brian daniels Posted July 13, 2013 Author Share Posted July 13, 2013 (edited) I managed to get hold of a Heljan class 37 a couple of weeks ago so I had a look in my spares box to see what was in there and found I had enough parts to convert it to a centre headcode model. So this is what I have been doing the last two weeks. First job was to file the split headcodes and centre gangway door off. The whitemetal headcode box was from an MMP class 40 kit I built a long time ago. I have had to make it a bit shorter and narrower to fit on here. For most measurements I have using my JLTRT class 37. This headcode box still needs an etched frame that is smaller than this box which is in the hands of Pete harvey together with a few more etched bits for this conversion. The buffers are from JLTRT which I had to round off the square fixings at the back so they fit into the bufferbeam skirts. With these buffers glued in place you have to cut away the corners of the cast chassis or you won't get the body off! I have used the Heljan outer snowploughs and a DJH centre etched plough. By doing this you can cut away the thick plastic that joins the three parts and also the Heljan centre plough is a bit too small so this replaces it. The Heljan outers fowled the airpipe brackets so I carved a bit off the top of them just like BR did with a gas axe! The lamp brackets are JLTRT class 40 gangway door securing clips that I have soldered an upright strip onto. The Western sidelamp brackets are from a DJH class 37 kit suitable bent round 90 degrees. Holes were cut into the cab roof to take a pair of JLTRT class 37 horns. An etch is on order to go inbetween them. All the ribs were filed and sanded off the roof. Am also waiting for boiler exhaust blanking etch. The rad fan grill on the roof was replaced with a Shawplan replacement The water tanks have been narrowed by about 1.5mm each side. Bogie cab steps have been replaced with a set from Pete Harvey and the brake cylinder pipes have been made from wire. That's about it at the moment until I get some etched bits from Pete Harvey. I will coat it in primer now to see how my sanding down went. Edited July 13, 2013 by brian daniels 8 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium boxbrownie Posted July 13, 2013 RMweb Premium Share Posted July 13, 2013 Oh no.... .......I really like that Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
brian daniels Posted July 13, 2013 Author Share Posted July 13, 2013 I must admit David that I like it more than I thought I would. This is a link to a picture of what I am doing. http://www.flickr.com/photos/blue-diesels/7787694936/in/set-72157624287758111 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
deltic17 Posted July 13, 2013 Share Posted July 13, 2013 Very interesting conversion - looking good..... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
the penguin of doom Posted July 14, 2013 Share Posted July 14, 2013 Hi Brian. It was a pleasure to see this one in the flesh last Sunday at DEMU and also share a few ideas. Admittedly, most if the sharing was from your direction to mine, but you've given me plenty plenty of oomph to crack on with my 27. Cheers. Sean. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium boxbrownie Posted July 14, 2013 RMweb Premium Share Posted July 14, 2013 I must admit David that I like it more than I thought I would. This is a link to a picture of what I am doing. http://www.flickr.com/photos/blue-diesels/7787694936/in/set-72157624287758111 Looks like you have a few more wagons to make as well then....... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
simon br blue Posted July 14, 2013 Share Posted July 14, 2013 I must admit David that I like it more than I thought I would. This is a link to a picture of what I am doing. http://www.flickr.com/photos/blue-diesels/7787694936/in/set-72157624287758111 Looks like part of the bufferbeam has been cut away on 37250, are you going to model that? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
brian daniels Posted July 14, 2013 Author Share Posted July 14, 2013 I noticed that Simon, bit of luck I am modelling it the day before they did that to it Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
brian daniels Posted July 15, 2013 Author Share Posted July 15, 2013 Looks good with some primer on it. Not too much extra rubbing down to do but I see I have to sort out the front corner handrails 10 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve fay Posted July 15, 2013 Share Posted July 15, 2013 Lovely job, any news on the third pre pro wezzie? 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
brian daniels Posted July 15, 2013 Author Share Posted July 15, 2013 It's still in the box I'm afraid Steve. I will get round to it, sometime! Together with another pre pro 40 and another little project up my sleeve. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve fay Posted July 15, 2013 Share Posted July 15, 2013 Have they made any more changes? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
two tone green Posted July 16, 2013 Share Posted July 16, 2013 Hi Brian, If you do get the 40 out of its box, any chance of a close up photo of the underside of the bogie and how they have mounted the pony wheels, their carrier as such please. Thanks Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
richard carr Posted July 16, 2013 Share Posted July 16, 2013 I have just put a Howes sound chip in my Thumper and gave it a run on a friends layout that he's still building. I fitted a 4mm chip as it's only running a Machima 1833. It has a QSI 32mm 8ohm speaker fitted but one little problem is that it is at full volume and the noise of the train running is tending to overpower the engine sound. I doubt it will be very load in a large hall or outside. So I will get the volume sorted out but overall I think it sounds brilliant. So if you want all your Bachman 4mm Thumper's sounding better I don't think you could go wrong with this chip. Brian Is the chip a Loksound V4, because if it is you are supposed to use 4 ohm speakers to get the best from them, at least according to their website, you can safely use 8 ohm speakers but the volume will be lower. Richard 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Harvey Posted July 16, 2013 Share Posted July 16, 2013 Don't forget the Cab Door Handrails Brian? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
