A couple of months ago I purchased an O Gauge Skytrex Skin Head Body Shell for £25 ! What a crazy mixed up model that was – it was a crossbreed between an original and a refurbished loco, I gave up all hope of making it into an acceptable model and put it to one side.

Three weeks ago a friend managed to get me an O Gauge Heljan 31 un-refurbished Body for the princely sum of £30. This changed everything and plans were put in place to make a 31/0 or 31/1 with a cab vent instead of a four character head code box.

I have to admit, before I took the saw and knife to the Skytrex donor loco, I searched everywhere for some form of conversion kit to achieve it a bit less painfully, I really expected a 3D printed part would be available, or a cast resin or a whitemetal version – sadly I found nothing.

I decided to cut the cab vent off the Skytrex model and after cutting the Four Character Headcode off the Heljan model and filling with car filler, lots of shaping took place using Large files, Small files, various grades of Wet and Dry and looking at photos to ensure the new shaped Cab Roof was as near as possible. Probably not quite perfect but the best I could do, the salvaged Skytrex vent was then made to fit the best I could !

I have bettered the flat roofed Skytrex example and I still have some fettling to do and a rub down with 1200 Wet and Dry, before further under coating – Oh I forgot —- and do the other end!

Here are two Class 26’s albeit 15 years apart. The first one is late 60’s with pre-tops numbering. The second one is as running in the mid 80’s in Tops livery with the depot logo, ‘the Highland Stag’ and twin headlights for the Far North Line.

Both were purchased from the Heljan/Accurascale sale at very reasonable prices, especially after cashing in all my discounts!

Both are on my massive weathering list !

Here is 37406 The Saltire Society in Large Logo Livery in about 1985-6. Being an ex Western Region Loco the extra lamp brackets were retained (minus one).

As usual lots of research was done on this particular Loco, and multiple photographs were used to ensure complete accuracy.

This is the second Class 27 obtained from the Heljan/Accurascale Sale. This has been numbered 27028 and detailed, however the jury is out on what to do with the head code! I have come to the conclusion that this Loco was the least photographed Class 27 ever, and getting a good photo of the sides and ends has proved impossible!

Of course it will be weathered later when the head codes have been researched and modelled.

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Another Namer here, Sherwood Forester, 45060.

Transfers are HMRS and Railtec, Nameplates by Fox.

It will be weathered in the next batch.

This is my attempt to make myself a Class 46. The donor Loco was one of the very reasonably priced 45’s from the current Heljan/Accurascale Sale. I must admit I do not think I would have tried this on a full price Loco!

The main difference between these classes was nearly all internal and not part of this exercise. The main things to change were all the bodyside grilles were left intact and not plated or riveted over. One word of warning here, the lower grille on this model had the covered plated bottom grille ‘glued in’ and was not easy to remove – strange as you get the options in the ‘add on’ pack!

The other modification that is noticeable is an extra inspection grille on the roof at the fan end. This I made from a piece of plasticard, after studying as many photos I could find. I am pleased with the size and shape, but I think I made it a bit thicker than needed – a mk2 may follow – we will see. The loco will be weathered and the new items blended.

Numbered as 46052, the last of the Class I saw a March stabling point !

Today I have added the Scottish type headlights that Class 37’s carried during the early/mid 1980’s. Although they are not wired in yet, they will be made to work later.

They are a little oversized but are more than acceptable, having working ones is a big bonus.

37011

37264

Here is a Sector Class 56 in Metals livery and named ‘Thornaby TMD’ . 56069 had received the plates when 37069 lost them after a change of use. This was another purchase from the Heljan/Accurascale recent sale, I certainly could not have afforded this loco without the price reduction. It will be weathered later

This is a Gateshead based loco as running in the mid 1980’s. It was a great buy from the latest Heljan/Accurascale Sale. I specifically wanted a snowplough fitted loco that was not Scottish based, and one that I saw in East Anglia. This Loco was converted to a 37/3 and was later based at Stratford (SF) as 37376. It will be weathered later.

Note the Gateshead Crests above the number.