Microace a9537 JNR Steam Locomotive D51-22, n scale, ships from the USA

Description

the d51 is arguably the most famous steam locomotive in Japanese railroad history; it certainly was the most numerous. over 1000 were constructed between 1936 and 1945 primarily by Kawasaki Heavy Industries...used primarily in freight service, the "degoichi", the d51 nickname in japan, served for 40 years, ending its career primarily in Hokkaido island, where electrification of the mainlines occurred last among Japan's 4 main islands.
with over 1000 locomotives being constructed during the ten year building period, the d51 underwent several iterations during its storied history....
this micro ace model represents early production with an extended steam dome, a design abandoned later in the series because of maintenance difficulties..........
Micro Ace is one of the dominant triumvirate of n scale manufactures in Japan - Kato and Tomix both being better known outside of Japan....Micro Ace clearly markets the broadest line of locomotives among the 3 and arguably features the finest detail work on their products.
i acquired this model from a private party in japan who averred that he was just an agent and knew nothing about the model except that it appeared beautiful...imagine my elation when arrival revealed a clearly new, unused a9537 - the plastic top was almost hermetically sealed to its mating bottom, the covering  small paper for the locomotive was precisely symmetrical........i decided on a test run despite the numerous unused product tells which presented 25-30% rheostat values for n scale factored operating speed and a comparatively vibrant head lamp considering the pre chip led technology - the model performed smoothly and flawlessly......
the only ancillary item - the front rapido coupler - is available for installation; a new owner will have to intuit the procedure - fairly simple and obvious - as microace provides only rudimentary visual instructions......
a truly exceptional model.....