I use Tsunami decoders with TCS keepalives. Most are Tsunami 2, but there's a few engines in my fleet still on Tsunami 1 chips.

Yep. All my locos have DCC, sound and keepalive modules in them.

It's got handrails on the side of the hood. But I'm planning to add some extra details, including front handrails.

I built it from a Proto 2000 SW9, using the chassis and hood. I've done a blog post about it here: www.tumblr.com/bvlcorr/7988....

Looks good - is it based on a particular prototype?

I've looked at it. Z is more expensive than N for what you get, and it's very limited. Most of the models I looked at were Japanese.

You might want to look at the Rokuhan 'shorty' series. They're short models that can go round 4.5cm radius curves. Not much scope for operation, but good for running.

Lay it piece-by-piece. I usually use flextrack with premade turnouts (points). So I'll print out the track plan at full size, trim it down and glue it to the baseboard. I'll use that to cut out the plywood. Once that's done, I'll build the bench and lay the track atop it.

That's very well done. Is it your work? What locomotive is that in the shed?

That looks fantastic. How much running time do you get before you have to wind it up again?

It's usually the finish, for me. For this reason, I'll make sure I buy models that have paint on them or paint them myself.

That model in your tweet looks like it was cast in coloured plastic and not painted. So it's got that 'plastic-ish' look, even though it's meant to be wood.

Thanks. That photo is a few years old, I've done the scenery around it since then.

When you say 'NES Gamepad', which hardware do you mean?