Plan a miniature tunnel around the model’s complete chosen pose, not the nominal scale or the catalog height alone. The usable result is a removable opening that clears the model and still lets you retrieve it normally.
Make a temporary opening
Before cutting permanent scenery, form a loose paper or card arch away from the model. Set the miniature in the intended pose on a flat surface, then compare the arch without dragging it across rails, mirrors or the cab. Leave the top removable while planning access.
- Choose the state: straight or articulated, rails up or folded, bucket low or raised.
- Record the widest and highest points in that state, including small projections.
- Check the entrance and the interior separately; a roomy entrance can lead into a narrow bend.
- Plan how the model will leave the scene. A removable roof or side may be more practical than a tight permanent tube.
Movement changes the envelope
The R2900 XE review documents folding rails and articulation. Those are reasons to measure the selected state, not an instruction to push the model through a tunnel until it fits. If a rail does not move normally, stop and consult the exact instructions.
For the illuminated AD60, also preserve access to the controls described by the supplied instructions. Finish the plan only when the model can be positioned, viewed and retrieved without forcing its details.