This was my first effort at scratch building a loco, though I had built several cars previously.

All photographs © Joe Gilmartin

I used Evergreen styrene, only using brass for the screen, an HO scale steam cylinder end and a top from my scrap box.

The power is from a Model Power Hustler.

The body is made up of styrene shapes and the rest hand carved from plastic - I am still not satisfied with the tractor seat!

My inspiration came from:

• Ian Holmes, who had already built one
• Steve Bennett, who had tons of info
• Jim Favre, for help above and beyond,
• and all the members of the Gn15 community.

She is painted with diluted India ink over white Krylon primer following the style of Don Coker, then weathered with acrylics (you can find Don’s weathering tutorial on our Hints & Tips page - EH). The diorama base is just foam covered with woodland scenics grass and dirt.