Pete2210 Posted December 13, 2011 Share Posted December 13, 2011 I don't whether I was dreaming, but was there a recent article in one of the modelling magazines on the conversion of a HTA hopper into a IIA Biomass Hopper. My ancient grey matter tells me it was in the modelling section of Rail Express magazine, the short question is, can anyone point me in the direction of this article please. Many thanks Pete Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glorious NSE Posted December 13, 2011 Share Posted December 13, 2011 I don't recall seeing such a thing in Rail Express unfortunately. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete2210 Posted December 14, 2011 Author Share Posted December 14, 2011 I don't recall seeing such a thing in Rail Express unfortunately. Thanks Martin, I'll keep searching! Pete Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steadfast Posted December 14, 2011 Share Posted December 14, 2011 In the current (Dec '11) issue of Rail Express there's an article about GBRf's biomass operation between Tyne and Drax. The biomass hoppers are converted from IIA coal hoppers. HTAs are the EWS coal hoppers, one of which was converted and painted DB red and recoded CGA as a trial. Not sure it's seen that much work, but it was used on sand traffic for a bit HYA is the code for original batch of GBRf hoppers, these were the ones that had First branding IIA are to all purposes identical to HYAs, but carry VTG branding. It is wagons from this batch that have been converted to biomass hoppers. The different TOPS code is due to a change in European interoperability regulations requiring everything to carry an international registration Edit to say, the biomass hoppers retain the IIA TOPS code and original number Edited again. Sand, not salt......I knew what I meant... jo Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold The Stationmaster Posted December 14, 2011 RMweb Gold Share Posted December 14, 2011 If thing turn out as is hoped I might get the chance of taking some pics of such vehicles in the New Year. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete2210 Posted December 14, 2011 Author Share Posted December 14, 2011 Thanks ewsjo and The Stationmaster, It was the article in the December issue of Rail Express that tickled my grey matter, I was sure there had been a conversion done using a Bachmann HTA as a basis in a magazine, anyway thank you for your replies. Pete Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium newbryford Posted December 14, 2011 RMweb Premium Share Posted December 14, 2011 I've looked into the similarities (with help from Martyn and others) between IIA/HYA and HTA. From a distance they look similar, except for the bogies. Closer inspection shows that the angles of the ends vary between the two types. Maybe get away with it in N/2mm, but certainly not 4mm. IIRC the EWS (DBS) HTA conversion was part of the tendering process for biomass, which GBRf won. Further digging reveals 310552 as the prototype CGA, ex-HTA and retained the original EWS livery at least for a while. Later painted red and trialled on sand traffic http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TPEJ3pSTqr4 Including 66078 with the mis-matched cab doors....... Cheers, Mick Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edwin_m Posted December 14, 2011 Share Posted December 14, 2011 Maybe get away with it in N/2mm, but certainly not 4mm. Farish produce the IIA and HYA in GBRf livery so in N/2mm there's no need to try to get away with it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium newbryford Posted December 15, 2011 RMweb Premium Share Posted December 15, 2011 But have they produced a new body, with a different end angle from the HTA, or re-bogied the HTA? Cheers, Mick EDIT - a quick look at model pics via a well known Merseyside retailer certainly seems to show different body mouldings with different end panel angles. (Credit to GraFar) Maybe Bachmann will produce the HYA/IIA in 00? They already have the bogies. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edwin_m Posted December 15, 2011 Share Posted December 15, 2011 Certainly looks different from the HTA and also from the Freightliner HHA. One area where N is better off than 00, probably because not many people have the space to model a respectable rake of these in 4mm. A rake of biomass wagons in N looks a reasonably easy and interesting conversion. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glorious NSE Posted December 15, 2011 Share Posted December 15, 2011 Some pics of GBRF's IIA-C biomass hoppers here if it helps, a little one-dimensional but best I could do with the opportunity I had. As well as the roof there seems to be changes to the control panels and possibly some kind of control cabling above the brake pipes on the sides (there's a line of grey 'lumps' there that aren't on the IIA-A coal hoppers) http://ukrailwaypics.smugmug.com/UKRailRollingstock/I/IIA-C-Biomass-covered-hoppers/ Maybe Bachmann will produce the HYA/IIA in 00? They already have the bogies. Sorta surprised they haven't, I suspect the lower half of the HTA tooling would still work....quite a few livery variations they could do on these too for something so new. HYA - First GBRf Coal HYA - First Coal HYA - GBRf Coal HYA - Coal IIA - GE/Fastline IIA - Fastline IIA - DRS IIA - First GBRf/VTG IIA - GBRf/VTG Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold The Stationmaster Posted December 15, 2011 RMweb Gold Share Posted December 15, 2011 IIA - GE/Fastline To be strictly accurate judging by the train I spent the best part of 90 minutes watching on Monday they are - GE/Fastline with the 'Fast' bit painted over and the GE symbol added at the left end of the bodywork. (regret no pics as I was in a location with distinctly grubby no-opening windows). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold beast66606 Posted December 15, 2011 RMweb Gold Share Posted December 15, 2011 I have photos of a BioMass train if this is of interest, (GBRF hauled) ? Can't remember but I probably photographed every wagon, I normally do. