Scenery is the key to giving a layout a hi-rail/scale look. A 1940's look with Gilbert diecast steam is very possible with realistic scenery. The tuscan, brown and red colored rolling stock produced by Gilbert is limited, after all color cars sold better, but tons available by AM and SHS. There is always the airbrush. Rudimentary switching is difficult as Rusty explained. One solution is the use of Legacy/TMCC control with a Powermaster. You then have the ability to operate conventional engines with the handheld controller which allows for slow speed operation of units with original drive and reverse units. Another solution is a can motor drop in conversion with an electronic reverse unit. You will get the slow speed operation although with a conventional transformer, start up's and reversing smoothness might be dependent on the transformer used. A combination of both, drive conversion plus operation with Legacy/TMCC handheld would probably be the smoothest. Definitely doable.
Rich
