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Class 47 detailing project. Conversion of Bachmann 47. "A P4 Brush 4". Part 5 – Bogies.... biting off more that I can chew ?

Jon020

Entry posted by Jon020

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It’s been a while since I posted an update; sorry about that. I added some gallery photos, but I’ve missed out on the dialogue obtained from these great blogs... so hopefully this will be a start to remedy that.

Life has been getting in the way of modelling... but given that “life” has included a couple of trips up to the ELR and some 2 and 4 stroke diesel encounters, and a model show or two, life’s not caused too much of a railway abstention.

 

Well, I started trying a light improvement to the model’s bogies, but it’s not ended up going that way... maybe I have taken on more that I really intended, but if I can continue what I’ve achieved so far, they’ll probably look ok. Or rather, that’s the hope. No springing here... but hopefully a reasonable visual impact.

 

First of all... where we were previously, the bogie frame was cleaned up of its pipework, springs and other “Class 57” fittings. A plastic card plate was added, and new springs manufactured from 0.4mm brass wire (or was it 0.6... I’d better check before I make the next one)... I used microstrip wrapped around the ends of the springs to represent the spring cups. I wish this was as easy as it sounds... these were a fiddle, but got easier as they went on... all secured with thin (pink) zap-a-gap.

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Some holes needed opening up in the casting and side lugs... some new broaches helped get a clean cut.

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At Railex earlier this year I ended up talking to Ian Penberth who’s making some sprung bogie kits. These looked very nice, so I acquired one for the 47. This arrived and I opened it all up.... read through bits of the instructions, whimpered a bit, and put it all away again. I’ve since spoken to Ian and he understands my problem, so hopefully some further guidance will eventually be forthcoming and I’ll feel brave enough to give it a go again. For now, I’ll concentrate of the visual look of the loco and leave the smooth running of diesels to the likes of Ian and Justin N.

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The inner springs were constructed in the same manner as the outers but didn’t need the cups... side plates were made from plastic card. The inner brake hanger mounting needs some trimming to permit these to be fitted.

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Sitting in front of the inner springs is a small square plate ... not sure what this was for, but these were made from a couple of layers of plastic card, shaped and with 0.3mm holes drilled in the relevant locations.

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A comparison of the before and after brake hangers.

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To fit the brake links, I found it necessary to pare the material back to enable the ultrascales to fit... some careful use with a sharp blade was necessary; shame I wasn’t so careful with my fingers.

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Once finished, some 33swg wire was used to “pin” the brake units back in place.

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A test fit to check that all was well.

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I’d made a representation of the pipe work using the 33swg wire with plastic micro rod drilled out... and sections slid onto the wire to represent the unions and fittings. Bending the wire as the fitting progresses allows a reasonable effect... or rather at least one that I was happy with.

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Part of the part that wasn’t too well represented by the Bachmann part is the part that I’d refer to as the brake lever/linkage mechanism. This is represented on the Heljan sideframes, but it’s all a bit clunky and whilst Bachmann bits are included (only half of those actually needed), I thought that some work could be done. The main frame was made with some thinned down spare etch fret, carefully bent using some tweezers and fitted to two slithers of plastic card and microstrip... which was used to anchor it too.

The brake rod was made with a bit of 0.4mm wire, plastic rod and microstrip, which was then inserted into the casting’s hole and attached to the frame.

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One item that I needed to think about was the mechanism spring. I used the 33swg wire again and wrapped it around a thin pin from the wife’s needlework box... too big! So I fed another piece of wire into the frame of my fret saw and wrapped a piece of wire around this. It was at this point that I found myself thinking (again) that I must be mad going to this extreme... it’s not doing my eyesight much good ... but hopefully the end result will be worth it.

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Once cut to length, a straight piece of wire was inserted into the coiled wire, and this was looped at each end. Seperate “hooks” were made for the attachments, one fitted through a 0.3mm hole drilled into the microstrip section attached to the bogie casting. Once the bits were fitted together, they were assembled on the bogie and positioned as “looked” right.

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In close up, I think it’s ok... well, it’s all my eyesight could manage.

