Nigel Gresley, Nigels?

I do have a model of Sir Nigel Gresley in OO scale and probably would have opted for that if it had been an option open to me in this scale.  But unfortunately the only way I could have done that would have been to go for an unnumbered version and sourced name plates and decals for the running numbers etc...  But having had a look around for these items I couldn't find them in O gauge, so I decided to go for the Mallard.  Other choices in named models were 'Silver link' in the grey/silver livery, but I didn't fancy that as they didn't carry proper name plates and I've never been a fan of the grey wheels lol!  Other than that all they had left were 'Union of South Africa' and 'Commonwealth of Australia' but I didn't fancy those as they were in late BR Green and were the versions that came without valances (the side plates that partly cover the wheels on the fully streamlined versions).

Love those wheels and the cabs detail 👍

Me too Super, the red wheels were one of the things that swayed me to that particular livery of the named loco's still available.  I was also surprised to see that they had even gone to the effort to model the cab details accurately rather than just re-use the A3 version.  I take it you also noticed the excellent rivet detailing?  I was also really impressed with the chrome striping on the top of the running board at the front of the engine, I don't think the pictures did that particularly good justice.  It's the first time I've seen that modelled in this way on a ready to run model, most of the time if there is any detail at all it just tends to be the ridges but painted in black like the rest of that part of the loco.  Did you also notice the small brass tubing around the right hand (looking from the front) name plate?  Never seen that on a model before either, guess they really went to town with these models