ViTrains Class 37 - Part 1

So, as I've previously mentioned I'm not 100% keen on the Bachmann Class 37.  After 3 attempts Bachmann have seemed to resolve most of the body shape issues, but the front windows still seem too small. These can be corrected with one of the excellent set of etchings and laserglaze from Shawplan (www.shawplan.com/), but combine this with an etched roof grill and in my mind that is a lot of surgery on a already expensive loco.

Now the ViTrains Class 37 also has its own problems, but I feel these are easily resolved with a bit of time and effort.  On the plus side I've recently been buying ViTrains class 37's for half the price of the Bachmann model!

What I want is to show you how I detail and modify my ViTrains class 37's.  At the end of this series you'll be able to see the finished result and hopefully see why I prefer ViTrains.

I'm going to use a few different models to show the different types of detailing, essentially they are all the same models so the techniques apply to all.



Lets start with the basics, stripping the model down.

The ViTrains Class 37 bodyshell is held to the chassis by four clips, located just to the side of the cab doors.  I use cocktail sticks slid between the chassis and body to gently ease the bodyshell upwards off the securing clips.

(sorry for the quality of the photos, camera is playing up)

Two of the items which I feel let the model down are the roof grill and glazing. I intend to replace these so next we remove the roof fan and glazing.

The roof fan really lets the model down.  To remove you will need to cut the 4 clips off the back of the moulding inside the model (Pic2).  Once these are removed the whole assembly can be removed - do not discard !  The glazing simply pushes out - I use the end of a wooden paintbrush to 'pop' the glazing out.  once again do not discard!

More to follow in Part 2



Some past projects.

Just to get the ball rolling, a few past projects.

The Bachmann Class 37, 37411 in EWS Livery.  This was one of the first 'new' locos that I bought, miles difference in detail and running quality to the old Lima class 37's we used to use.  I used this as a bit of a test bed, its been renamed with the later nameplates (The Scottish railway preservation society), had the new style warning flashes fitted on the roofline, DCC and sound fitted and weathered.

However... I'm just not happy with it, although an excellent moulding the front end looks 'wrong' to me, the windows are too small which just ruins it, later in the blog we'll talk about how to solve this.

Those that know me will be well aware that I have a slight obsession with wagons, especially the fishy types.  Now I'm not talking about type you have with chips, my interest is in departmental stock, most of which are named after various types of sea creatures.

Below are a few recent conversions, these are a hybrid of Bachmann underframes and Cambrian body shells.  I will do a proper build blog of these wagons in the near future...  For now here is some ZCA SeaUrchins and a rare SeaHorse.

 

Thanks for taking a look, more to follow soon.