Backdating Bachmann's Thomas the Tank Engine

I'm guessing that changing minds probably happens a lot when you have a project that becomes considerably larger than originally intended, but I have finally settled. There is a guy on YouTube who builds his own 16mm scale Skarloey Railway models named Sudrian Railway Modeler. Something he does is build a base-model with the proportions of the original TV model's, but adds some details from the RWS and the real Talyllyn locomotives. I have decided that I'll follow a (somewhat) similar pattern with my Thomas model.

After frustrations on figuring out how I could possibly get a motor to fit through the 10mm gap that would be in Thomas' smokebox saddle, I remembered that most British outline small tank engines usually have the underside of the boiler separate so the motor can rest on that. Considering that would be extremely helpful for my project, I am going to do the same thing (it's a good thing Thomas has such large splashers). I also found a Speaker that would be able to fit inside Thomas' side tank if I go along the DCC Sound route. I plan on fitting the decoder in the bunker (I'm assuming that there will eventually be a custom sound decoder that will fit in there if there isn't one already, considering the technology is getting small enough for sound in Bachmann's 009 Baldwin).

I also think I figured out a way to emulate opening water-filler caps, since I don't think I could do real hinges that small. I hope the blueprint makes some sense as to how that would work.

Lastly, I have begun painting the faces, too! They're not quite so creepy, now. Work still needs to be done on the eyes, however.