I've heard many good things about N-Drive chassis and long admired the kit there produce for a small Contractors locomotive named 'Lily' based on a drawing by Colin Binnie. Having recently got back into 009 I decided to take a punt and order a kit. Despite many stories of long wait times I received the kit within a month of ordering, which considering the current circumstances I thought was excellent!
The kit comes supplied with this excellent little RTR chassis fitted with Mashima style motor! Its runs lovley and smooth, if a bit growly, but for £65 for a complete kit with RTR chassis who can complain!!
The body kit itself is very simple and made up of only five white metal castings that need minimal clean up. This both gives the tiny loco pleanty of weight but is also ripe to a bit of personalisation. I thought the cab looked a little bar so made up this little reverser from some microstrip.
It only took a couple of hours work to assemble the basic kit and add a few details. To counter act the reverser on the opposite side of the cab I fitted a brake handle found in the scrap box, originally from a Merdian Models Bagnall Wagon kit
Simple detail was also added to the smokebox door representing a handle and hinge, simply using some lengths of microstrip. Finally a tiny piece of square microstrip was used to give the tank filler a handle.
Once the bits of detail were added it was time for some technicolour! Body work was sprayed Ford Wedgewood blue, with Humbrol RC401 brush applied for the black sections, another Humbrol colour was used for the bufferbeams. A Vajello acrylic was used for the brass work and I'm quite pleased with the effect it gives!
Lining was done with HMRS Pressfix transfers, generic white lining been used, sealed with some matt varnish. I find this compliments the blue livery quite nicely! Nameplates were random ones bought from the Narrow Planet sale and number plates are from a set purchased from A1 models many years ago. The five pence piece gives an indication of how small this loco is! Although looking lovely, it was far too clean at this stage...
Weathering was added using AK Interactive enamel washes and Tamiya weathering powders, before the entire model was given a coat of matt varnish. Once fitted to the chassis the motor was painted black to help it blend in.
A crew was added using weathered Bachmann Scenecraft figures. Orignally I was only going to fit a single figure, but I was quite a fan of the chap leaning on the rear cab sheet! With the crew glued in and a RT models oil can added to the running plate, the loco was complete and ready for service!
Simple detail was also added to the smokebox door representing a handle and hinge, simply using some lengths of microstrip. Finally a tiny piece of square microstrip was used to give the tank filler a handle. 
