At last I've actually done something! I bought a couple of cheapo Argos drills today and have removed the motors using Ellis' tutorial video (very helpful!)
Over the next month(s) I'll start buying all the bits and pieces I'll need and Torrent might will start taking shape! Finally I feel like I'm going somewhere.

On a trivial little side note, I met the son and wife of the man who built and competed with Demon Duck today, which was interesting.