IanPenberth

Thanks, John, for bringing this across from the Scalefour forum. Description and photos on that page. For a more detailed look at how it comes together, the instructions are here (html) or here (pdf)..

Hi David, I haven't tried, but it might. The mech presumably is the same so no problems there. For ride height, depends if the floor of the chassis moulding is the same height above the rail as the Peak (17.9mm - give or take). From what I've heard about the bodyside dimensions, there's a chance it might be. Otherwise, perhaps it could be made to be so without too much trouble? Cheers

See the Wheelsets section of the instructions. HTH.

The PenBits sprung bogie kits for the Bachmann Class 40 and Peak models are now on sale. Details on the PenBits website at these links: Class 40 here, and Peaks here. The kits cover the models as currently available from Bachmann, i.e. the six-wheel drive split-axle 40 bogies, and the Peaks with centre motor drives and the buffer beams attached to the bogie frames. Instructions, either as web pages or downloadable pdf, are available via this page. As ever, I've tried to cover everything from a basic level because 1. it's all a bit different and 2. many diesel modellers will have less experience or confidence with metalwork and soldering. So they've turned out to be fair old tomes once again, but it's all quite straightforward really. Having said that, I would recommend having a go at one of the Bo-Bo or Co-Co kits as a first step, if you've not tried one before. Since the last update here, we've also introduced kits for the Bachmann LMS 10000/1 and Heljan Falcon prototypes. The full range to date then is: Bachmann: LMS 10000/1, Prototype Deltic, Classes 24, 25, 37, 40, 44, 45, 46, 47, 55, 57 Heljan: Falcon, Lion, Kestrel, Classes 26, 27, 33, 35, 47. All available now, for mail order by return, via the website. Sprung Bogie for Bachmann Class 40 Peak with sprung bogie fitted. A feature of the kit design is that the bogie frame swivels, without pitch or roll, under the loco (the real locos had no secondary suspension, though the kit does) so you don't have to leave any extra clearance and you can add extra detail between the underside of the loco and the top of the bogie frame. The Peak kit also provides the correct bogie pivot location.

We now have bogie springing kits available for the Heljan 47 and Lion locos. The 47 kit is £37.50, with Lion at £35.00. More details and ordering links, as ever, on the website. The 47 kit has the etched brake parts as included in our original kits for the Bachmann 47 and Heljan Kestrel. Available now for mail order and at RailEx this weekend. Test build of the bolster and subframe, with Ultrascale wheelsets. No brake details on the subframe, as this one is for Lion, but the bolster does have the secondary spring details for the 47. Weight of the loco is taken on the top of the bolster, via the plastic card spacer which also gives adjustment of ride height. Lion bogie subframe with the cosmetic frames fitted. These just wrap around the etchings with very little modification. Lion loco with sprung bogie kit in place.

Anyone who's trying to get a feel for how the bogies go together, might be slightly confused by the photo in Small Suppliers' Forum in MRJ 238: there were two pairs of captions and photos and one of each got printed . For the record, here they both are, correctly paired... Class 33 bogie subframe, underside view: Class 33 bogie subframe, topside view: Cheers

Some EM and P4 modellers will already be familiar with my PenBits Model Railways sprung bogie kits but this is a first outing on this forum. I do a range of etched-brass kits designed to provide a straightforward and accessible route to fitting sprung suspensions to proprietary OO diesel locomotives as part of a conversion to P4 or EM gauges. The kits feature fold-up, etched brass, soldered construction coupled with simple steel spring wire beams for both primary and secondary suspension. They require only soldering kit, hand tools and basic hobby metalworking skills to assemble. Modification of the proprietary loco is kept to a minimum, the manufacturer’s drive units and cosmetic bogie sideframes being retained. Current releases include kits for: Bachmann: Deltic Prototype and Classes 24, 25, 37, 47, 55 and 57. Heljan: Kestrel (47 bogies) and Classes 26, 27, 33 and 35. Prices range from £28.00 to £37.50 per locomotive. Further kits are under development, with the Heljan Lion, Falcon and Class 47 next in the pipeline, LMS 10000 and 1Co-Co1 bogies following on. Full details are on the PenBits website at www.penbits.co.uk. The menus will take you all round the site but here are some direct links: Price List and Mail Order details, technical details of how the sprung bogies work, descriptions of each kit, the kit instructions, independent reviews, a gallery of completed projects. The kits released most recently are for the Heljan BRCW Type 2 (Classes 26/27) and Type 3 (Class 33) locos. There is quite a lot of optional detail included in these packs, which can transform the look of the bogie as well as its performance. I’ve attached a few photos below. Karl Crowther reviewed the Class 25 kit in print in MRJ 231, and two BRCW Type 2 builds are currently being written up on the Scalefour forum, here and here. Class 33 Bogie: kit components and wheel sets. Class 33 Bogie: Heljan drive unit and side frames fitted.