A trio of class 86s in OO

[Dagworth]

Since rediscovering my mojo one of my first tasks was to reopen the Dagworth AC loco works. Current residents of the works are many and varied but these three are somewhere high on the list. Three different sub-classes of 86 all converted from Hornby 86/2s

 

First up is 86101.

The three class 86/1s were an experminental batch of locos converted to test the BP9 bogies prior to the building of the class 87s.

My model has Lima 87 bogie frames under a Hornby 86. There are differences in the underframe equipment as well, one compressor having been replaced with a box, this also leads to changes in the position of boxes on the electrical conduit that is visible on the underframe gear.

The 86/1s were also fitted with a quartz high intensity headlight which has been modelled from fibre optic.

The loco still carries her original Hornby pantograph, this will be changed for a Somerfeldt one in due course, and she is waiting a trip through the paint shops. The Hornby (bent) handrail will also be replaced!

 

Next is 86214

Externally this is a fairly basic Hornby 86, the pan has been replaced with a Somerfeldt example, one compressor has been removed and she is due for a trip through the paint shops. The biggest difference with this loco (and all three here) is internal but more of that with...

 

86328

Again a standard Hornby 86 is the starting point. Work done consists of removal of Flexicoil suspension and replacement with scratchbuilt triangular brackets which is the biggest noticable difference between an 86/2 and an 86/0 or 86/3. This also entails quite a change to the bogie sideframes as well to remove the deepened top member and the spring plank as well as changes to the dampers. I've removed the incorrect dampers but have not yet fitted the correct ones.

The triangle brackets are scratchbuilt from brass L section and tube soldered up and then the upper part filed flat so that the bracket can be fixed to the side of the chassis in place of the former flexicoil springs. Multiple working jumpers are still to be added.

She does have the correct wheels courtesy of a Heljan 86 chassis so she is an 86/3 not an 86/0 (only 86/3s had the SAB resilient wheels)

 

The other big difference with all three of these (and with most of my AC fleet) is that they have Heljan 33 (or 26/27) chassis' as the power.

I went with the HJ Bo-Bo as at the time I started these conversions Heljan had released the 33 and got the roof profile wrong so there were quite a few of them knocking about at low prices. I know that the Bachmann warship is more accurate for the bogie wheelbase of the real thing but I really couldn't be bothered to get into chopping and stretching bogie side frames. The 33 bogie wheelbase fits the Hornby 86 and Lima 87 as moulded and when they are belting past at speed on Ravens it's close enough.

To be awkward though I now have a couple of HJ 86 chassis too, one of these has ended up under a Lima 87 but still with 33 bogies, the 86 bogies have gone under a Lilliput/Trix class 81 - with shortened Trix bogie sideframes - with a 33 chassis block.

 

Andi