D
D7093
Guest
Apologies for people that have seen this already posted on another group. But I thought it maybe of interest for those that haven't.
This class 26 started life as a BR green model with small yellow panels, but has become BR blue and will represent D5325 circa 1970. Work started on this towards the end of last year and some final work of detailing, weathering and glazing is still required to finish the loco. But here are some images showing the work carried out the end of last year. Sorry if its a bit photo intensive, but is easier to explain than using words.
Apart from the detailing parts that came with the model and a couple of detailing upgrades, the rest of the modifications carried out are done with either plasticard or brass rod. The reasons being lack of available upgrade parts and of course being cheaper, so apologies if it looks a bit rough in places.
The roof panel lifting hooks were simply made by bending and filing brass rod to shape.
At the time this model is based on, D5325 had a horn grill cover at the B end and nothing on the A end, all this was done with plasticard parts, apologies for the dust.
The top headcode disc was lowered slightly at both ends, as it sits to high up the doors of the Heljan model. The Heljan discs that came with the kit were used.
The bodyside windows were modified to a more prototypical look dependent on which window, just done by sanding and pieces of plasticard.
The bodyside coolant grilles are etched on the model by Heljan. These were removed so I could open it all up and add the detail behind them , to give a greater depth. I need to put something inside the body to represent the coolant system and then the etched grilles will be stuck back in place.
A couple of shots showing the cab detail, nothing seriously changed around here, although a lot more could of been done. The door to the connecting doors was built up with plasticard and the undernourished air tanks mounted to the rear bulkhead were removed. Cab was painted in original colour with the lower BR green band going around the cab, as D5325 and others were left when first painted BR blue.
Replacement tanks made from plasticard and brass rod fitted inside the cab roof, along with a couple of interior lights and switches (non working).
The tank/battery box area has had a little work, probably the main of it has been to remove and replace some of the detail that mounts it to the chassis and make some new bolsters between the chassis and tank/battery box.
And now we move on to the bogies which sadly probably required the most work, which wasn't helped by Heljan using the class 33 bogies, so a few more alterations were needed.
Firstly I removed the centre springs and hangers by cutting them off a fixing them back on but more recessed into the bogie.
The bogie lifting points were removed and made up again from plasticard.
Pipework was removed and made up correctly with brass rod.
The brake cylinders were shortened in length and brass wire fitted.
The brake rodding was modified to repersent something more like a class 26.
Sandpipes were made up from brass rod.
The sandbox lids were changed on one bogie as D5325 has both types.
Speedo cable was made from brass rod to show a more correct flow.
Now to the first of my two upgrade purchases, these are the etched bogie steps available from Peter Harvey of PH Designs. These are a great improvement on the Heljan examples and make up into a nice prototypical set of steps as can be seen. You also get a set of SKF axle bearing covers on the etch, which I have adapted slightly, as I had already modified the Heljan axle box covers which were completely wrong for the class 26.
And finally my second purchased upgrade, which is an etched fan and grill set, from Brian of Extreme Etchings and Shawplan and again makes up into a lovely piece of work and with a little bit of extra work, the fan can be adapted to replace the Heljan example and still be working.
As to weathering and finishing the model, hopefully one day.
This class 26 started life as a BR green model with small yellow panels, but has become BR blue and will represent D5325 circa 1970. Work started on this towards the end of last year and some final work of detailing, weathering and glazing is still required to finish the loco. But here are some images showing the work carried out the end of last year. Sorry if its a bit photo intensive, but is easier to explain than using words.
Apart from the detailing parts that came with the model and a couple of detailing upgrades, the rest of the modifications carried out are done with either plasticard or brass rod. The reasons being lack of available upgrade parts and of course being cheaper, so apologies if it looks a bit rough in places.
The roof panel lifting hooks were simply made by bending and filing brass rod to shape.
At the time this model is based on, D5325 had a horn grill cover at the B end and nothing on the A end, all this was done with plasticard parts, apologies for the dust.
The top headcode disc was lowered slightly at both ends, as it sits to high up the doors of the Heljan model. The Heljan discs that came with the kit were used.
The bodyside windows were modified to a more prototypical look dependent on which window, just done by sanding and pieces of plasticard.
The bodyside coolant grilles are etched on the model by Heljan. These were removed so I could open it all up and add the detail behind them , to give a greater depth. I need to put something inside the body to represent the coolant system and then the etched grilles will be stuck back in place.
A couple of shots showing the cab detail, nothing seriously changed around here, although a lot more could of been done. The door to the connecting doors was built up with plasticard and the undernourished air tanks mounted to the rear bulkhead were removed. Cab was painted in original colour with the lower BR green band going around the cab, as D5325 and others were left when first painted BR blue.
Replacement tanks made from plasticard and brass rod fitted inside the cab roof, along with a couple of interior lights and switches (non working).
The tank/battery box area has had a little work, probably the main of it has been to remove and replace some of the detail that mounts it to the chassis and make some new bolsters between the chassis and tank/battery box.
And now we move on to the bogies which sadly probably required the most work, which wasn't helped by Heljan using the class 33 bogies, so a few more alterations were needed.
Firstly I removed the centre springs and hangers by cutting them off a fixing them back on but more recessed into the bogie.
The bogie lifting points were removed and made up again from plasticard.
Pipework was removed and made up correctly with brass rod.
The brake cylinders were shortened in length and brass wire fitted.
The brake rodding was modified to repersent something more like a class 26.
Sandpipes were made up from brass rod.
The sandbox lids were changed on one bogie as D5325 has both types.
Speedo cable was made from brass rod to show a more correct flow.
Now to the first of my two upgrade purchases, these are the etched bogie steps available from Peter Harvey of PH Designs. These are a great improvement on the Heljan examples and make up into a nice prototypical set of steps as can be seen. You also get a set of SKF axle bearing covers on the etch, which I have adapted slightly, as I had already modified the Heljan axle box covers which were completely wrong for the class 26.
And finally my second purchased upgrade, which is an etched fan and grill set, from Brian of Extreme Etchings and Shawplan and again makes up into a lovely piece of work and with a little bit of extra work, the fan can be adapted to replace the Heljan example and still be working.
As to weathering and finishing the model, hopefully one day.
