What fun!
Frankly, imho , change the pilot wheels and drivers color , and roof color and it would be less toy like. Something vaguely Virginia and truckee in feel.
I think I'd leave the old model alone as it's so cute, and get a modern Hartland 4-4-0 (a descendant of the Kalamazoo loco) if I wanted a slightly less toy-like version.
I originally had plans to do some rework of the paint and general appearance. But the silly thing has 'grown' on me. I'll probably enjoy the toylike appearance for awhile. I seem to have drifted away from the 'cuteness' of the early G-gauge trains. Handling of the scale-like engines has become difficult without doing damage.
Looks like the ideal loco to turn into a Cab Forward. Couple of options for you here.I have one of those also, it was a really cheap ebay purchase. I love it for its toy-like charms, and it runs really well. It now has a DCC decoder fitted.
(the accompanying wagon is rather out of scale in this photo, it was one my late father built many years ago!)
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