Dapol class 68 to Class 88 conversion

[Luciton St James]

Been doing a few projects while working from home during Lockdown , was having a browse on DCC supplies website for a replacement windscreen wipers for my sons ScotRail class 68. Came across some class 68 bodyshells for sale at £10. Thought about a class 88 for a while & at £10 for a bodyshell it was a bit to tasty to turn down. So what’s shown is 3& a half weeks worth of cutting , sanding , filling & jiggery pokers. All bits are out of the scrap box , plastic card & reusing bits of the class 68 donor

[Peter749]

A class 88 is a loco I also would like to own - but the chance of me being able to do the work you did is not very high.

 

Peter

 

 

 

[Peter749]

I decided to treat myself to a Class 68 body as the new versions are £40 and I intend to remove the Roof Fans and fit a Pantograph

I will also look at the rest of the body but I doubt if I will fill in the current grills as I would not be up to painting the loco afterwards

 

It is not correct but it will do until something else comes along

 

Peter

[Peter749]

On 08/07/2020 at 19:28, Luciton St James said:

Been doing a few projects while working from home during Lockdown , was having a browse on DCC supplies website for a replacement windscreen wipers for my sons ScotRail class 68. Came across some class 68 bodyshells for sale at £10. Thought about a class 88 for a while & at £10 for a bodyshell it was a bit to tasty to turn down. So what’s shown is 3& a half weeks worth of cutting , sanding , filling & jiggery pokers. All bits are out of the scrap box , plastic card & reusing bits of the class 68 donor

Any news on this project?

 

Thanks

 

Peter

[Luciton St James]

So after a 2 & a bit year gap & with 88002 proving to be a indispensable part of the roster with the Tesco train & automotive set, with a spare bodyshell to hand thought it was time to add a second class 88 in the shape of 88007 Electra. So a weeks worth of work has got me this far , few changes in method from 002 

[Peter749]

I purchased a spare body for this project but it has got no further as my modelling skills are not up to making something like this.

 

I think I will have to wait for a RTR version

[Luciton St James]

My dad is what gave me the bug for chopping stuff up. Back in 1980 he had a dbso fashioned out of a Airfix mk2d , along with a Hornby 47 converted to a class 56. He was always one for chopping stuff up / conversion jobs / detailing the old Lima - Hornby models up & it continued right up to me starting to gradually take over when we did a 442 Wessex electric in 1989. By the time 2000 came along a 325 , 2 321’s & another 442 where the books along with a 57. Added more dbso’s / mk3 dvts, bfo’s / PCV driving cars etc from a mixture of MTK kit parts etc.

 

I stopped with the hobby in 2003 & then returned in 2014 & since with the increasing costs I realised that to keep the railway as areal time operation that almost tuning my back on new tool models was the only option / go back to the old ways of doing things to keep it affordable / interesting , so for the past 3 years I’ve been doing various jobs of repaints / conversions / kit builds to equip the layout with a modern fleet in the latest colours - sticking to a Northern / ScotRail type scenario. The Lima/ Margate Hornby models have been brought in to do it , had a trip back in time to do a GNER mallard mk4 set / GNER Jouef Eurostar & a GNER class 89 kit. The 88 being a fitting return to the bonkers ways of chopping up a locomotive to produce something that rtr will take a lifetime to get round to. I eased my way back by doing another PCV conversion out of a spare Lima mk1 bg. The 88 is a big ask in every dept but I stuck to the Impressionism approach of going for a convincing look rather than chasing shadows of ultra accuracy. The jobs are not going to win any prizes or get the model press calling , but I do hope they show it can be done on limited funds / stuff from the scrap box to produce a overlooked look loco type that essential for the layout shifting the Tesco boxes & automotive set