Plans for my Class 37 fleet
Entry posted by The Fatadder
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I am in the process of re-evaluating the make up of my 1980s loco fleet, as part of this it has identified 3 class 37 models which are surplus to requirements. 37412 in Large Logo, 37673 in RFD and 37235 in BR Blue. Along with 37667 in EWS. On the other hand looking at future projects there are a couple of areas in which I am light on Class 37s, so it makes sense to see what can be repurposed.
The 1998 class 37 fleet currently consists of 37521, 37670 Both EWS, 37612 DRS Blue and 37672 Transrail triple grey, while the 80s fleet (post reduction) will contain 675 in Redstripe, 207 in blue and 196 in grey.
First of all there is some basic improvements needed to 37521, James Makin recently shared some work he has recently done on his EWS 37s fitting new nose grills / Extreme Etchings roof grills and using Railtec transfers. The latter makes a huge difference and will need to be retrofitted to both 521 and 667 (and my EWS 31), while 521 has incorrect nose grills which would certainly benefit from an upgrade. Longer term I want to retrofit the Extreme Etchings grills across the whole fleet, but right now the cost is just too much. I am not keen on the available etched replacement nose grills, however I have an idea (that I am going to test on a scrap body) I think the issue is that the grill is set back behind the frame (where as the etch has it too far forward). My thinking is to cut out a hole in the side of the loco and fill it with a piece of ribbed plasticard cut to size…
While not needed for my long term project, I keep thinking about doing another small project set around the nuclear loading point at Berkeley. For this I would need to build another 20/3 and another DRS 37 to run with 37612. I was torn between DRS branded triple grey and DRS blue (pre WIPACs), but for something a little different I have decided to go for the former. Research has shown there is a small period after 37612 was outshopped in DRS blue during which 607/608/611 were still in grey. I like the idea of a flush front machine if I can get another set of flush ends, otherwise I may just convert it myself. If not 37611 would be an easy rebrand. As it wasn’t varnished it should be easy to remove the railfreight transfers from 37673 and replace with DRS logos (Railtech produce the triple grey version), while I already have a set of Channel Tunnel “polo mint” logos in my bits box.
edit: more research points towards 37607 being the ideal choice (if I can source the ends). I have found a photo dated 2nd May 98 in grey livery with the loco in service, and another dated May 8th in the works at Busch Loughborough being repainted into blue.
If I was to convert 37673 to a flush front machine, that would in turn enable an easier job restoring 37667. As it stands 667 was modelled in 2004 condition, so the ends have black headcode boxes and accident damage to one end. It also has a sandite port fitted to one side (annoyingly I did it properly and cut the hole in the side rather than just sticking on an etch!) This will need filling in and having the paint touched up, along with the changes to the transfers that are needed on 521. This model would be the perfect candidate to try out the nose grill conversion before risking 521.
Next up is what to do with 37412, for this I have an old favourite in mind. Way back when the mk1 Bachmann 37 was released I bought the collectors club model of 37403, as it was a favourite (despite the shape issues) I kept hold of it long after the rest had gone (eventually selling it for a lot less than the silly prices they used to go for.) Looking through some old data on the Taunton Trains website the loco was mentioned a couple of times during my period, one of which on a very modellable rail tour with 5 mk2s. This got the idea of a new model of 403 back into my head. 37412 will provide the base model, once the BR logos / number transfers and current plates have been removed, it will get an Extreme Etchings grill and a coat of primer. I am hopefull I can get away without needing to strip the model… I have found a jar of Railmatch BR Green paint which will be perfect for the job (assuming I manage to open it!) An email has been sent to Railtec to enquire about getting a set of BR logos printed in white to represent the very faded crests the loco was carrying in 1998.
37235 is proving a little more tricky to determine, first of all the loco has already been fitted with the very fragile Extreme Etchings grill (which I do not want to damage), it has also been weathered with powders. My logic is to carefully wash the model, before giving the side grills etc a scrub with an old toothbrush. Remove the transfers / BR logos with thinners and then a coat of primer. There are a handful of potential candidates my timetable research on Taunton Trains identified 37263 in Dutch and 37230 in Transrail Dutch, while a trawl of Flickr 1998 for Devon and Cornwall locations identified 37371 in Mainline and 37174 in EWS. The latter was discounted purely because if I was to add an EWS 37/0 it would be a split box as Viking (to replace the Hornby model I had as a child). 263 was discounted because Transrail dutch is more interesting than unbranded dutch. So it looks like it is between 230 and 371. A lot will depend on the final project I suspect…
The final potential project is the most questionable as to whether it will progress. A long time back when the first improved (as built) Bachmann 37/0 was released I part converted a split box loco into an accident damaged machine with split box at one end and flush front at the other. While looking for suitable locos for 37235’s respray, I came across pictures of 37065 in Mainline blue (which also has one split box end / one flush) to which I thought I had found the perfect loco to model. Unfortunately the loco I was originally modelling (scrapped by 1998) has the flush front at the roof grill end, where as 065 has it on the other end. As part of my conversion I used a modified Bachmann centre box part for the flush end which can easily be moved. But the other end is a solid part of the body (a strange piece of tooling there by Bachmann). I am thinking about cutting the split box end off, and swapping them around (with the logic that if it fails, im no worse off than I am already.) A further issue is that I cant find the chassis for it, which there is a good chance has been sold. Going to have a look over Christmas and see if I can find it, with the logic that if I do then I will try harder to get it running.
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