The spotlight in the Steam Apprentice Club’s 2026 Model Competition is on Duncan and his outstanding LEGO model of a Fowler Z7 ploughing engine.

Built with care, the model demonstrates imagination, patience and an impressive eye for mechanical detail. Duncan began with the smokebox door, chimney and front wheels before constructing the boiler from stacked round plates and adding the cylinder block. He created the tender and footplate, ingeniously adapting a train wheel to form the flywheel, before bringing the sections together.

The finished model is a superb piece of work and a wonderful example of what this competition is intended to celebrate: curiosity, creativity and an appreciation of steam engineering.

Duncan has set an exceptionally high standard. We are delighted to showcase and celebrate his achievement.

The winner will be announced in the next edition of Raising Steam and on the SAC website. Watch this space!