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This is a simple conversion . The driven bogie original Dapol wheels can be eased out on their axles using a GW models gear puller . Check b to b with EM gauge society gauge . The non driven bogie is a little more complex . Discard the original wheels and axles which are shorter than the 26 mm norm . Replace with Gibson’s 12 mm 3 hole disc . You’ll need to shorten the Gibson axles . I used a drill and a file . The pick ups need also fiddling . ive done this twice and both run well . i wrote up the conversion in an EM Gauge newsletter . Good luck Ken

Just to clarify , we were discussing drive on the the model not the real thing . Dapol have included dummy drive shafts if you are modelling the railcar in later condition with valances or skirts removed . Mine is being run in on rollers and is ticking over quietly and smoothly .

My earlier passenger version was 1 motor with drive to one bogie and pick up from t’other . I never had problems with its running and there was no sign of a uj drive to both ends of the motor . I did follow posts here with reports of poor running and remedies . From all I read I believe the spec for the first batch was drive to one bogie only . My hopes were raised with talk of drive to both bogies but if the parcel car runs as well as my passenger railcar , I’ll be content .

My Parcels GWR railcar number 17 arrived from Hattons today. A beautiful model which captures the sinuous curves of the original, detailing and the livery is expertly applied. A lovely job. I am pleased but see that it is not all wheel drive and has one powered bogie and the other is for pick up . See earlier post which reflected Dapol's claims that the drive arrangements had been improved. Hattons thought it was all wheel drive when I checked with them on pre- ordering. Not a deal breaker as my earlier passenger version runs well and was relatively easy to convert to EM gauge. It has not been run yet as there other jobs in front of the 2do list.

I have converted a 56xx and a Grange and in both cases used the excellent Ultrascale drop in wheel sets to EM gauge. Both work well and the 56xx is my best smooth and silky runner. As to pulling out original wheels. I've done this on a Hornby 28xx (I took advice from the Cornwall Yard people). It worked well. I took the wheel set out of the chassis and supported it in the "vee" of a piercing saw table. Then I used a masonry nail to gently tap the axle with a lightweight hammer. After three taps, I felt the axle move and then gently tapped again until I could see movement of 1 mm each end. I finessed the b to b with a small vice and EM gauge Society back to back gauge. It needed spacers to take up the slack and I used Peco fibre washers with a segment cut out to slip over the axle ( thanks to Tim Shackleton for the tip). The quartering didn't move or alter during my bodging. I've also converted a Bachman 57xx with the same tools and techniques. It ran after a fashion but I eventually substituted an Ultrascale drop in conversion which has resulted in greatly improved running. I've converted the powered bogie of a Dapol streamlined GWR railcar using a GW wheel puller and then finessed the b to b with an EM gauge Society back to back gauge. This worked well and didn't need spacers. I wrote up the full conversion in the EM Gauge Society newsletter. I think it is matter of "horses for courses" and recommend joining the EM Gauge Society. My preferred course when I can afford and get them is to use Ultrascale drop in conversion sets, but I've used Hornby, Markits and Alan Gibson wheels to convert Airfix, Triang(!) and Bachman locos and diesel railcars. Give it a try and good luck. Give it a try and good luck. Ken

Thanks Guys for the interest and kind words . Brian Huxley's article set his Gadfly in the First World War . His model was carrying a Sopwith Camel and he cautioned against selecting aircraft from inappropriate eras . The full size Gadfly was a kit bash - take an old 6 wheel coach , remove the body and centre wheels and add a timber deck . I chose a1930 s time scale and the Bristol Bulldog would have been obsolescent at that time . It is of course the type that Douglas Bader was flying when he crashed . I happened to have an Airfix kit in the spares box so I envisaged a crash recovery. Jim thanks for the YouTube . It looks like a Spitfire mark VIII to me in Burma or the Far East . Very interesting . In England by this time (1943 or 44)road transport had developed and I suspect the RAF might have used an articulated Queen Mary lorry as per the Airfix kit . My Gadfly isn't a kit BTW . It has a 15 thou brass sheet as a bed with a Kenline solebars , headstock etc . Then a plasticard decking . Thanks for your interest . Ken

I've got a spare set of Ultrascale 00 wheels and gears for a 3 car Lima DMU . They were bought specially for a Met Cam set but I'm pretty sure the motor bogies are the same .

I carried out this conversion about 40 years ago. The first version used the Triang chassis but I fitted Romfords and a 40 to 1 gear set. The trailing bogie was a plastic box but with pick ups from the Ultrascale 3 foot wheels. Later I made a brass chassis with compensation but it didn't work ( I soldered the pivot solid). It is now on its third iteration with a second compensated brass chassis, a Mike Sharman milled gearbox and brass trailing bogie. It has a small Mashima motor. I hope my modeling standards has moved on in the interim but the onset of "wobbly hands" mitigates. The Gadfly with Bristol Bulldog was inspired by another Brian Huxley article