Motor Rail 14T kit prototype…

These photos are an exciting milestone on another Planet Industrials kit, the Motor Rail 14T, a standard gauge shunter used at small private sidings and factories across the country and something that could find a home on many of your OO scale layouts...

It really is diminutive, barely taller than a standard coal wagon (in this case the Planet Industrials MDO of which we still have stock at Light Railway Stores!). Even better, I've designed it as a beginners kit, the chassis requires no modification and the etched pieces are simply superglued to the 3D printed core, and some handrails bent from the supplied brass wire. Buffers are from the RT models stable and simple push into place, either the 18" or 24" will fit nicely!

There is something quite cute about this small prototype too, and I'm looking forward to finishing this one once my order from RT arrives with the larger buffers I want to use - the plan is for a worn blue with black frames and wasp striped buffer beams, perhaps with some simple NCB markings. 

The Hornby match truck can be re-used, or a stay alive and decoder (there is even space for sound) under the bonnet. I will add plenty of lead inside mine instead, to really boost it's traction and road holding.

The production parts have been ordered, once this prototype is finished I shall write the instructions. Sign up to the Planet Industrials newsletter (enter your email in the box towards the bottom of the home page) to have first notification of when the kit becomes available. In the meantime, perhaps it's worth letting your imagination have some fun and thinking how this model could find a home on your railway. More soon...