A start of a project I have been meaning to get on with for a while now, a sequence of blog posts detailing the stock for the layout starting off with my Class 66s.

The work:

Conversion to P4 has been completed using the Bachmann gears with Keen Maygib wheels on the outer axles and black beetle wheels on the centre axles.

DCC is either by Lenz Golds, or loksound (although the loksound fitted locos are intended to revert back to golds and have the sound reblown as something a little more interesting.)

The same basic detailing has been added to the whole fleet, adding sand pipes, air break pipes, bogie details and drilling out the buffer beam lashing eyes.

EWS

66001

This has been renumbered to 001, with a number of modifications to accurately model the loco in 2003, gaining EWS red grills, revised lifting eyes and the removal of the buckeye couplings. The EWS gold stripe has been completely resprayed partly to correct the colour, but also to further help eliminate the remains of the original numbers (which were a pain to get rid of.... Given that it's modelled in 2003 condition, some of the original differences between 001 and the rest of the fleet (such as the horn grills) have been rebuilt to match the production.

One final job that still needs doing is painting the multiple working jumper white to match the prototype photo.

http://busnut.fotopi...t/p1368423.html

66135

Couldnt see any real reason to bother renumbering this, but detailing has been focused on the buffer beams in order to accurately model the coupling arrangement. using the spare buckeye coupling removed from 66001 it was possible to add the buckeye to the other end (cut down so that it fits next to a romford screwlink and dosn't foul the buffers.) Fitting the operating linkage for the buckeye requires removing the left hand lashing eyes (as per the prototype), it was then painted (still needs a coat of yellow...) and glued into position.

http://phillip.fotop...et/p400804.html

Freightliner

66539

This is the next project in line for some work (just as soon as I source some transfers.) its currently a standard model of 66610, but an Intermodal loco would be a lot more useful to the layout.....

http://carl-watson.f.../p11197338.html

GBRF

66705

Bachmann release which had the blue sides resprayed (again failure to perfectly remove the original numbers), has then had the large flags applied along with the new numbers. Still needs a coat of varnish to hopefully force the transfers to stay in position as a couple of bits have lifted since application...

Will add a photo of the model in the morning (once we have some light)....

http://johnlawonther.../p34561822.html

66709

This is probably the loco which has had the smallest amount of work, other than fitting a sound decoder, the included nameplates and the usual work mentioned above.

http://theironroad.f...ic.net/p52932264.html

The final locos in my fleet 66405 (now with a correctly painted roof), 66522 and 'Eddie the engine' are now surplus (unless in the case of 405 I find evidence showing it in the south in 2003)