Thank you for the entertaining discussion.
There really is a certain artistry and talent in machining a piece of metal into a locomotive. Attached is picture of Locomotive Workshop frame for a 4-4-0. It was rerelease of the Lobaugh kit. It looks it was sandcasted then machined. The heft and the feel of the frame is impressive. I swear if I ever have the time to build it, I doubt that I would paint it just to reveal the metal work.
What bob2 does is remarkable. He certainly has tried to get the word out through his numerous articles.