IanPenberth Posted March 21, 2015 Share Posted March 21, 2015 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. 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PenrithBeacon Posted March 21, 2015 Share Posted March 21, 2015 Would you mind doing a kit for the Dapol/Model Rail and the Hornby Sentinels? Or are they too small? Regards Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Horsetan Posted March 21, 2015 Share Posted March 21, 2015 I'm waiting to see if he develops one for the Dapol Western, and another for the 40/44/45/46s.... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jub45565 Posted March 21, 2015 Share Posted March 21, 2015 Horse, Rumney do the latter and are apparently lining up the former... I am (as yet) a customer of neither enterprise, but both look to be well designed and have items I have my eye on! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allegheny1600 Posted March 21, 2015 Share Posted March 21, 2015 Hi Ian, I recently bought the Hymek kit from you and my slow build is being illustrated here; http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/97278-modded-rtr-p4ing-a-Heljan-hymek/?p=1823085 I'm enjoying it so far, thanks! John E. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Horsetan Posted March 21, 2015 Share Posted March 21, 2015 Horse, Rumney .... are apparently lining up the former...! Justin's been "lining up" for at least two years. Seems the brake gear is his stumbling block. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Phil Bullock Posted March 21, 2015 RMweb Gold Share Posted March 21, 2015 I'm waiting to see if he develops one for the Dapol Western, and another for the 40/44/45/46s.... Web site says one coming for 1co-co1s - can see that being popular given the issues with the latest class 40 release from Bachmann Phil Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stanley Melrose Posted March 21, 2015 Share Posted March 21, 2015 I've built one of the Deltic prototype conversions and it's superb. I'm waiting for the Bachmann 10000 version with keen anticipation. The Class 40 will also be on my shopping list. Stan Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Bigcheeseplant Posted March 22, 2015 Share Posted March 22, 2015 I am currently building the Bachmann 47 getting to reassembly stage now. It does all seem a bit alien when you first start to build them as I keep thinking what does that do or go, and you only find out later in the build. David Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PGC Posted March 22, 2015 Share Posted March 22, 2015 Fen End Pit has a couple of blog entries where he's built one of these. You can see one with a video clip here. Phil Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Posted March 29, 2015 Share Posted March 29, 2015 Done one 47 up and running last year. Runs like a dream, but you must follow the instructions properly! Regards Mark Humphrys Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
IanPenberth Posted April 20, 2015 Author Share Posted April 20, 2015 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 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
IanPenberth Posted May 22, 2015 Author Share Posted May 22, 2015 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. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Storey Posted June 2, 2015 Share Posted June 2, 2015 Hi Ian I would like to add sprung suspension to my Class 33's (and 73's when you get around to it) but I run in 00, not P4 or EM. I have searched through your site but cannot see the answer as to whether your kits will work for 00, as a straight swap? If they will work in 00, have you thought of doing a set for Mark 1 EMU's and DMU's? Thanks Mike Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Horsetan Posted June 2, 2015 Share Posted June 2, 2015 ....I would like to add sprung suspension to my Class 33's (and 73's when you get around to it) but I run in 00, not P4 or EM. I have searched through your site but cannot see the answer as to whether your kits will work for 00, as a straight swap?.... I think they are meant for EM and P4 only, otherwise he might not have bothered to design them. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grovenor Posted June 2, 2015 Share Posted June 2, 2015 whether your kits will work for 00, as a straight swap? I thought the site, even this topic is pretty clear that they are for EM and P4. Look at the diagrams and photos, the new sprung frame sits outside the original gearbox and the result is a minimum back to back of 16mm, so 00 wheelsets will not fit. Regards Keith Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Storey Posted June 2, 2015 Share Posted June 2, 2015 Thanks guys. You are clearly correct that his site is intended for P4/EM, which even Inspector Clouseau would have trouble missing. However, whilst the units are intended for non-00 I was hoping it may be possible to use them for 00, but I see from Keith's stated b2b dimensions that this does not appear to be so. I will continue to search elsewhere. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
IanPenberth Posted January 7, 2017 Author Share Posted January 7, 2017 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. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mad McCann Posted January 9, 2017 Share Posted January 9, 2017 Chris. Bearing in mind that the Class 40 comes in 00 with split axles, what provision is made for EM wheels in the kit? Cheers, Dave. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
IanPenberth Posted January 9, 2017 Author Share Posted January 9, 2017 what provision is made for EM wheels in the kit? See the Wheelsets section of the instructions. HTH. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Waveydavey Posted January 9, 2017 Share Posted January 9, 2017 (edited) Hi Ian, Would the peak kit be suitable for the original Bachmann class 40? It has the same four wheel drive bogie as the peak. Cheers David Edited January 9, 2017 by Waveydavey Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
IanPenberth Posted January 9, 2017 Author Share Posted January 9, 2017 Would the peak kit be suitable for the original Bachmann class 40? 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 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Horsetan Posted January 9, 2017 Share Posted January 9, 2017 Hi Ian, Would the peak kit be suitable for the original Bachmann class 40? It has the same four wheel drive bogie as the peak.... Ian has sent me one for exactly this purpose. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Re6/6 Posted May 6, 2017 RMweb Gold Share Posted May 6, 2017 Ian has now done a sprung bogies kit for a Bach Class 66 which will cure that rocking tendency of the centre drivers. http://www.penbits.co.uk/Content/Class66.html Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
IanPenberth Posted May 7, 2017 Author Share Posted May 7, 2017 Ian has now done a sprung bogies kit for a Bach Class 66 which will cure that rocking tendency of the centre drivers. http://www.penbits.co.uk/Content/Class66.html 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).. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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