Decided today to do a little bit more tinkering with the Lima Class 156 bogie. I’ve found the best dummy wheelsets are those Hornby use on their production of the former Lima 156, which are 11mm diameter, which is about right for a BT38 bogie. However these aren’t cheap.…. 

The bogie frame has had a bit more plastic cut away to represent the prototype, including removing the moulding the coupler. 

So fitted some pin point bearings. I think these are from Markits MPP/B. Drilling out the back of the axle box with a 1.2mm drill a little more so these fit flush, secured with a dab of superglue. 

I’ve also had ago are beefing up the air bag itself. It’s certainly a lot smaller than that found on a Bachmann BT38 Bogie. The Lima bogie itself is also narrower. I used a bit of black heat shrink sleeve superglued on. Not sure it really works?

The next mod was to the underframe above the bogie air bag to represent the top plate. 

so with some 30 thou black plastic card bonded this piece in place and then filed it to try and create the L profile. 
 

it need a bit more fettling I think. But looks better and replaces the gap the airbag on the bogie. 
 

I think I’ll have a think about this and see where to go next with this.…