Starting a Railway War

This is the armoured train I have been working on. I think I'll name it the Red Sonya (Krasnaya Sonya, красная соня - according to Google translate and Wikipedia), which sounds about right for a Bolo train and is a hat tip to the fictional heroine.

Though not at all a copy, my train is inspired by the Red Siberia that was captured from the Whites at Chelyabinsk station in summer 1919. 

This first photo is from the time of it's capture in July 1919.

This second photo is later at Kurgan station. Probably August-September 1919.

Here are some close ups of the parts so far.

The basis for the train was this set I got from a well known tax dodging online marketplace.  The set includes the engine and carriages shown plus seven curved, two straight and two points/switches.  Each piece is about 12" long.

I also have this one, which matches track and truck couplings.  Be careful when buying, there are others that don't match on the track joins even though the trains are very similar.  The couplings on the others will join even though they are different.

The second set has no points but does come with six curved and four straight track pieces.

These are some earlier photos of the work in progress.  Look at the size of that funnel!  And why is there a Pritt stick lid on that train?

This is the earliest concept image.  Note the clever use of train tickets as ersatz gun carriage rooves.