Illawarra48class

I was given push-along blue rail train set 171 for Xmas in 1978. Imagine controlling your own railway at age 5 then! (I grew up next to a real railway and toys weren't, and still aren't, that sophisticated for my [then] age group). I was gotten from then until about age 15, some 10 years later, as the range evolved and expanded. Haven't looked at Lego for years, but remember doing isometric drawings in pencil of trains I would build if I could at the time. Cheers, IFC

Hi Lightning Tiger. I'm brand new so won't try guessing - but, Lego is surely an abstract expression of any subject? If I wanted to model an 81 Class, I reckon an 80's style steep wrap around windscreens (six studs wide) would give me a better angle, even if they're not prototypical. Perhaps for emphasis I'd step the windscreen back a stud layer. I'd go for 45 deg roof panels and flat two stud centre for the roof to get that 81 feel, and let it overhang the windscreen. If feeling reckless, I'd chuck a lighting brick into the roof profile along with header and cab lights to make 'er look like she meant business on an overnight freighter. All in all, you're on the right track. IFC