Another update on a loco that has now been finished, 37057. I have done some more work on the bogies, adding axle box detail. I have also done more work on the roof, blanking off the now redundant steam boiler port.
I have again done quite a bit of research on whether this loco retains vacuum pipes, again as 37421 it does, so I retained them.
With being used by Colas and purchased from preservation, it is hoped that when their life on the main line is over, they will all return into preservation.
This is again a bit of a repost, but now the Colas 37/4 is finished. All buffer beam detail has been added along with snow ploughs. 37421 is a little different to the DRS 37/4’s, it retains its Vacuum Brake hoses and presumably that capability. I removed all the Vacuum Hoses on the DRS examples as they are Air Braked only.
I am still looking to replace the Colas ‘Hat’ Logo with the latest offering, but still no one has produced the transfers for one!
This is somewhat of a re-post, but a lot has happened to 37422 over the last fortnight or so. It has received a few more embellishments and more importantly a name. It is now named ‘Victorious’ and although it seems a bit different to DRS normal naming policies, it is much welcomed.
The nameplates are Proto Neo and the transfers are a mix of Fox, HMRS and Railtec.
This is the finished model of 37405 in what was the standard DRS livery up until about 5 years ago. This model was purchased in this livery as a limited edition. I have now detailed the Loco with all the usual DRS features and added the snow ploughs etc.
This is another DRS repaint into a heritage livery, this time it is 37425 Concrete Bob/Sir Robert McAlpine. The same detailing has been applied to ‘Bob’ as to the previous posts in the 7 in 7 blog.
The nameplates are Fox and again the transfers are a mix of Fox and Railtec.
This Loco is currently working out of Norwich on route learning and March on engineers trains. Certainly brings back very fond memories.
Here is another of the DRS Heritage repaints, this time it is 37419 Carl Haviland. This Loco is in Inter-City Mainline livery similar to the original variety in the late 80’s.
I have again tried to bring the Loco right up to date and as running now. All the usual DRS refinements have been added and the details are the same as yesterdays post.
Nameplates are again Fox and the transfers are a mix of Fox and Railtec.
Over the last three weeks or so I have been detailing and numbering seven Class 37’s. Over the next seven days I intend to publish a photo of one loco per day.
The first Loco is 37402 Stephen Middlemore in Large Logo livery. I have brought it right up to date in every way I can, but did not fill in the bodyside window modification as recently done by DRS. I was very unhappy with Heljans latest DRS Multi Working attempt, so I have made my own variety out of odd transfers, not perfect but will do until someone does better. The buffers are also incorrect for current 37’s and again would be replaced if/when possible.
I purchased some extra lamp irons so that I could model with the correct pattern for each Loco. These cost £2 each via Gaugemaster, Heljans UK spares partner, I can only say — What a rip off – £2 for something that probably costs 5p to make is disgusting.
I have added the correct form of cant rail stripe, the correct O/H warning signs, the Door kicker plates, The MW sockets and all the little signs that now appear under the sand boxes and fire alarm boxes. Heljans add-on items were also added to the buffer beam.
The Nameplates are Fox and the Transfers are a mixture of Fox and Railtec.
This is a story about always keeping an open mind on developing something a bit different. This Loco was purchased from the first batch of 37’s many years ago and was happily running as D6712 in my 63-65 era. One day I was looking through my stock and it occurred to me that I could make something quite special from this older Loco, namely 37057 as running with Colas for the last few years. This loco was purchased by Colas out of preservation and returned to mainline service on test trains etc.
There was quite a bit of work to do on the model to make it accurate, but we finally got there after lots and lots of research. The loco still has to be weathered.
This Loco started life as the Heljan DRS Blue offering with no numbers symbols or anything. Once I decided to do this Loco it took a lot of research on the Internet and my own photos. While staying in East Anglia for the RHTT and Plough duties it gained a few embellishments. I have tried to incorporate them all and consider it is as running at present (14/3/21).
The Loco now has all its previous numbers and its current number all displayed, it has a very small BR emblem, a black head code box and a Cockney Sparrow, as used in the 1980’s and beyond.
I am trying to produce a DRS Coupling Socket along with Graham M, as I feel the Heljan transfer example is very weak. The other thing that needs addressing is the lack of lamp brackets on the nose, Heljan saw fit to only put one on the RH side and have given none in the spares pack – this severely hinders doing your favourite Loco. Sadly this is the same on all liveries in the second batch of 37/4’s. 37422 is three per end, LH, RH and centre top !!
