Finally got on and 'finished' 37667 today, fitting the Shawplan etched headcode boxes to the end. These were added after suffering issues with seepage under masking tape when I originally tried masking off the black head code boxes.

Still not happy with the look of the sandite port, suspect that I am going to end up having to replace this with a custom etch at some point to add the missing bolt head detail (I know the etch came with half etched marks to press through the bolts, but having cut out the centre to get the correct depth it resulted in an etch that was too fragile to press out the bolts. The photo I was working from showed it at a slight angle, though I think I might have it set at slightly too much of an angle. Again not a lot that can be done there.

Still needs to get a new roof grill and correct nose grills (both will get done at the same time once parts are available), and there is a need for some chassis detail (air tanks & separate fuel tanks) but thats going to have to wait until I decide what I am going to do with the loco.

With this loco nearing completion, its got me thinking about my Class 37 fleet, and the feeling that I have too many of them. The class 37 is a very odd loco, I think the real thing is actually rather unattractive, as are a fair proportion of the liveries carried, so given I make a lot of my decisions on what to model based on looks I cant quite understand why I have so many. The noise the prototype makes would have something to do with it (and I guess that recollection of them from uni).

As mentioned before, I have 4 main operating periods, (all be it with 2 of them on hold for the time being).

1998/99

37672 - Transrail, this is a Bachmann model which has been resprayed to correct the colour of the grey's used.

37670 - EWS - modelled with no sandite gear limiting it to 98

37521 - EWS - again modelled with no sandite gear.

2002/3

37667 - EWS - As detailed above with detail variations

37612 - DRS - currently awaiting repainting to fix where the paint peeled off with masking. Again details such as the reinforced windscreen limit this to post 2000.

I suppose it is possible to just run 670 and 521 in the 2002 period with the sandite side facing towards the operator, though saying that I think 2 locos per period is probably enough, so maybe adding sandite to either 670 or 521 once I have sorted the new etch would balance things out nicely.....

There is also another pair in 411 and 417, both of which are out side of my time period and really aught to be sold on. However they are the only locos in my fleet that I really have any connection to the prototype (bringing back memories of them thrashing out of Queen Street past Cardiff University's Engineering department), and as such I'm rather attached to them....

37417 - I dont think this was named until 2004, however this and 411 are really good memories of my time in Cardiff (with the Engineering department next to Queen Street station, and Class 37 loco hauled workings going past. One thing I really missed when I was studying at Loughborough was the lack of a railway line & Class 37s passing by the window!)

37411 - Completely out of period and cant even be slipped in on the edge of period like 417. Following my new 'rules' for clearing out surplus stock, I really aught to be getting rid of this (and 417) but for the time being sentimental value is over rulling common sense. I suspect that one day when I have a proper railway room, these will be joining the prototype deltic and my sole remaining Hymek in a display case..... (or I suppose I could just build that Cardiff layout.............)

For 1984-5 there are 3 locos

207 - Cornish Railways

235 - BR Blue

196 - Large logo grey

and for 1987-88

412 - Large Logo blue

673 - RFD

675 - Redstripe

Again I think for both of these its probably one loco too many, however for 80s China Clay running the 37 is such a critical loco its probably handy to have a third on hand in case one of the other two dies. In all this seems to have been a rather silly exercise writing this all up, given that I dont really want to part with the only 2 locos which are out of period/area. Still, the next job is going to be going through my Class 50 fleet and deciding which of those are surplus, going to be some very hard decisions there! Made even more difficult by the forthcoming release of more detailing bits for them from Shawplan, which sadly makes it look like the pride of my fleet, the weathered Implacable & Victorious will be the first to make the trip over to the Classifieds