Building a Roundhouse kit - wrong place to start?

[Boustrophedon]

My two penneth: I would say that a Roundhouse kit is exactly the right place to start, if you have some model engineering experience. I would regard myself as a skilled mechanic, I have been fiddling and repairing machines and cars since I was a kid. As a model engineer I have built a couple of static steam engines.

I would not say that a Roundhouse kit is a nut and bolt kit; you have to have an idea of what you are doing. But having said that the instructions are good, though more pictures would improve them.

I doubt that you save on a factory built engine, I have spent a lot on paint and the loco will always be a "kit built " engine and thus will I suspect, be worth slightly less in the long run if my executors ever have to sell it. (Over my dead body etc.)

On the plus side I have had the satisfaction of building it. And building it to my specifications as I go.

You pays your money and takes your choice.