Heinz57 Posted February 14, 2014 Share Posted February 14, 2014 Hi all, I have an old ish Hornby HST in Midland Mainline blue livery. So not too old, was it about 2004 when they released it?... Anyway, I want to improve its running cababilities, because I've gone DCC so I'm going to want to chip it and eventualy consider putting sound in it. Now I know I probably couldn't make it the dogs whatsits, but I'm sure it can at least be improved and I'm wondering what my options were? Is it possible to get a new style motor, a better style one than the old ones and fit it in? probably resulting in replacing pick ups and removing any other unwanted rubish from in there. A friend of mine told me today about something he once read talking about taking a Bachmann Class 25 chassis and retrofitting the HST body onto that, I wonder if anybody knew about that? Any help you can give is very much appreciated. The livery itself is one I like so getting rid of the HST and replacing it with something new is out of the question. But I bet the running can be imroved can't it? Cheers, Heinz Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leader 36001 Posted February 14, 2014 Share Posted February 14, 2014 Be very careful with the body on this loco. It is not a one piece moulding, the cab section is glued onto the main body moulding. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hallmodelspares Posted February 15, 2014 Share Posted February 15, 2014 Your best option would be to track down a 5 pole ringfield motor unit for the hst. Ideally you need a genuine one not a 3 pole conversion job as some of these are traded around and they can be dodgey. a pre 2010 class 86 or class 35 would do as a source for the motor as these you only need alter the wheelbase to the smaller setting Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon G Posted February 15, 2014 Share Posted February 15, 2014 If your HST was the 2004 Mainline version, then it should already have the 5 pole Ringfield as standard. Best way to check is if the drive cogs are grey rather than the black ones which were on the 3 pole ringfields. I personally would try chipping it and see how it runs before considering altering the chassis, as long as it already runs OK on DC. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
steviesparx Posted February 22, 2014 Share Posted February 22, 2014 The Ringfields are usually good as gold, and the main issue with older HSTs is the pick-ups... Originally the metal motor body was connected directly to one rail ( RHS IIRC ) through the wheels / axles / bearings, with the other rail connected to a similar arrangement through the front bogie.... Later models had insulated wheels, with pick-up to both rails on the motor and the front bogie - I suspect a 2004 model will be the latter design. Strangely, the rubber tyres were still fitted to the motor bogie wheels even when they were equipped with pick-ups - didn't they know rubber is an insulator ? Anyway, these can be removed although a groove is then left in the wheel - some models were fitted with smooth, tyre-free driving wheels... In truth, it's hard to beat the latest, all-wheel drive, centre motored chassis, especially if you intend to equip with sound. I know they were never released in MIdland Mainline livery, but the bodyshell does pretty much fit ( although it's not a straight swap ), Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heinz57 Posted February 23, 2014 Author Share Posted February 23, 2014 Hi guys, sorry about my late reply. Its been a busy week! Judging from the infomation I've been given I may as well stick with the existing motor. @Steviesparx the drive system you describe sounds just like what I have. Can I remove the rubber tyer then? It sounds like its a bit redundent in there. Cheers, Heinz Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
steviesparx Posted February 25, 2014 Share Posted February 25, 2014 . @Steviesparx the drive system you describe sounds just like what I have. Can I remove the rubber tyer then?... No harm in taking the tyres off, in fact it's most likely advantageous... They were fitted to improve traction when hauling longer trains, however modern wheelsets run a lot smoother than the plastic efforts of the 70's / 80's ... I have often 'lost' tyres and not even noticed until wheel cleaning, and you could argue the rubber tyre was a major cause of dirty track in the first place... Worth a try I'd suggest, and with careful removal they can be refitted again provided they are not stretched too much... All this said, since my previous post I have noticed that Hornby are planning a Midland Mainline HST with newer chassis - now that would be great with sound ( Was it Paxman or MIrlees...? ) http://www.Hornby.com/shop/2014-range/diesel-locomotive-and-packs/r3270-midland-mainline-class-43-hst/ Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heinz57 Posted February 25, 2014 Author Share Posted February 25, 2014 Nice one, I'll give it a go and see what happends. I've got nothing to lose. I already spotted the new power cars coming out in the Teal livery, I've got two on my wants list. Fitted with Valenta sound chips, Ooooh yes! (Its typical realy, I spend ages trying to get a Lima set in this livery and when I finaly get one last year they release this. Knowing my luck they'll just about do the blue one next year after I've got my old ones sorted!) I will have one of the new teal sets re-numberd and use it to replace my Lima set, which I will take the motor out of, retro-fit a set of Kadees to the front* and haul it around as a 'dead unit' *butchering open the fairing on the power car? That does sound like fun! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hallmodelspares Posted February 26, 2014 Share Posted February 26, 2014 another way many try with the old hst is to put 2 ringfields in and locate them within both end cars. just remember to wire them right so they agree on direction as they have a tendancy to go wrong otherwise! another ive seen is fitting a class 58 motor in pairs (1 to each bogie on the end cars) on a frame with gears Happend with a class 37 pre ringfield one pickups on plastic bogie, the wires had come away from the trailing bogie to the motor reattached with soldering and forgot to check the wheels were the right way round on the trailer bogie Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sub39h Posted March 5, 2014 Share Posted March 5, 2014 another way is to fit a Class 158 motor to the buffet car Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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