A Tale of Two Diesels Easy off the shelf locomotive conversions for modellers of New Zealand Railways.
Adrian Howard I was recently musing over the relative dimensions and overall look of two 1:76 scale diesel locos, the Hornby Railroad 0-4-0 Bagnall shunter, and the Heljan BR Class 05 0-6-0 shunter. My interest was that both locos in a smaller scale (but based on a broader gauge than NZR) could be adapted to suit NZR 1:64 which uses the same track. The Bagnall always looked too tall for OO gauge, and when placed alongside the Drewry Railcar, as in the photos, it did not seem out of place. I had always liked the look of the Hunslet shunter, with its distinctive shaped cab roof, and the rear overhang, but especially the chunky Hunslet nameplate above the equally chunky vertical bar grill (sadly these features were removed when the NZR Hunslets were re-engined). The Hunslets were South Island locos and I recall them, especially I think it was Dsa 250 working in the Gore area in the early 60s. I liked the look, and wanted to have a model version. Then along came the Heljan 05 with a variety of liveries and eras. I bought a standard green livery with the grill in red and the Hunslet nameplate also with a red background.
Adrian’s NZR Ds Shunting locomotive in 1:64 scale, converted from a OO scale Hornby Bagnall locomotive.
I am not a rivet counter, but I like to create something that is a passable option, and I think I have done that.Both locos were given a coat of NZR red, with the cab roof in silver, and then weathered. The under-frame was weathered, and the driving rods were ‘rusted’ to take that newness away. Lights front and rear were added, a driver installed, and a shunter added to the front footplate of each loco. Both locos are superb runners, at both low speed, and at pace.
Both locos were a relatively quick conversion option, and I am pleased with the decision. The initial fear of slicing in to a perfectly good proprietary loco quickly disappeared, and after surgery I now have a couple of useful shunters. I recommend a similar process to anyone wishing to create something for their own layout when alternative RTR options or kits, especially for the Hunslet don’t exist in 1:64.
With both locos, there was some minor surgery required, to remove the tensionlock couplers and replace with Kaydee couplers (although the Hunslet has retained one tension-lock to be used as a transition loco for some of the mixed stock I have). The British buffers had to be removed, holes filled and sanded and running boards front and rear constructed out of brass. The Hunslet required a chimney, and both required maker’s plates, and number plates which I purchased from Trackgang Products. The numbers are for Ds locos, but they are both different numbers for each loco, and you only notice when you look really closely (and I mean really closely). The S Scale (1:64) Hunslet. Adrian’s conversion from an Heljan BR Class 05 0-6-0 model locomotive.
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NZ Model Railway Journal September 2018
