SCRATCHBUILDING ON A GRAND SCALE.

Akash Kamble is a mechanical engineer and station master with Mumbai's monorail.  He's had some time, with Indiana's shutdowns, to work in 1:35 scale.

"I first started with cardboard and foam-based train and engine models, but later moved to working with aluminium. My research involves reading about trains, their specifications and poring over their drawings. I make models of 1:35 scale, realistic and a perfect match [to the original]. The continuous involvement slowly leads to perfection," says Kamble, a resident of Ambernath, adding, "I have made a model of the most powerful green coloured WAG-9 electric locomotive and two coaches of the Garib Rath train. Besides this, one of my favourites is the diesel locomotive, a few coaches of the Mumbai local and a mail express."

He has also found the time to give finishing touches to earlier models, giving them a realistic feel. To acquire a weather beaten look of a diesel locomotive, he uses candle light against the aluminium sheets.

His detail work is good.  The article does not say whether the models are powered, or not.  But can't we use a better expression than "chug" for a monorail?  "[Kamble] has acquired drawings and technical specifications of the Mumbai Monorail and hopes to complete the project before the city chugs back to normal."  Best wishes.