That thing could become MUCH more compact if you're willing to have fancier side plates. There's no reason that the gears need to be in a straight line. Also, you can make the whole gearbox thinner (less distance between sideplates) by flipping the small and large gears on some of the axles.
Does that small blue gear need to be there? Doesn't look like it's doing anything.
thanks, Vivek
p.s. I'm a fan of heavily lightened 1/4" al sideplates. Besides being light and effective, they're absolutely beautiful.
