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 !!

The Loco is still to be varnished and weathered.

Here is a Heljan Class 37/4 in Large Logo, but unlike the two recently posted loco’s, this one requires a lot of work. The below list is a worksheet on what I intend to do to bring it to the current (2021) condition. I will also list the jobs that will not be carried out, mainly because I may backdate the loco to an earlier era at a later date.

Jobs to be done.

Add Cant Rail Stripes— Add Nameplate ‘Stephen Middlemore’— Add Large Scotty Dog — Add latest O/H Flashes—

Add Loco Number — Add Full Detailing Pack— Add DRS Multiple Working Socket—

Add Snow Ploughs — Light Weathering—

Jobs that will not be done.

I will not be filling in the window on the bodyside — I will not be doing any amendments to the bogies — I will not be turning the tail lights into the later LED versions

I will do further photographs when this loco is finished.

This is another recent purchase from the latest batch of Heljan 37/4. I just love the livery on Colas loco’s and just had to have one, although I had to borrow the money! The only things to do are add the detailing pack and a light weathering. I would also like to update the cab Colas logo to the latest variety if and when they become available.

This is the first time I have been asked to weather a Loco to 8-9 out of 10 level. I was supplied with photographs to work to and that I should really ‘go for it’. Well this is the result of my work over a two day period, checking the photos as I progressed. I must admit it makes a change from doing light and medium weathering, but there are a lot of areas that need care, especially drying times before second and third coats of paint. The effect on the body sides was created by wiping with a cotton cloth slowly after the last coat was applied.

This is my second and final Heljan Class 17, and I must say again, this is a great model and one of Heljans best ever. Again the packaging was much better than previous models, especially the ill fated Class 31 second runs.

I have numbered the Loco D8503, one of the first built. I can not trace a photo of this Loco with ploughs, so will not be fitted.

After being delayed because of the bad weather, it has now arrived. The packaging was much better than normal and the Loco arrived in great condition, in fact not a single item was lose or missing – almost a first for me!

After arrival I started to research the Class for a suitable candidate for my livery, Green with Full Warning Panel. My choice was D8608, one of the last into service, it was also a member of the Class that was fitted with Snowploughs, although I have yet to fit them.

It runs very well and the model itself looks excellent and with great heritage from the OO model.

I have just received my latest Loco from Hattons. It took a week to get here after paying for next day delivery. But it has given me some thinking time on this new Loco. I purchased this Loco because of price and I had a conversion kit to turn a refurbed Loco into an ‘as built’ variety. Now that it has arrived I just can not do the conversion, it is such a superb Loco.

So here we have 50008 Thunderer in BR Blue, the so called Engineers Livery. I intend to run it in the 2018 – 2020 era, as it is a mainline certificated Loco and has been seen on my parts of the network. The main work will be to change the overhead warning signs, add nameplates and crests then a light weathering.