Hi

37108 (originally Bachmann 37049) and 37191 (originally Bachmann 37254) have been detailed. Both are fitted with Bachmann sound in V3.5 Loksound chips which is blasted out through base reflex speakers hidden in the fuel tanks. In my view the Bachmann sound is the weakest around especially in terms of driveability where, despite my having tweaked the CV's in an effort to improve matters, a loco regularly takes 10 seconds to rev down despite the loco having drawn to a halt!

Work completed comprises:

• 37191 has had the roof boiler port opened up
  
• 37191 pipework is a combination of 0.5 mm and 0.8 mm brass wire
  
• 37108 pipework is from a Hornby class 50 detailing kit.
  
• 0.8 mm brass wire also makes up the hoop coupling on both locos which replace the tension locks.
  
• Bachmann MU cable and 3 link couplings have been added to both locos.
  

Given that the brass is much cheaper, I will be interested to see how it holds up compared to the Hornby purpose made plastic stuff. I am optimistic because at first glance it is difficult to see much of a visual difference. 37108 also has Hornby oval buffers fitted in line with most 37's who had lost their bufferbeam skirts.

I would have liked to add snowploughs but have not yet found a satisfactory solution. Bachmann's ploughs foul the detailing and cause derailments because they are fixed to the wheel base and not the bufferbeam as is the case in real life. Heljan class 47 ploughs look promising but need bufferbeam skirts to hide the join to the bufferbeam behind. I have several of these waiting to be detailed and will include the Heljan ploughs on the first these when I get around to it. I do not feel sufficiently confident or inclined to try and fit any of the brass ploughs on the market; net result is no ploughs at this time.

Both locos require a little more weathering to tone everything down and make it all blend together. Nevertheless both look much improved from their un-detailed former selves and are back in service earning living on the WHL as can be seen from the pictures below.

I have now completed 4 of the 12 37's that make up my fleet. I think I will focus on other work for the immediate future so that I can see how the detailed locos perform. This should ensure that any gremlins are ironed out rather than be replicated on the entire fleet.