richard carr Posted July 31, 2013 Share Posted July 31, 2013 Brian I'm building some JLTRT TTA tankers and some PRMRP TEA tanks. I was wondering if you knew of a source of solebar tranfers, as I can't find any ? Thanks Richard 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
brian daniels Posted July 31, 2013 Author Share Posted July 31, 2013 I can't think of any Richard. As you can see on my tanks I didn't get any either. You could look on my Flickr site at the TTA's and get the details of them and get Precision Labels to do a set? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
brian daniels Posted July 31, 2013 Author Share Posted July 31, 2013 (edited) By the way just incase you are wondering what I am doing I have just got the Thumper etches to add a bit more detail to it from Pete Harvey and very nice they are to. I am still sorting out the 37 etches for him to do. I am painting a sample Heljan AC Railbus that I have with a small yellow end and white cab roofs whilst the weather is a bit cooler. Edited July 31, 2013 by brian daniels 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
richard carr Posted July 31, 2013 Share Posted July 31, 2013 I can't think of any Richard. As you can see on my tanks I didn't get any either. You could look on my Flickr site at the TTA's and get the details of them and get Precision Labels to do a set? Thanks Brian, I will give that a try. Richard Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
John lewsey Posted August 5, 2013 Share Posted August 5, 2013 Had a nice day at Bourne End today giving the Fruit D a run in a parcels train. I also took the blue 56075 for it's first run in blue and it's first run in over 2 years I wouldn't be surprised. Thankfully no one noticed an air braked 56 on a vac braked parcels rake was a bit out of the ordinary When I weather the grid I will put some black felt behind the grill so they are not see through.hi Brian I'm new hear I'm thinking of getting the prmrp 56 what was it like to build I'm told they are difficult kits Regards john Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
brian daniels Posted August 6, 2013 Author Share Posted August 6, 2013 Hi John and welcome to forum. The PRMRP kits are not that difficult to build, most of us diesel modellers cut our teeth on these in the RJH days. The body only has a side/roof, cab fronts, front windows, window ledge and a whitemetal cab roof, 9 parts and the body is as good as done. The trick is getting it all the right shape! Spend time teasing the parts into the best shape you can get will be worth the effort. The bogies are basic but sturdy and drive very reliably. You can go overboard if you want to with all the pipework on the bogie sides, like I did, or leave them as is and just get a model up and running. My first diesel was a RJH 47 that I just built as it came just to get to know about soldering and whether I could do it. Since then there was no turning back. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
brian daniels Posted August 6, 2013 Author Share Posted August 6, 2013 (edited) I have been busy plucking up the courage to drill the side louvres and radiator grill out of the side of the power car recently. Finally did it though after a strong cup of tea (can't stand alcohol so a few whiskey's would not work!) There is an etched inside to the radiator grill so you can't see straight through. Also made up a representation of the brake gear under the driving trailer with some etched upright quadrants that Pete Harvey etched for me. The parts with the elongated hole in it are from a JLTRT brake rigging from their 26 kit! Pete also did some etched roller bearing axlebox covers. Some nice etched data plates on the fronts. I have made up a couple of seat luggage racks to go above the back to back seats and there are a few long racks to go on the ends of the vestibules and in the couple of compartments in the driving trailer. I have tried an ESU coach lighting unit in the power car and very nice it looked too. I will try and get some pictures of it in subdued lighting later. Also added a set of raised window frames on the ends. The marker lights have a bi-coloured led behind with warm white forward and red in reverse. It works very well but needs dimming down a bit as the red is far too bright. So there we have it at the moment. I still have to do the brake rigging on the trailer and power car and make up about 40 luggage racks! I have taped some glazing into the engine room to see what the sound is like without a lot of holes for it to escape from. It sounds great! I will have it at Telford thumping away soothingly. Edited August 6, 2013 by brian daniels 14 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium boxbrownie Posted August 6, 2013 RMweb Premium Share Posted August 6, 2013 Fantastic attention to detail once again Brian, its the little extras that stand out on your work matey......just one thing I cannot understand Why don't you like Whiskey? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
brian daniels Posted August 6, 2013 Author Share Posted August 6, 2013 (edited) Some would say I have too much time on my hands Dave that's why I add a little extra here and there. And thankfully we have people like Pete Harvey to make these etches for us! Can't help thinking that those armrests don't looks very good on the etched seat ends. Seems to me that they should be broken off and soldered back on horizontally? Don't mind doing the odd one but 40 something of them Or do I just fold them out at 90 degrees? It's funny but I never have liked any alcoholic drinks, just good old fashioned railway tea! Edited August 6, 2013 by brian daniels Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold griffgriff Posted August 6, 2013 RMweb Gold Share Posted August 6, 2013 Don't tell Mrs. G but I've fallen in love with another... how could a model of something so functional look so darn good 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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