 

So, that’s one corner done... now for the other 4 of this bogie, and then I can start the other one... assuming I manage to ward off the men in white coats that is

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I’ve also been contemplating a “display”. Today I gave my new circular saw a go on some lengths of spare ply. I might just knock up that spare C10 turnout and pair then up as a crossing, with some straights for a plank... thinking Jim SW work... but not quite that good. No plan yet... but it’ll be good to work out how to work my turnouts.

 

Thanks for reading....

Jon

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Angelus
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Wow! Looking like the real thing now. That last section had my eyes straining!

Will the extra detail cope with the bogie flexing when you clip it back onto the bogie? My fingers are crossed Jon!

 

Terry

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Jon020

Hi Terry. Thanks for the comments. Yes, I've removed some of the material on the clip so it's now a loose fit to get it back on... I'll pin it or put a screw through it all to keep it tight.

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Angelus
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Jon,

 

After I posted my comment I thought you would have already thought of that. And you had!

 

Terry

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jjnewitt

Looks lovely Jon. I'd intended to use Heljan sideframes on my class 47 but having seen what the Bachmann ones can look like I might reconsider. The replacement coil springs look much better. It might be dangerous if I did that though I might get tempted to make them work. As if I don't have enough to do! The square plates in front of the secondary suspension springs are a bit odd aren't they. I can't work out what they could be there for. Perhaps someone will enlighten one day. Give the springing kit a go on a rainy day sometime. If you can do all this detailing work you'll be able to put it together. Keep up the great work.

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NickL2008

Looks good Jon... I see youve use the same methods I used for the Springing mechanism .. It makes a good difference as well as the struts next to the primary springs as well must admit, and did to my model of 47145

 

NL

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bcnPete
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Jon, hi

 

Great to see you back posting - WoW, this is stunning work as always.

 

I admire your tenacity and goal to get those bogies looking just right, even if afterwards they get a liberal coating of sleeper grime and gunk ;)

 

And the step by steps are great too - am guessing tripod and self timer for at least one of those shots above...unless you roped in your wife to help!

 

Keep it up...this 47 is going to be fab when done and whilst it may never knock your Deltic off the topspot (in your eyes) I for one shall be very happy to see it :D

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Mike G

Fantastic stuff, get a set of magnifiers for your eyesight. How many 47's in your fleet? Are you going to go the same route with the 47 body...supa detailed?

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Jon020

Looks lovely Jon. I'd intended to use Heljan sideframes on my class 47 but having seen what the Bachmann ones can look like I might reconsider. The replacement coil springs look much better. It might be dangerous if I did that though I might get tempted to make them work. As if I don't have enough to do! The square plates in front of the secondary suspension springs are a bit odd aren't they. I can't work out what they could be there for. Perhaps someone will enlighten one day. Give the springing kit a go on a rainy day sometime. If you can do all this detailing work you'll be able to put it together. Keep up the great work.

Morning Justin. I did a comparison of the two a while back - posted in part 4 I think - and decided on this option. Actually, the ViTrains ones look worth examining if you can get them as spares (?) I think the springs look ok... and I think the ones I did second were better than the first ones. Still fiddly though. Working... ha... yes, I'll leave that to you for now. Yes, I intend to leave the kit for another (rainy) day. I'd need new wheels anyway, my Ultrascales would be of no use. Thanks for the comments.

 

 

Looks good Jon... I see youve use the same methods I used for the Springing mechanism .. It makes a good difference as well as the struts next to the primary springs as well must admit, and did to my model of 47145

 

NL

Hi Nick, yes it does improve the look of the whole bogie to get rid of the malnourished originals. Thanks.

 

Jon, hi

Great to see you back posting - WoW, this is stunning work as always.

I admire your tenacity and goal to get those bogies looking just right, even if afterwards they get a liberal coating of sleeper grime and gunk ;)

And the step by steps are great too - am guessing tripod and self timer for at least one of those shots above...unless you roped in your wife to help!

Keep it up...this 47 is going to be fab when done and whilst it may never knock your Deltic off the topspot (in your eyes) I for one shall be very happy to see it :D

Hi Pete, thanks! I find that the step-by-steps help me because this is a long term project and it serves to remind me what to do as I go along. I take all the photos on my ancient Canon Powershot G2... it's usually sat on the desk or balanced on a few books or boxes if I need height. I try to use a small aperture (F8 is max on this) and long exposure on self timer for a steady shot. For some I used some white paper, which improves the images and I'll try to remember to do this again... it's good for a finsihed stage shot... but not so "right" for the actually "working" shot.

