inspectorsands Posted March 15, 2018 Share Posted March 15, 2018 Hoping for some inspiration. I'm looking to detail my various AC Electrics to date them correctly in the mid 1980s, however having found a number of parts I need thanks to some of the great posts here I am struggling to source a plated over headcode box. I've emailed a couple of people who appeared to sell something which would fit the bill, but no response, so could I substitute something like a class 37 panel which I know is in the craftsman kit. Any suggestions please from the good people here. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cravensdmufan Posted March 15, 2018 Share Posted March 15, 2018 (edited) Hoping for some inspiration. I'm looking to detail my various AC Electrics to date them correctly in the mid 1980s, however having found a number of parts I need thanks to some of the great posts here I am struggling to source a plated over headcode box. I've emailed a couple of people who appeared to sell something which would fit the bill, but no response, so could I substitute something like a class 37 panel which I know is in the craftsman kit. Any suggestions please from the good people here. This is what I did with my Hornby 86s. Cut a piece of thin plasticard to fill the headcode box, then used A1 models headlamps and high intensity headlamp. Cut pieces of plastic sprue to represent jumper cable boxes. But all that was that was back in the day.....before DCC and working headlamps! Looking at them now the headlamps were overscale but I was pleased at the time! Now we have a superb Bachmann 85 and soon an all new Hornby 87. Can't wait. And please Hornby - how about a nice new 86? We have been patient.....! Edited March 15, 2018 by cravensdmufan 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
inspectorsands Posted March 15, 2018 Author Share Posted March 15, 2018 Thanks for that, looks like it's going to be plasticard. A decent RTR model and 81 would be fab too, but suspect that really is too much to ask. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marcyg Posted March 17, 2018 Share Posted March 17, 2018 Thanks for that, looks like it's going to be plasticard. A decent RTR model and 81 would be fab too, but suspect that really is too much to ask. I used a triang body with a modded Hornby 86 chassis to get my 81. The other route if you want all singing all dancing, is buy a cheap Bachmann 85, a battered traing body, and graft the triang body sides on to the Bachmann body. The cabs are pretty similar. Someone on here has done it and it looks very good indeed. As for the class 86 front, I just remove the raised line Hornby moulded on, and slice up ear stick tubes for the marker lights. It sounds crude, but in practice it works well if you can get the slices straight. I've done about 8 of mine so far this way 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PM47079 Posted March 17, 2018 Share Posted March 17, 2018 (edited) 86430 is easy to do a flush front each end with marker lights. Think it was Modified when res owned Edited March 17, 2018 by PM47079 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete the Elaner Posted March 17, 2018 Share Posted March 17, 2018 Looking at them now the headlamps were overscale but I was pleased at the time! I did similar with plasticard but felt the lamps were overscale so I used transfers for the headlamps. These looked far too flat though.I felt it was a compromise either way. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
inspectorsands Posted March 17, 2018 Author Share Posted March 17, 2018 Thanks everyone, I'll try and source some of the headlamps. I think I'm going to go for some directional lights too but lots of great inspiration on here, as there always is. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TRAILRAGE Posted March 17, 2018 Share Posted March 17, 2018 (edited) Hello Inspectorsands Try Jim Smith Wright. He sells an etch for £4 which is designed around the Hornby model which includes the Headcode box plate. http://www.p4newstreet.com Top right Click on other click on goodies and scroll down and you will see it. No connection but I have seen the finished product in the flesh and it looks very good. Cheers Trailrage Edited March 19, 2018 by TRAILRAGE Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
inspectorsands Posted March 18, 2018 Author Share Posted March 18, 2018 Hello Inspectorsands Try Jim Smith right. He sells an etch for £4 which is designed around the Hornby model which includes the Headcode box plate. http://www.p4newstreet.com Top right Click on other click on goodies and scroll down and you will see it. No connection but I have seen the finished product in the flesh and it looks very good. Cheers Trailrage He's one of the people I've emailed, but didn't receive a response from :-( Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cravensdmufan Posted March 18, 2018 Share Posted March 18, 2018 He's one of the people I've emailed, but didn't receive a response from :-( Yes I had the same problem with that seller a couple of years back. Never replied to a couple of emails, so I gave up ordering in the end. I see he used to be a member on here but is now shown as "removed a/c". Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
inspectorsands Posted March 19, 2018 Author Share Posted March 19, 2018 For the benefit of the tape, Jim has now replied :-) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
inspectorsands Posted September 28, 2018 Author Share Posted September 28, 2018 Well in the end I went for the plasticard and LEDs option, far from perfect I know, but still a slight improvement all the same, and it seems to work with 86s in various liveries. The close up photos show the deficiencies, but from a stand off distance it looks ok. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TRAILRAGE Posted October 2, 2018 Share Posted October 2, 2018 I was looking at some options for this myself and found a Shawplan pack DP37-06 Class 37 marker lights surrounds for ex side indicator loco's which look like a good size. There a bit smaller than the Bachmann 85 light surrounds and a bit bigger than the Heljan 86 light surrounds so should do the job. I will most likely go down the plasticard route and drill out the holes then fix the surrounds before painting . Also as I'm unlikely to fit working lights I will most likely liquid glaze the holes. Rekon it should look good when finished Cheers Trailrage Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
E3109 Posted October 2, 2018 Share Posted October 2, 2018 If you look at the photo linked below, you can see that the marker light plates are "top hat" in shape, that is there is a flange running all the way around the box, and the horizontal flanges are gently curved to match the cab front. https://www.flickr.com/photos/barang_shkoot/8167038634/in/album-72157629690211192/ May also be useful to look at pics of the scrappers in that album, the ones with the headcode/marker light panels removed. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
EHertsGER Posted December 12, 2018 Share Posted December 12, 2018 For the benefit of the tape, Jim has now replied :-) Does he still supply the '86 bits? I heard from him after a similar enquiry, very much in the negative. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
inspectorsands Posted December 12, 2018 Author Share Posted December 12, 2018 Does he still supply the '86 bits? I heard from him after a similar enquiry, very much in the negative. No, sadly not Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
EHertsGER Posted December 14, 2018 Share Posted December 14, 2018 No, sadly not Well I suppose we could wait for the new Heljan 86 to excite the burgeoning AC fanbase (Hornby AL1, Bachmann 85, Hornby 86, 87 and so on) and design/issue our own sheet of AC electric detailing bits. Anyone know enough to design and draw it? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Harvey Posted December 14, 2018 Share Posted December 14, 2018 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
E3109 Posted December 14, 2018 Share Posted December 14, 2018 That's a nice job Pete. And demonstrates that the Hornby body still holds it own with a bit of work, well done. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
forest2807 Posted December 14, 2018 Share Posted December 14, 2018 Lovely. Proper modelling. Keep going chaps. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
inspectorsands Posted December 15, 2018 Author Share Posted December 15, 2018 Well I suppose we could wait for the new Heljan 86 to excite the burgeoning AC fanbase (Hornby AL1, Bachmann 85, Hornby 86, 87 and so on) and design/issue our own sheet of AC electric detailing bits. Anyone know enough to design and draw it? I'd probably buy enough to make this worthwhile. I'd happily commission an etch. but sadly I wouldn't even know where to begin with process and who to commission it from. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now