Darius43 Posted May 3 Author Posted May 3 Started yesterday afternoon. Bodyshell assembled and joints filled. Hornby chassis modified to fit. Some filling and fettling later… The fit of the headcode box leaves a lot to be desired… So out with the Dremel… Some more filling and fettling later… Cheers Darius 2 Quote
DJ Dangerous Posted May 3 Posted May 3 6 minutes ago, Darius43 said: Started yesterday afternoon. Started yesterday afternoon, finished tomorrow afternoon, time to invoke @Broithe’s law: On 23/4/2025 at 4:57 PM, Broithe said: If the mods could perhaps limit the pace of posting on this thread, it would give a bit more peace of mind to those of us that couldn't write a To Do List at this pace... 4 Quote
Mike 84C Posted May 5 Posted May 5 When I worked at Bescot we had loads of 25's. My favourite diesel, always seemed very willing , very strong for their size and while I was at Bescot about 4/5 yrs never had one fail. Looking good Darius, you have done it again pigs ear into a silk purse! 1 1 1 Quote
leslie10646 Posted May 5 Posted May 5 Yes, Darius, a nice model. As ever, well done. Sorry @Mike 84C but I don't have your enthusiasm for them. In 1967/1968 when returning to Belfast on holidays (or RPSI tours to be more precise), I would travel North from Euston on the Ulster Express (Class 40-hauled) but at Preston would detrain, walk over to one of the outer platforms to catch the Belfast Boat Express which had up fro Manchester and was waiting for the "Ulster" to overtake. Why? The "Boat Express" was hauled by a Carnforth Black Five and was a class act. It had an insanely fast schedule to Lancaster and the "Five" would roar out after the "Ulster" and fire would fill the night as it roared its seven coach train up into the high seventies, which it then held until braking for the Lancaster stop. One night, it was a Class 25 and it couldn't come close to the Black Five's level of performance. Mind you, the "Black Fives" were "something else" to use a modern term - one of the most brilliant designs ever. 6 Quote
Patrick Davey Posted May 6 Posted May 6 Hi @Darius43 - another masterpiece! I'd love to know how the metal body kits differ in weight from a comparable RTR model? Am guessing the finished models are much heavier, so does that translate into greater pulling power? Quote
Darius43 Posted May 6 Author Posted May 6 I suppose it depends on how good the motor is. I’ve been using RTR chassis under the bodies - mainly Lima - so it’s touch and go whether it can move itself, let alone a train. Someone on RMWeb motorised an MTK Class 40 using two Lima motor bogies and said it ran fine. Cheers Darius Quote
leslie10646 Posted May 6 Posted May 6 Hi Darius Tongue firmly in cheek - TWO Lima motor bogies? That should pull twelve at 100mph ....... 5 Quote
Darius43 Posted May 10 Author Posted May 10 (edited) Started yesterday morning. Plan is to use a heavily modified Lima Class 40 chassis with new wheels from Peter’s spares. Bodyshell parts cleaned up. The kit is missing the distinctive split headcode boxes but I have some spares from an MTK Class 45 that can be made to fit. Bodyshell assembly - always worth checking that both sides are the same length… Plastic shims added to the shorter side… For stability and strength I added the MTK cast central “box”. This means that each bogie will need a separate chassis rather than one common chassis. The roof parts were fitted in turn working from the cab ends towards the centre. The large central part needed to be trimmed and ground down using a Drexel so that it sat flush with the other roof parts. Lima Class 40 bogies modified to accept the MTK cast sides. The fit of the nose ends is best described as appalling. Filling and fettling next - a lot of filling and fettling. I cracked open a new tube of filler, which, being new, was a bit more “fluid” than the old one… I taped over the grilles and doors prior to applying the filler to protect them from being filled and then removed during the sanding process. Dunprimin. Cheers Darius Edited May 10 by Darius43 4 2 Quote
Darius43 Posted May 11 Author Posted May 11 Bogie steps added and cab window frames painted. Cheers Darius 5 Quote
Tullygrainey Posted May 11 Posted May 11 Not a kit build. A transformation. I had a car like that once - more filler than metal. Terrific work Darius 2 1 1 Quote
Darius43 Posted May 13 Author Posted May 13 Headcode boxes made from plasticard and brass wire. Cheers Darius 7 Quote
Darius43 Posted May 13 Author Posted May 13 Cab front glazing fitted. Glad that task is done… Cheers Darius 3 Quote
Darius43 Posted May 15 Author Posted May 15 (edited) Some 3D printed Conflat P’s painted and loaded with Bachmann containers. Cheers Darius Edited May 15 by Darius43 5 Quote
Darius43 Posted Monday at 12:37 Author Posted Monday at 12:37 Started yesterday afternoon after the F1… Getting the hang of these now. Cheers Darius 3 Quote
Darius43 Posted Monday at 17:12 Author Posted Monday at 17:12 Longer etched bodyside grilles fitted and ends dipped in custard. Cheers Darius 2 Quote
Mol_PMB Posted Monday at 17:43 Posted Monday at 17:43 Hmm Custardy or should it be Custody? Nice work as always! 1 Quote
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