Now that work on 37057 has rather ground to a halt, it is time to move on to what should be my final class 37 project (along with some finishing work on another)….

The first task was to decide upon a loco to model, as per my previous post I had narrowed it down to either 37671 or 37674 (favouring the latter due to the ends matching up).  However looking further I spotted that 674 has the orange cantrail stripe slightly lower down than 671 (and the source body) with an associated slightly deeper dark grey roof.  So that left me with 671, given the ends had the upper clips (which were nicer than the home made ones on 667) I decided to swap the ends over.  This left me with a set of damaged centre box ends that needed repairs.

So this got me thinking, as I have mentioned previously my “core” class 37 fleet currently comprises 521, 670, 672 and the aforementioned 667.  To which you can also add 057, 235 and 403.  In short that is likely to be enough class 37s to run any future layout, adding to which is the Accurascale model which no doubt will eventually be released in suitable condition for some of the Cornish locos.  Finally there are the incorrect nose grills which would need converting (with parts that don’t look as good as the originals.)   All of which gets me back to a point where I am reconsidering the loco choice.  Modelling 671 and/or 674 from an Accurascale model will of course be very tempting in the future…

All this led me back to the original thoughts, why not do another DRS loco to run with 612?  (There was also a short period of debate about modelling 510 in Intercity, before deciding the DRS loco was more useful!) 

So the plan:

-As with 674, 37607 had the deeper dark grey roof with low cantrail stripe, so this needed to be repainted. 

-New cantrail stripes

-Paint nose grills dark grey

-Extreme Etchings roof grill

-Shawplan Channel Tunnel “Polo mint” logos

-Railtec DRS black logos

-Convert noses to flush front

-Repaint the middle grey to be 1mm deeper / extend the black on the fronts 1mm lower.

So far the first stage of the painting has been completed, although still needs some tidying up.  Working from a partially weathered body means that everything is going to look a bit messy until it is re-weathered (as there are various dirty patches that I have deliberately left in place with the thought of using them as a basis for the new weathering.)  I now need to find a match to the mid grey paint, given the prototype grey band starts lower than the model.

Work has also progressed on the new ends, a little old fashioned modelling!  The centre box moulding was filed off, before adding a 10thou rectangle to represent the welded up door.   Shawplan marker lights and a Replica high intensity headlight were glued in place, before cutting out the recess for the multiple working  socket.  Its going to have to wait a little longer to get a set of horn grills (as I don’t seem to have any)…  

Moving back to my other DRS 37,

The scratch built doors have now been fitted to 37612, and along with the new side window frame have been treated to several coats of DRS blue.  Before repainting the roof of what is now 37607  I masked up one side and painted the orange cantrail stripe, I am fed up of the transfer version lifting of after application and wanted to test a different approach).  I was happy with the end result so masked 612 and painted the line, my masking was a little off at one end (so it was wiped back off with thinners).  Annoyingly it also lifted the DRS logo (although its not that annoying given the logos are the later web address version and are incorrect for 1998.  I have emailed Railtec to see if I can get some logos without the web address, else will have to use the third transfer in the pack to apply an overlay over the address…

Once that is finished it will get a coat of Dullcoat and I can finally set about refitting the glazing (and trying to find the missing bits).  No doubt while looking I will also find the original lost doors…