My blue/grey set arrived at the end of last week, but for me it could only be a splendid ornament until converted to EM gauge, so that's what I've been doing for the last couple of days. Process and photos can be found here for those similarly afflicted.
Those of a nervous disposition should stop reading now! In summary I tried pushing thinned wheels out on their stubs so that I could retain current collection from the pin points, but with the collecting/bearing arm in place and wheels close to EM gauge it was clear that there would never be sufficient clearance. What worked for me was to remove the offending collecting arms and to spread the Bachmann wheels by inserting four Peco fibre washes on one side of the muff and four or five washers on the other side (the jury is out on which is best given the thick flanges). I then thinned the brake shoes. Current collection was restored on one side of each bogie using a wire soldered to the middle of the collector stubs bearing on the axle. A set of Black Beetle wheels was also purchased and tried, but although nearer scale in appearance the running qualities on my short test track showed no real benefit over the Bachmann wheels. The photo below shows the very tight clearances after conversion using the Bachmann wheels.
Full details of the conversion are in the link above. The YMRG South Junction Layout is heading for Taunton Rail-Ex on the 21st and 22nd October and for those interested my converted 4TC will be running there using a borrowed bagpipe fitted Crompton.
My 4TC came with a black underframe, but I was on the penultimate train to Wimborne in 1977, and I distinctly remember that the underframe on the immaculately presented 4TC was chocolate brown. Does anyone know if this was normal at the time, or perhaps a Bournemouth Depot thing?
Thanks,
Steve
EDIT: Links to YMRG website corrected
