Well, my Models & Leisure 517 tank engine is now very nearly complete. Just a copper capped chimney to paint, a bunker of coal to add, a complicated bit of lining to do on the cab sides, a couple of whistles and a protective coat of satin varnish and of course a crew to drive it.

The chassis is scratch built, the original M&L one was originally put together in my 'OO' days, before I decided to move over to the dark side

The wheels are Alan Gibson P4 ones, and the ouside bearings on the trailing wheels were sourced from my spares box (the M&L kit was for inside bearings only. The brass dome and safety valve covers were also Alan Gibson items I think. The socket type lamp holders were home made from brass square section, with a small hole drilled to hold the spigot on the lamp case (I have yet to make the lamps).

The body has been sprayed in Precision Paints GWR Pre 1928 green (an old tin from the 1990's that still has good contents - in fact all of the paints I bought years ago still seem in good condition). The Indian Red (again Precision Paints) was brushed on the chassis and on the parts of the body that needed it. The black portions were brush painted in Humbrol Matt Black. The lining is Pressfix, and had to be applied in sections as none of the elements on the sheet were the correct size or shape for the model.

A couple of pictures show the progress to date, and I am really happy with the running of the model.