7mm Heljan Western up-grade

[Brian Daniels]

I have just started to detail another Heljan 7mm Western. With this one I have changed the lampbrackets and headboard clips with JLTRT ones. Also added a JLTRT speedo. I made a representation of the brake cables that hang down under the secondmans side as well. A big mod was to move the headcode up together with the headboard clips.

Now one thing I am stuck with is should I make the cable that is fitted to a wheel face on one side? I can find pictures with it and without it so what was it for?

 

[Dog Star]

Brian,
The cable question has been aired here before and I recollect that the answer is an earth brush for the electrickari (spelled like that to rhyme with hydraulicari).

 

[Brian Daniels]

Thanks for the info. So why have they not all got it?

 

[Dog Star]

... So why have they not all got it?

Dawddles off to sit with Jordan whilst the Hydraulic Lads step up to provide chapter and verse.

 

[Steph Dale]

Thanks for the info. So why have they not all got it?

Perhaps because they don't all need it? I've had a look through various photos and I'm not convinced any of them had it from new. There's a thought that the brushes might only be needed if it was found that loco's ATC wasn't working reliably. That's on the assumption that the brush was there for the ATC!

Just out of interest, how far out of whack is the headcode box on the nose of the Heljan model? Prototype dimensions would be useful.

Cheers,

Steph

 

[OzzyO]

Perhaps because they don't all need it? I've had a look through various photos and I'm not convinced any of them had it from new. There's a thought that the brushes might only be needed if it was found that locos AWS wasn't working reliably. That's on the assumption that the brush was there for the AWS!
Cheers,

Steph

Hello Steph, all,

I'd have thought that most of the hydraulic classes would have ended up with the earthing strips when the WR was still using ATC (not AWS). When first built the earthing strips may not have been fitted as steam loco were not fitted, but the hydraulics were fitted with roller bearings? and this may have caused problems with earthing (you have to remember that the G.W.R. ATC works by electric being picked up from the track ramp and returned by the wheels).

AWS on the other hand worked on a non-contact system using magnets so no earthing strips "should" be needed! Any track circuits should work through the wheels and axles.

OzzyO.

 

[Steph Dale]

Thanks Paul,
You've written what I meant and I've corrected my post for clarity!
Steph

 

[Phill Dyson]

Just out of interest, how far out of whack is the headcode box on the nose of the Heljan model? Prototype dimensions would be useful.

I have borrowed one of Brian's pics....hope you don't mind Brian?

But this may help Steph........




Phill

 

[Brian Daniels]

You can borrow what you want Phil that's why I did not disable the download capability on my site.
Lovely comparison that.

Right so we are saying that loco's with ATC had this extra bit.

Well I made one up anyway as it looks nice to have a few more little bits here and there. I have added some wire on cab bulkheads so I can paint it orange, the Heljan representation was a bit flat. And a picture of the cab desk with the cast handles.

 

[Heather Kay]

This is a very handy thread, thank you Brian. I have a commission that involves super detailing and weathering one of these very beasties.

 

[Brian Daniels]

Glad it's of use Heather. I think that's about it now until I get the brake castings from Laurie, unless.......

Does anyone know the dimensions for the front vent that was on some just below the handrail? And a decent picture if that's possible.

 

[alcazar]

From that composite photo, the handrails need moving up a fraction too. All three.

Did Heljan not go out and MEASURE a real one? It's not like there aren't any........

 

[flexible_coupling]

Goodness... I thought the Heljan Western was "pretty good".... that's a right disappointment (looking at that composite). I know photos lie a little, but that's a bit of a shame.

 

[OzzyO]

I have borrowed one of Brian's pics....hope you don't mind Brian?
But this may help Steph........
View attachment 31289

Phill

Looking at these two photos, the main body shape looks correct. Well done on that.

The front hand rail, it may be a bit out. But?

the roof vent looks too small.

The biggest problem is the head code box.

looking at the photo on the left, maybe the head code brackets were mounted a bit lower down? See the hole in the cab front?

To me I think that this model has just about got it. we are modellers, or do we just think that all things out of the box are going to be spot on.

Think about the old days when if it had the correct number of wheels on it, it was about right.

OzzyO.

 

[Heather Kay]

I think the handrail and roof vent look out because of parallax. Look at the angle of the model's buffer to show how the angle of view isn't precisely the same as the real thing. If the model view was lower, things might level up.

Of course, I'm nit-picking. It's a damned good comparison by any measure.

 

[OzzyO]

Goodness... I thought the Heljan Western was "pretty good".... that's a right disappointment (looking at that composite). I know photos lie a little, but that's a bit of a shame.

You could do what we had to do in the 70s and scratch build any thing that you wanted, more so in 7mm and that was not just Diesels.

OzzyO.

 

[Brian Daniels]

I have had a bash at making a beefier mileometer which to me honest is just a blob of whitemetal on the end of a piece of wire. I see JLTRT do not make a seperate casting for these, they are all incorporated in an axlebox casting.

Do you think it would look nice with an etched vent?

Pete Harvey's coupling shows up better on these pictures.

I made the headcodes up on my computer with "Headcode" font.

 

[Compton castle]

I've just made up a new milometer for D1000.
I like these little projects. Although I hope they do get the Warship just a little bit better I want three of them so I don't want to have to do too much in triplicate

 

[Phill Dyson]

I made the headcodes up on my computer with "Headcode" font.

The headcode is very effective Brian......what font is it please?

 

[Heather Kay]

It'll be a variant of Gill Sans, which was the corporate typeface used by British Railways from the start.