Bachmann 3F/4F chassis into a Airfix/Hornby 4F

[Aire Head]

Title is hopefully self explanatory.

 

Has anyone done this?

 

I have a Hornby 4F with tender drive and traction tyres. I can get my hands on a Bachmann chassis cheaper than I can buy a new 4F.

[brossard]

The Bachmann 3F/4F is massively better than the Airfix 4F.  I spent more time and effort than is healthy trying to get an Airfix 4F to be a decent model.  The splashers are a major deficiency on the Airfix version being way oversize.  Bachmann's splashers are still bigger than they should be but more refined.  When Bachmann released theirs, I totally gave up on the Airfix.

 

Don't forget, you will need a tender chassis as well.

 

Brassmasters released an upgrade kit for the Bachmann 4F:

 

http://www.brassmasters.co.uk/4f_easichas.htm

 

The main reason for this was to convert the loco to EM/P4 but there are a lot of parts in the kit to improve the body and tender.

 

So, it depends on what your goal is for the 4F. 

 

John

[Aire Head]

2 minutes ago, brossard said:

The Bachmann 3F/4F is massively better than the Airfix 4F.  I spent more time and effort than is healthy trying to get an Airfix 4F to be a decent model.  The splashers are a major deficiency on the Airfix version being way oversize.  Bachmann's splashers are still bigger than they should be but more refined.  When Bachmann released theirs, I totally gave up on the Airfix.

 

Don't forget, you will need a tender chassis as well.

 

Brassmasters released an upgrade kit for the Bachmann 4F:

 

http://www.brassmasters.co.uk/4f_easichas.htm

 

The main reason for this was to convert the loco to EM/P4 but there are a lot of parts in the kit to improve the body and tender.

 

So, it depends on what your goal is for the 4F. 

 

John

 

I just want it to run smoothly and slowly enough to be able to shunt with it and for it to be able to drag a reasonably sized train 15/20ish minerals and a brake van for example.

 

I'm just working out what the value for money is from spending £50 or £110.

[ianLMS]

If you fancy a fair bit of fettling, Brassmasters also make the correct sized splashers. Originally designed to correct the Bachmann model, I managed to get them to work on an Airfix model. A lot of butchery, cut fingers and swearing, and I did ask myself if it was worth it in the end!

 

 

 

Ian

[Robin Verth]

I have not tried to fit a Bachmann 4F chassis into an Airfix/Hornby body, when Hornby redesigned the 4F chassis to motor in the loco, I fitted the new chassis to my ancient Airfix 4F, this involved some minor modifications to the body, from memory removing part of the body underside, I replaced the whole tender as at the time a complete tender was cheaper than a tender chassis, I also had a spare Bachmann 3F/4F chassis spare from a failed project, I did not think about trying to fit it to the Airfix 4F, the Bachmann chassis later received a Bachmann 4F body and runs to this day with a Hornby tender.

[bike2steam]

I dunno!! Over the years ( well between about 1996 and 2005) spent time converting a dozen Airfix/Dapol 4F's to loco-drive with Comet (now Wizard) chassis kits, and then Bachmann go and do it. But given the body is plastic, and the 'play' in the chassis, I can over-look the minor splasher problem.

[34theletterbetweenB&D]

The equation that is not being explored is what a complete current loco drive 4F (Bach or Hornby) can be got for, less the likely sale value of the current tender drive item. The OP appears happy with the external shape of the old model, just wants it to run sweetly: and this the current Hornby combo of old body tooling, new mechanism, achieves.

 

I suspect the net price of replacing with the current Hornby would be much alike that for sourcing the Bachmann mechanism, with none of the modification to both loco body and tender running gear that the conversion would require. Always more than one way of skinning a cat, worth looking at all the options that are available...

[Richard Lee]

51 minutes ago, 34theletterbetweenB&D said:

The equation that is not being explored is what a complete current loco drive 4F (Bach or Hornby) can be got for [snip]

Bachmann 3F nearly £64 at a certain Cornish model shop:

http://www.kernowmodelrailcentre.com/p/51180/31-627B-Bachmann-Class-3F-Steam-Locomotive-number-3520-LMS

Bachmann 4F nearly £65:

http://www.kernowmodelrailcentre.com/p/51184/31-883-Bachmann-Midland-Class-4F-Steam-Locomotive-number-3848

 

I happened to buy the 3F from them a few weeks ago and was pleased with it, and the price.

[34theletterbetweenB&D]

Well, there's a 'no-brainer' then at that price, buy whichever of the Bach. models appeals, flog off the old to recoup some cash.

 

( I have the 3F, and as Richard Lee, very good too.)

[Aire Head]

41 minutes ago, Richard Lee said:

Bachmann 3F nearly £64 at a certain Cornish model shop:

http://www.kernowmodelrailcentre.com/p/51180/31-627B-Bachmann-Class-3F-Steam-Locomotive-number-3520-LMS

Bachmann 4F nearly £65:

http://www.kernowmodelrailcentre.com/p/51184/31-883-Bachmann-Midland-Class-4F-Steam-Locomotive-number-3848

 

I happened to buy the 3F from them a few weeks ago and was pleased with it, and the price.

 

While that's interesting I would really prefer a Fowler tender as that's much more prototypical for my needs. Is the 4F tender the same as used on Bachmanns other products with a flower tender?