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steadfast Posted December 15, 2011 Share Posted December 15, 2011 From what I can tell Mike, they still carry full Fastline branding. The 'fast' bit and the the 'Freight' underneath are in a dark grey (rather than black) from new, which blends in well with the bodyside colour! I remember how odd it looked the first time I saw them shortly after delivery there's a line of grey 'lumps' there that aren't on the IIA-A coal hoppers http://ukrailwaypics...overed-hoppers/ I presume these are the magnetic system to automatically unlock the doors when in the unloading area that is mention in the article. The conversion is more than just fitting a lid to the wagons, it's really quite clever the work that's been done jo Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glorious NSE Posted December 15, 2011 Share Posted December 15, 2011 This is a fairly new one (2009 image) of a GE/Fastline one showing what Jo says about the grey part of the lettering not standing out, the ones I shot nowadays working for GBRf back in October still had the grey lettering, but they are even more weathered in. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Saunders Posted December 15, 2011 Share Posted December 15, 2011 How many of the ex FastLine hoppers received DRS branding? I don't think it can be more than a small number! Mark Saunders Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Revolution Ben Posted December 16, 2011 RMweb Gold Share Posted December 16, 2011 Hi all, For the fastline hoppers, Farish got the first batch wrong and printed the "fast" in black, and not pale grey. It was inaccurate of course, but actually looked better than the real wagons. cheers Ben A. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glorious NSE Posted December 16, 2011 Share Posted December 16, 2011 How many of the ex FastLine hoppers received DRS branding? I don't think it can be more than a small number! At least two did, but most of the rake they ran seems to have retained the Fastline logos. http://ukrailwaypics.smugmug.com/UKRailRollingstock/I/IIA-bogie-coal-hoppers/16602475_2JHKXb#1444898369_rrPFNz5-L-LB Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold The Stationmaster Posted December 16, 2011 RMweb Gold Share Posted December 16, 2011 From what I can tell Mike, they still carry full Fastline branding. The 'fast' bit and the the 'Freight' underneath are in a dark grey (rather than black) from new, which blends in well with the bodyside colour! I remember how odd it looked the first time I saw them shortly after delivery I presume these are the magnetic system to automatically unlock the doors when in the unloading area that is mention in the article. The conversion is more than just fitting a lid to the wagons, it's really quite clever the work that's been done jo Ah, must have been the weathering that made it look painted over And by the end of January I should know all about the doors (I hope because somebody soon is going to have to explain the loading process for my benefit - not that he knows yet), and have some up-close piccies all being well, so kindly keep this thread alive chaps - in case I can't find it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete2210 Posted December 16, 2011 Author Share Posted December 16, 2011 Thank you to all of you for your help on this, I model in 4mm having just changed back from US HO modelling (sorry Martin), on my layout I had a cylindrical coal flood loader and I was wondering what I could use it for, after seeing the December RE my prayers were answered, now all I need to do is to set up my modern image layout for operation. Thanks again Pete Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete2210 Posted December 16, 2011 Author Share Posted December 16, 2011 Some pics of GBRF's IIA-C biomass hoppers here if it helps, a little one-dimensional but best I could do with the opportunity I had. As well as the roof there seems to be changes to the control panels and possibly some kind of control cabling above the brake pipes on the sides (there's a line of grey 'lumps' there that aren't on the IIA-A coal hoppers) http://ukrailwaypics...overed-hoppers/ Sorta surprised they haven't, I suspect the lower half of the HTA tooling would still work....quite a few livery variations they could do on these too for something so new. HYA - First GBRf Coal HYA - First Coal HYA - GBRf Coal HYA - Coal IIA - GE/Fastline IIA - Fastline IIA - DRS IIA - First GBRf/VTG IIA - GBRf/VTG Martin, Thanks for those pictures they are a great help,...............now who does the VTG and GBRf transfers in blue? Pete Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glorious NSE Posted December 16, 2011 Share Posted December 16, 2011 Hiya Pete, not wishing to put you off a project, but you could just use it for loading coal instead and use the EWS/FL coal hoppers already easily available? Not sure i've heard of anyone doing decals for these yet, but it might be worth talking to somebody like http://www.precisionlabels.com/ if you want some - they do decal sets for the loco's already so might have a headstart on some of the artwork? Whilst the end angles of the IIA/HYA design is different to the HTA that Bachmann does in OO a simple repaint and bogie swap is probably the easiest plan for the present. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Revolution Mike Posted December 16, 2011 RMweb Gold Share Posted December 16, 2011 The REx article had made me think that the Farish IIA was ripe for conversion - perhaps a quick project over Christmas... Cheers, Mike Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glorious NSE Posted December 16, 2011 Share Posted December 16, 2011 The Farish would be a lot easier to do the Biomass IIA from, with the right base wagon, bogies, and most of the livery elements already in place... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete2210 Posted December 16, 2011 Author Share Posted December 16, 2011 Hiya Pete, not wishing to put you off a project, but you could just use it for loading coal instead and use the EWS/FL coal hoppers already easily available? Well Martyn that is a thought, and one that I hadn't considered up to now, but thanks for planting the seed Pete Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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