Alan Keef K40 in 7/8ths

As a test bed for my large scale projects I've acquired an Essel Engineering chassis with the purpose of building an Alan Keef K40 in 7/8ths scale...

This uses the same approach as the Motor Rail G-series, an acrylic chassis and styrene body laser cut and then assembled and smoothed. The axle boxes and couplings were 3D designed and printed by Shapeways. The bonnet doors will be a mix of etched metal and styrene - and have been designed and should be here in a few weeks.

The model has an opening door, thanks to some miniature dolls house hinges, and it looks very much at home on the tramway, despite it's more modern (and typically Peat railway) appearance.

I'm hoping to have it finished in the next few weeks - it will be nice to have a strong powerful diesel for visiting other railways as well. The other advantage of the Essel Engineering chassis is the fact it is re-gauge-able so I can also run on 45mm. More soon...