Bengalensis

I did a little Photoshop work on the famous photo, then I tried this place: https://www.meshy.ai/workspace Their free version called "Meshy 4" generated only results that are of little use in our case, probably like you already found. Their paid versions "Meshy 5" and "Meshy 6 preview" looked much more promising, the last version might even look a little bit like Rudolf Uhlenhaut himself, at least if you're a little kind. How well it would print in 1/24 scale I don't know, and being able to download files and really use it is a subscription of 19 EUR/month. How easy is it is to end a subscription I haven't checked, even if I do have a few more projects that could be interesting... This is from version 6 and it does look a little tempting:

I did search around quite some time ago, as I have the same kit to build one day, but found nothing useful. However, now that I think of it again I saw somewhere in the 3D-section here that there are nowadays services that offer to create a 3D-model of a person from a photo. I think that needs to be looked closer at...

Good to se another 8C 2300 being built, it's a pretty nice kit to work on. If you can find anything useful in my old build it is found here: https://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/235088094-alfa-romeo-8c-2300-monaco-gp-32/ But you seem to be doing very well already 👍

Lovely work on that mirror (as well as the rest)! A figure of Rudolf Uhlenhaut himself would sit so good in the open door...

The cab details are not that bad I think. With some good preparation and possibly some small help one might get away even with opening up the body shell to one of them. Car builder talking about the “body shell”, there’s probably a better name...

Measuring, thinking and planning continues. I’ve cut down the engine mounts (that I believe were meant as workshop supports for building a diorama with a removed power unit) to place the power units at what is probably a more correct height relative to the floor, basically as low as possible without cutting into the bottom details of the power unit itself. Still they are much to close to the roof, even if they are now inside. I need to get them down at least 4 mm, possibly 5 mm, so some more drastic surgery to the floor part needs to be done.

A B.R. Mogul 2-6-0, 76114, the old Airfix (ex Kitmaster) kit, again built very much straight from the box with some care and transfers from Fox Transfers.

That's some warping, I hope you can get it sorted well.

Yes, divide the weight of the real object with the scale three times is what I have learned.

I did put the tender wheel/axle assemblies in afterwards, mostly as I like to glue, surface prepare and paint in that order, and very much against the instructions... To do it this way the axle stubs has to be cut down a bit, but not too much, and they then also have to be pried in place with some force. There isn't much margin, cut too much and they will risk falling out when gluing, cut too little and the tender might break. Or don't do things as I do them might be safer... 😎

Looking good! Lovely colour combination on the early style DS as well.

Looking lovely! Very fascinating with older kits created be enthusiasts for enthusiasts...

That's a great video, thanks a lot for pointing that out! I have downloaded it to my reference files for ease of use, it will be a lot of help 👍 This is a drawing I've had saved for quite some time now, long before this GB actually. I just love old technical drawings and illustrations: https://conceptbunny.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Deltic.gif I also have this file saved as an inspiration, even though it's a model of a production Deltic I will borrow from it where I see fit: https://acwhyte.droppages.com/downloads/research/Deltic_Locomotive_Sept18.pdf I'd like to build a model a bit like this, even if it will be simplified and compromised. One side/end with the full exterior, the other side with sections cut open. Not sure how clever that is...

Lovely work! Looking at the photos I can hear the steel rollers against that ground as it slowly moves along...

I’m trying to understand what I’m up against here… Suddenly, as I start looking more seriously at what I think I need to do, the time left until 18th January seems not that long as I thought… I think I have to build up a one piece body shell from the separate parts to deal with all glue joints, expected fit issues and such, before any serious painting. And then there are the raised areas for the cream transfers. Even though they are raised on the real thing it’s too prominent on the model, and keeping it would require a perfect fit of the transfers, and I’m not so sure of that... I also need to understand any visible exterior difference between the 1st and 2nd ends. So far I see none, except perhaps some outlets at the roof centre section. Then there is the more involving work of fitting the power units and making up something believable of the rest of the engine compartment. The power units first looked very large, but they measure out very well. First thing is that they need to sit much lower than the kit parts allow. I need a much lower floor in the engine compartment. @Mjwomack Am I correct in thinking that when you go from the driver’s cab into the engine compartment, you actually go down into the engine compartment, perhaps some two good steps down? If so, that would explain what I would like to do...