Tintin in America (Steam Locomotive)

So... I bought a bag of locomotive parts... arguably an Airfix BR 2.6.0 Mogul... 

It seems, however, that we're missing one main part of the frame... but never fear! 

Now we have one to go on the other side. The brakes aren't perfect, but that will be the backside anyway. 

Scratched up the piston box as well... 

The tender was already partially assembled, but desperately in need of some putty. 

Ok, with the side frame in place and the wheels on, it’s not that noticeable... right? or at least win’t Be after a coat of paint. 

Now to swap out the smoke stack from one of the spare locomotives. 

Trimmed and thinned and trimmed some more. 

Looks like it’ll fit with a bit more nudging. 

A bit of paint on, just to check the "hard to see" seams. Needs more work.. and the inside of the cab as well. 

A few scratches up bits to look more like the train in the album. 

Safety meeting... where are all the parts? Which ones belong where? 

Paint on... mostly XF-1 black. The wheels and then rest X-10 gunmetal... maybe I should've gone for something brighter? 

Alright, so part 35 clearly is supposed to go through a hole in the underframe. I see no hole, and no, this isn't the side I scrathbuilt. Time for some drilling. 

Ok... all the main parts are assembled. Now what? 

Time to paint the trim. 

Almost forgot, I need to scratchbuild a cow-catcher. 

A little bit of cheating, but it looks close enough for me I think. 

Now to align everything on the tracks and start getting the base organized. 

Some paint on the base and the tracks... pay no attention to the fact that the grass paper is too short... you didn't see that! 

Base finished, added almost all the details but one... almost forgot the lamps! 

Lamps in... steam a puffing. This baby is all done!