I agree with Frank’s idea. Resin kits scare a lot of would-be builders, just like piles of etched brass sheets in a diesel kit do.
With a little ingenuity, which Frank has in abundance, the ladder stiles and rungs can be designed with tapered sides that help create the illusion of separate pieces. That’s 1 of the many advantages of using rubber molds vs. traditional metal molds: negatively drafted, shallow features mean nothing. If properly done, looking dead-on to the model will look just fine. Only shadows may allude to something else but careful weathering can hide some of that too.