I posted this on RMWeb earlier today (for some reason I can get on there at work, but not onto NGF - go figure), but perhaps it needs a more N-centric audience...
I've recently acquired a Farish class 47 (47474 in RES livery, so one of the reworked ones with a smaller gap between the bogies and the bottom of the body). This is destined to be hacked into a model of 47854 as it was in 2006-7, in West Coast Railways livery. One area that will need some work is the buffer beams, and I'm hoping to get the benefit of others' experience here.
First off, I was planning to use the TPM etch for the cut-away buffer beam (http://www.tpmodels.co.uk/1247.html (http://www.tpmodels.co.uk/1247.html) - not currently available from TPM, of course, but stocked at various model shops). According to the linked page this can be fitted to "either old or new Farish class 47 models". Has anyone fitted this etch to one of the lowered versions of the newer 47? Were there any problems?
Secondly, I'll be needing to add a fair bit of detail to the new buffer beams. There are several different MU connections, which I'll probably scratchbuild (unless someone can point me to appropriate detail parts), but I've also been drawn to the Dapol detail pack (http://www.ehattons.com/36676/Dapol_Ndetail1_Snowplough_air_pipes_for_diesels_/StockDetail.aspx (http://www.ehattons.com/36676/Dapol_Ndetail1_Snowplough_air_pipes_for_diesels_/StockDetail.aspx)) which includes a nifty-looking screw coupling, which I'm quite taken with (this loco is going to be permanently assigned to hauling an inspection saloon, so I can have a full array of hoses etc. at one end) and also a representation of a snow plough, which 47854 did carry in my modelling period. How does the Dapol plough compare with an etched plough? TPM did one (http://www.tpmodels.co.uk/1204.html (http://www.tpmodels.co.uk/1204.html)) but it doesn't appear to be readily available anywhere; BHE list a couple (BHE118 and BHE132 - http://www.bh-enterprises.co.uk/page13.htm (http://www.bh-enterprises.co.uk/page13.htm)) but I don't really know anything at all about these products. Does anyone have experience of any of them?
Jim
Don't have personal experience but presumably the ones Dapol sell are the ones for fitting to their Class 26 and Class 27 diesels. Whether or not they can clip onto your Farish's bogies without some extra work is unknown to me. I've got the ones that come with their Hymek and these have little pegs they latch onto, and they're a bit chunkier than etched-brass equivalents.
This type of snow plough set-up was, I believe, standard across some of the BR diesel-electric classes and the same ploughs could be fitted to Class 37s, 47s and Classes 25-27. They had brackets on their bogies for fitting the ploughs. As ever though you'd need to check your specific locomotive for finding out if your 47 had all three ploughs fitted (some seemed to lose the middle one after a time).
Cheers, NeMo
Quote from: Jim Martin on June 07, 2014, 02:49:11 AM
I've also been drawn to the Dapol detail pack (http://www.ehattons.com/36676/Dapol_Ndetail1_Snowplough_air_pipes_for_diesels_/StockDetail.aspx (http://www.ehattons.com/36676/Dapol_Ndetail1_Snowplough_air_pipes_for_diesels_/StockDetail.aspx)) which includes a nifty-looking screw coupling, which I'm quite taken with (this loco is going to be permanently assigned to hauling an inspection saloon, so I can have a full array of hoses etc. at one end) and also a representation of a snow plough, which 47854 did carry in my modelling period. How does the Dapol plough compare with an etched plough? TPM did one (http://www.tpmodels.co.uk/1204.html (http://www.tpmodels.co.uk/1204.html)) but it doesn't appear to be readily available anywhere; BHE list a couple (BHE118 and BHE132 - http://www.bh-enterprises.co.uk/page13.htm (http://www.bh-enterprises.co.uk/page13.htm)) but I don't really know anything at all about these products. Does anyone have experience of any of them?
Hi I have used several of the bufferbeams over the years and I add brass buffers and pipework before bending and also solder on buffers and copper wire for the cables, fold and solder corners, super glue the square glue patch into body and then I use epoxy glue to reinforce join on rear of cab front.
Ploughs I have mounted on wires and glued inside cab - sort of flex mounted also fixed to bogie on early 47s.
Dapol ploughs have a natty lug to mount over NEM pocket - but this throws it toofar forward and need triming back but is a nice moulding.
Also I think you can fit the Bachmann 57 beam to 47 model which is easier but not so much modelling
have fun modelling
Robert
Thanks to both of you! I think I'm going to get both the etching and the detail pack and go from there. This is a project that I'm quite looking forward to.
Jim
Quote from: Jim Martin on June 08, 2014, 11:03:25 AM
Thanks to both of you! I think I'm going to get both the etching and the detail pack and go from there. This is a project that I'm quite looking forward to.
Have fun! And be sure to post some pictures.
Cheers, NeMo