Replacement chassis for Class 56 "Harworth Colliery"- which models?

[blueeighties]

I have repainted and sound fitted many, many Hornby 56s. An excellent model, let down by the completely odd and bewildering chassis/lighting unit incompatibilities. I have replaced the smd leds on the lighting board and re fitted with reverse polarity...awkward but do-able. However, my preference is for the following.

 

Discard Hornbys lighting boards and replace with 'Stickswipe's, aka Jason Edmunds. As well as being coventional and correct DCC standard, you have the added benefit of correct colour markers and headlights rather than Hornby's incorrect bright white efforts.

I discard the main pcb and hardwire the decoder in. Again, much easier than messing about with non standard wiring. I also remove the fan unit, they have been known to cause unreliable running, and rarely work properly anyways. That then leaves space for a nice beefy loudspeaker, the cooling fans are simply glued to a plasticard platform beneath the fan grilles.

Edited October 1, 2017 by blueeighties