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Usually it doesn't happen to me, that I continue with a model someone else has started, but this one is a bit of an exception here. One of my fellow modelers started this project but was unable to finish it so I took it over and hopefully will get it over the finish line. The model itself is L.Z. Models conversion based on Trumpeter's S-65 tractor kit but has almost none of the Trumpeter plastic remaining. When I got it the building phase was almost complete, but the model had resin chassis frame heavily warped over time it sat nearly ten years I got it somewhat straight again bathing it in hot water and also replaced exhaust and air stacks. Also some fuel lines, wiring and linkage has been added by me. First, here are some photos before it got to my hand. And here it is on my bench with my enhancements and assembly completely done: Cheers! Kristjan

Hi, I bought this model as an impulse buy in the hannants tent about 2 years ago at one of the Duxford air shows. At the time I had lots of models to build so I wasn't looking too hard at the kits but temptation seemed to find me anyway. When I got home I realised (yet again) that Trumpeter had very cleverly boxed the item to look extremly appealing, but of course as soon as I began to do some research I realised that work needed to be done to bring it up to scratch. Other than the usual inconveniently placed ejector moulding pin circles that you come to expect from most trumpeter kits, there was also the considerable problem of size. Many of the moulded on details are just plain chunky. Fortunately for me (but not my wallet) Eduard came to my rescue in their Big Ed set. Now I had 8 sheets of photoetch to improve my model with. But still that wasn't enough, so back to the internet where I found Libor's fabulous build log of the very same model which ultimately led to me purchasing all of his 5 resin sets from LZ models for the loco (cue more misfortune for the wallet). Now this man is somewhat of a detail specialist and his resin sets are quite something. The only flaw being that the instructions on where to put all the parts still confuses me but I suppose that as these are his very first commercial resin sets that he produced so I can't expect them to be perfect. Below is a good example though of the improvement i'm going to get from using the resin instead of the kit parts, (this is a part of one of the domes on top of the boiler). And here's all the resin sets I also intend to build a diorama base for it so I also bought a water pump and some scenic materials. All of this adds up to a LOT of stuff! The kit All the extras together Anyway enough about all that and back to the actual build. I've done a few of my own modifications to the kit (mainly removing things and making holes!) After all that I eneded up taking a long break from this model. It stalled because I wanted to buy some metal rails and attach them to the diorama base so I could make sure that all my wheels were going to sit on the rails (I notice the little wheels at the front and back hanging in mid air in quite a few built versions!). I'd decided that it would be best to do any required adjustments before i got down to painting. Unfortunately of the 2 companies online that do what I want the one that I chose didn't seem all that keen on sending me only 2 pieces of track. I asked them for a price, they gave me one then I asked them about payment methods (it wasn't at all clear on their site) then I never did get a reply. I was going to phone but I just never did, the model got packed into a box after a few months and there it lay for about a year and half. The model came back out of the box a couple of weeks ago and I became determined that this time it will get done! Ironically I still haven't got those rails, it's been about 2 weeks after David phoned in my order and gave his payment details and I haven't got an order and I haven't been charged for one! It's time to phone them up again.... Rail troubles aside I began by building the bunker at the back (at least I think that's it, railway terminology is not my strong point) and adding the photo etch. I also did a bit of work removing and thinning some over exaggerated detail. At the moment i'm beginning to work on the cab, I got my photoetch glued to my roof yesterday and i've begun to contemplate the boiler. At the moment it's pretty simple and in some places inaccurate, the photo etch and resin will add a considerable amount of detail but I still need to work on some elements and work out which of the extra parts go where, what I need to scratch build and what order I need to do things in. In short a lot of thinking! Anyway I hope you enjoyed my introduction to my latest creation and that it isn't too long! Amanda