How do I motorise Airfix 1804 Richard Trevithick locomotive
 

Can anyone recommend a way of motorising the Airfix 1804 Richard Trevithick plastic model kit?
What I would like to do is construct 10ft of flanged track and run the loco with a couple of scratchbuilt wagons so the intended model won't be the usual two rail electric fed as the wheels will be plastic.
I have a couple of discarded "Thomas" battery-operated locos which I thought of cannibalising and incorporating in some way.
Any ideas?
Thanks.
David.

The way I would do it is build the track from angled brass and copper clad sleeper. And order a new chassis from Alan Gibson might have to be made to order but costs no more. Get new wheels and go from there. As it would be a shame to do it your way only for the plastic kits not to be up to the job

Not sure how I'd do it but if you have battery powered traction then you MAY be best making the tender the power source instead of the loco but metal chassis will probably be better to get the complex motion working