Semi-scale BR: The Modernisation Plan

[FWLR]

Agree That's a nice look loco. Great job on the surgery too.

[Sylvian Tennant]

I've been looking forward to seeing one of these done up. Great work.

[Sylvian Tennant]

I've been looking forward to seeing one of these done up. Great work.

[Phil.P]

Forgive my ignorance, but what/how have you altered the proportions?

Thanks,
PhilP.

[BertieB]

Thank you kindly!

I did have a look at the real, cut down Class 08/9 versions, as Andrew suggests (there’s a picture on the BR class 08 Wikipedia page). Ironically, their rebuild would have been constrained by the full-sized wheels and higher running plate — the lack of which I was complaining about regarding Diesel.

I also had to reduce the width of the loco (see below) and build a new cab to fit, so my roof is not quite so ‘flattened’. I’m kind of surprised that I was able to get away with it.

[BertieB]

“…how have you altered the proportions?”

As delivered, Diesel measured (in mm) 168H x 115W x 324L but its wheels appeared to be undersized and the running plate too low, which also appeared to exaggerate the length of the overhangs at each end. I thought it looked a bit weird.

To sit comfortably with my existing rolling stock (and track) I needed to cut 20mm off the height and 12mm from the width (from the centre of the body and 6mm plus from each side of the supporting chassis moulding). To adjust the proportions to more like a Class 08, I then needed to lose a fair bit of the length too; say 20mm plus, off both the front and rear overhangs. Helpfully, the original cab appeared too long anyway, so building a new, shorter cab wasn’t a problem.

I was limited in where I could remove ‘featureless space’ from the body sides, so the front overhang wasn’t touched (and the wheels are still too small, of course) which makes the revised version look, perhaps, a little long in proportion, with roof sides that aren’t as steeply pitched as you’d expect from an 08 (see above).

I’m sorry, this answer is probably unnecessarily long, detailed and tedious (but I’m not writing it again).

[Andrew]

I’m sorry, this answer is probably unnecessarily long, detailed and tedious (but I’m not writing it again).

We're railway enthusiasts! "Long and detailed" definitely isn't the same thing as tedious!

Personally, I really enjoy getting a glimpse into the minds of fellow modellers. As long as the train of thought I find there are in the correct livery and displaying appropriate headcodes, of course...

[Phil.P]

Not tedious, at all.. After all, I did ask!

The shiny-black model looks 'wrong' to me, but I don't know why..
A waft of matt-black, and rail-dirt, from a couple of feet away, would probably help?

I mainly asked, as I don't see the joins! - Which is the point, I assume?


If I can get over my 'fear of failure' I would love to have a go..
PhilP.

[BertieB]

"...a glimpse into the minds of fellow modellers"

I feel suitably chastened. So, just to illustrate just how off-the-scale nerdy I can be, here’s the amended, annotated plan / cheat sheet / mood board / user guide, I assembled as the rebuild began.

Not followed exactly, of course, for all the usual reasons (too hard and/or mistakes). I’m not pretending to be making any sort of accurate model here, just something that looks the part and fits in with the rest of the stuff.

The drawings are hardly altered, it was about establishing the differences between the original and Diesel at the size I wanted it to be

"...matt-black, and rail-dirt, from a couple of feet away, would probably help?"

Well, I agree. If you’re not constrained by the dimensions of existing rolling stock, tight clearances on garden railway bridges or whatever, you can as you say, embellish and repaint or weather Diesel as it is. It doesn’t have to be chopped up and resized.

[BertieB]

I’ve seen a photo of a real one actually with a yellow cab

Not glazed yet, run out of Canopy Glue

Here it is in vivid, disruptive camouflage — sorry, I mean ‘a fanciful, late development of’ the Rail Blue scheme. That bit in front of the cab in yellow is (partly) an attempt to disguise the length of the bodywork in front of it. Not sure it’s really worked.

The loco will be trundling slowly, with the odd wagon or two, to and from the ‘Semi-scale BR dockside sidings’ which, I suppose, are hidden behind the shrubs at the bottom of the garden. And Wikipedia says that Class 09s were geared to run fast enough (27mph) to be able to do branch line goods. Excellent.

It’s kind of a companion piece to the previous Class 33 effort. Neither are wired up so far — but I do have the bits

[FWLR]

I really really like these. Superb colours Bertie. Well done.

[ge_rik]

Spot on!!

Rik

[BertieB]

Thanks very much! I’m plotting what else can be painted blue…

[Andrew]

Thanks very much! I’m plotting what else can be painted blue…

The Bulleid "Spam Can" - would look rather nice in "large logo" blue livery... Or the earlier variant of Network South East, with the swooping stripes at each end???

The shunter looks great - I look forward to seeing it and the 33 in action. With the 73 and the Thumper, you've got the makings of a Southern Region diesel gala...

[BertieB]

“…you've got the makings of a Southern Region diesel gala”

My thoughts exactly, thank you.

However, I’m afraid I can’t agree that “the Bulleid ‘Spam Can’ would look rather nice in ‘large logo’ blue livery” — not to mention, in the hopelessly naff “Network South East, with the swooping stripes at each end” scheme.

I remember being extremely disappointed when the then fairly new and sensible, Class 455 EMUs (let alone elderly slam-door stock) started to appear in the ghastly NSE livery, rather than BR blue and grey. Late 80s, I suppose. It turned me into the cynical, table-thumping critic of crap corporate identity I am today.