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Western Detailer

NickL2008

Entry posted by NickL2008

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Hi,

 

As mentioned here: http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/41181-detailingrebuilding-a-lima-western-too-short-or-correct-scale-length/ I am currently working on a Lima western. The aim of this blog entry is to hopefully document what can be acheived using the Lima model as a basis to represent The Class 52 "Western.

 

Introduction

 

Although Westerns historically are before my time ive always liked them for an enthusiasts point of view. MY first run in was in 2005 when D1015 Western Champion Ran from Ealing Broadway to Newquay. Since that railtour I have photographed D1015 on various railtours and even a couple of freight workings. Back a few years ago I got the Heljan model of D1015 in "golden Ocre" livery. This mode ldespite its faults was a good representation of the Class 52, in fact probably the best, compared to Hornby and Lima, which had much mroe faults. So the question is why work on the Lima model? well as I say why not?! although the Lima model has much mroe faults it is better than the Hornby and Trix versions, all models of which were first released in the 60s/70s(?).

 

The main work invovled, and there is alot of it, revoles around the cab ends.. not wisihing to go into detail here as its already been mentioned in the thread ive linked, the Western is some 5mm too short body length so this will need to be corrected. The rainstrip also requires to be moved and altered. Other modifications include extending the cab roof to suit the Heljan/Brassmasters parts as thethey are different to the Lima Mouldings they are to replace, as well the horn boxes need to be be remade using 0.10thou brass sheeting.

 

 

Work starts

 

Firstly I do apologise for the lack of pictures but more will come when I return home. The first alterations were filling in the cab grab rails, these were filled with Games Workshop "green stuff". two 1mm approx holes will be drileld down and blanked of with plasticard and the rail added with 0.5mm wire. As the Western has short fairings I have purchased the "Black" Heljan spare spure which has the fairings, and the underframe mouldings. The middle section has been added which resolves the shortened Lima fairings which are shortened for bogie clearance. My next objective is to get the Brassmasters detailing kit, And the Heljan "clear" spures to continue work.

 

More soon

 

NL

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4 Comments

Recommended Comments

Andy1963

Hi, I currently have 3 Lima Westerns and one Heljan. Although the Lima Westerns are poorly detailed and do not like running on DCC at all, I have decided to stick with them and a) detail them and B) re-motor them. I have started on one of the loco's and have removed the moulded lamps but not yet the hand rails. The motor has been removed and I am fitting a CD drive motor in it's place. Ultra Scale products produced some brass drive gears for me (not cheap, but I couldn't find an alternative) and I am currently working on manufacturing a plate to hold the motor in place. Initial tests with the motor connected to a decoder suggest a significant improvement to performance is possible. Couple this with detailing the ends and fitting fuel filler detail instead of the dreadful flat plates and I think the loco's will look and act the part.

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BernardTPM

The Hornby and Lima versions both came out around the same time, mid-1979. Though both were a long way from perfect, to my eyes the Lima had the advantage as it wasn't disfigured along it's lower edge by the join line and those awful clips. The cab roof and windows were its big let-down. I was looking at repowering mine with an Athern U28-C as the bogie wheelbase was practically spot-on. It has a nice big motor with flywheels; much more up to the job than the Lima pancake.

The one area the Lima model scores over the Heljan one is the main bodyside grilles which correctly sit virtually flush with the main bodyside. Both the Hornby and Heljan ones are set in by around 10 thou." which just looks wrong, especially when viewed from end on.

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NickL2008

I prefer the Lima Western, as I found that it has a better shape, and the moulded detail etc is much more superior than its Hornby counterpart. I was wondering if the Heljan gear towers would be correct for the change of motor, as mentioned in the advice thread I started as although Howes have confirmed they fit the Heljan Western I am still questioning suitability, I know I dont have to fit them, but for the model a centrally mounted motor I feel would be better than the Lima Panacke set up.

 

The project as a whole I feel is a straight forward one, there is quite a fair amount of work, mainly focussing around adding length to the body and Chassis which is easy enough to do, and will be helped by adding supports. The test for me will be getting the cab windows and the brow right as I assume both will need plastic sheeting adding as well as being sanded to shape. I shall get the Brassmaster kit in as well as the Heljan Clear spares spure and take the cab ends from there

 

NL

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