I think that each model improves on the last; we tend to learn as we go along. I'll just have to do another deltic won't I :D

 

 

Fantastic stuff, get a set of magnifiers for your eyesight. How many 47's in your fleet? Are you going to go the same route with the 47 body...supa detailed?

Hi Mike... yes, body was done in parts 1 and 2 (see index). I now need to go back to this and do some further bits, but they'll wait until Mr Hanson has produced them for me :biggrin_mini2:

As for "fleet".... no, just this one at the moment. We'll see how it goes. As I'm not doing a full layout I don't need masses of locos... just one or two of a class is enough for me.

 

Thanks all.... Jon

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James Hilton

Jon it is good to read another bumper update, it sounds as if you're busy indeed, and with these bogies, my word, superb, but insane, you really do have patience of a saint and the eyesight of an eagle! Incredible work. I find it terribly inspiring, but no matter how hard I try I always end up with more of an artistic rather than mm perfect rendition in my modelling :) keep it up, and we'll continue to read with pleasure...

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Jon020

Jon it is good to read another bumper update, it sounds as if you're busy indeed, and with these bogies, my word, superb, but insane, you really do have patience of a saint and the eyesight of an eagle! Incredible work. I find it terribly inspiring, but no matter how hard I try I always end up with more of an artistic rather than mm perfect rendition in my modelling :) keep it up, and we'll continue to read with pleasure...

Hi James, thanks for the comment.. insane, yes probably :crazy_mini:. I think you're being a little kind saying I'll have a perfect rendition... to be honest I prefer the artistic approach, but yes perhaps I do count rivets in my sleep. Mind you, in my job, I'd rather have that attitude, to do the final check than find that I was the only one checking (yes, it happens) and I didn't and ... uh uh! Anyway, once painted and given a nice artistic coat of grime, hopefully they'll all blend in nicely.

Your work is inspirational... I love the idea of a garden layout and yours must bring hours of fun.

Jon

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Mikkel
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Hi Jon, those are fantastic bogies. The brake rodding seems particularly impressive.

 

I must try out zap-a-gap: If it can hold that microstrip in place on the springs (the spring cups) it is just what I need. Thanks for the tip :)

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Jon020

Hi Mikkel, thanks for the comments. There are three grades of zap-a-gap, Yellow (thick), Green (medium) and Pink (thin). I've not used the yellow one, but I used the green one a lot before finding the pink one perfect for fitting etch items... it's very very thin and perfect for wisking between surfaces, whereas the green one is perfect for sticking and filling fine gaps (it does what it says on the bottle.

 

Hi James, er, thanks... and yes I think I've questioned my sanity a few times on this "simple" project too; all I need to do now is maintain the momentum - no mean feat in itself

 

Jon

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James

You have also convinced me that the main issue (as I suspected) with the Bachmann frames are those hideous springs!

 

Now we need you to move north, move your modelling forward to the early nineties and join our area group! :D

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Jon020

You have also convinced me that the main issue (as I suspected) with the Bachmann frames are those hideous springs!

 

Now we need you to move north, move your modelling forward to the early nineties and join our area group! :D

James,

Given that we had quite a lengthy debate before I tackled this project... it's good to see that where I'm going is gettign yoru support... that counts for a lot! Actually, I was looking at the frames on a ViT 47 the other weekend - on Jon N's Laira... and I thought that they looked very convincing. I must try and get another look one day soon.

 

As for the move North.., well yes... nothing wrong with that apart from kids in school and the job keeping me down here in the deep south (so far south that my friends in the NW think we speak French).... but thanks for the sentiment; I can see the advantages to living clsoe to the NYMR and ELR and KWVR and and and... oh there's a lot of them aren't there :-D

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RobboPetes

Quality piece of work! I super-detailed an N gauge class 47 some years ago, mating a Grafar body (Poole-built) to a Minitrix chassis as well as a load of other detail. A member of my local club called me nutter! Oh well, there is no pleasing some people? I will post it on here soon. Keep up the good work.

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Jon020

So that's how you make springs - amazing!

Cheers... well, it might not be "the" way, but it's how I did it!

Jon

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