Hornby Grange Conversion - Any Advice Please

[Brinkly]

Hi chaps,
I think this is the right place for this thread, and if not I am very sorry!
I have been looking at purchasing a Hornby Grange Locomotive for a couple of years and currently Hatton’s have one listed at £65 which I think is excellent value in the current economic climate. I know that the Alan Gibson range produces a RTR Grange Conversion wheel set which would require the addition of Bogie and Tender wheels and would cost just under £30 for a complete set of P4 wheels (again I think that this is a very reasonable price).
Has anyone converted a Hornby Grange and if so are there any major difficulties with a P4 conversion. I know from a friend at DRAG that the Bachmann 45xx and 4575 locomotives require a lot of 'packing' due to the narrow chassis of the model, however a 57xx was a simple drop and go conversion.
I imagine that the chassis for the tender will require work, as these are rigid so is there a suitable kit chassis with provision for suspension?
I hope that this thread makes some sense and any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Many thanks in advance,
Nick

[David Knight]

Nick,

Masokits does a sprung tender subframe that suits a wide range of wheel spacings that should suit your needs. As for the rest of the engine I'm afraid you'll have to ask others as I am not GWR person.

HTH

David

[Brinkly]

Masokits does a sprung tender subframe that suits a wide range of wheel spacings that should suit your needs. As for the rest of the engine I'm afraid you'll have to ask others as I am not GWR person.

Thanks David thats great.

Nick

[45609]

Nick,

You can see the underside of a Masokits tender underframe in my workbench thread here.

IIRC, I think Philip Hall did a P4 conversion of the Hornby Grange for MRJ or the Snooze a little while ago. I will check later unless someone posts the answer before me.

Cheers.....Morgan

[Rod Cameron]

IIRC, I think Philip Hall did a P4 conversion of the Hornby Grange for MRJ or the Snooze a little while ago.

MRJ 173 in fact (have you got that Nick?)

[Brinkly]

Nick,

You can see the underside of a Masokits tender underframe in my workbench thread here.

IIRC, I think Philip Hall did a P4 conversion of the Hornby Grange for MRJ or the Snooze a little while ago. I will check later unless someone posts the answer before me.

Cheers.....Morgan

Thanks Morgan thats really helpful.

Nick

[Brinkly]

IIRC, I think Philip Hall did a P4 conversion of the Hornby Grange for MRJ or the Snooze a little while ago.

MRJ 173 in fact (have you got that Nick?)

No I don't unfortunately, that’s something I will have to invest in.

[Tim V]

I have one to do, having seen one running superbly on the Newport layout at Scaleforum. I was so impressed I had to have one. I've got the wheels, but haven't done anything else yet.

[Brinkly]

I have one to do, having seen one running superbly on the Newport layout at Scaleforum. I was so impressed I had to have one. I've got the wheels, but haven't done anything else yet.

I haven't bought one yet as I wanted to see what the general response was on here first as I am still learning P4! But what you have said Tim is very encouraging as it really is an excellent RTR locomotive, I did think about the ex Malcolm Mitchell Grange, but looking at photos of the Hornby one and the Mitchell loco I can't really see a difference, although I am sure that there is one!

Nick

[Mike Garwood]

TIm
Our Grange was with Ultrascale wheels. It has just come back from works as the flippin' thing moved out of qtr when being cleaned. I always thought that it had a bit of a limp and stutter. Both Dave Hagger (owner) and myself were a little hesitant before loosing it on Scaleforum. The conversion itself was dead easy, no problems as far as I can remember.

Mike

[Tim V]

The dreaded quarter slip - I've got so fed up with this happening that I go to the trouble of pinning the wheels to the axles. I drill the axles first with a 0.5mm hole at an angle, so when the wheel is mounted, passing a 0.5mm drill through the boss of the wheel and then a brass pin. It's important to do it this way round so you are drilling from hard material into soft - the drill won't wander.

Very difficult to get the wheel off again, but never had one slip since.

[Brinkly]

TIm
Our Grange was with Ultrascale wheels. It has just come back from works as the flippin' thing moved out of qtr when being cleaned. I always thought that it had a bit of a limp and stutter. Both Dave Hagger (owner) and myself were a little hesitant before loosing it on Scaleforum. The conversion itself was dead easy, no problems as far as I can remember.

Mike

Sorry to jump in Mike, when you say 'dead easy' it is just a case of putting in a replacement wheel set? Or does it require any major work?

Many thanks,

Nick

[Mike Garwood]

Nick
AS far as I can remember, there is no major bodging to be done. No plastic to be carved off. You do need the original spur/worm to be replaced on the new drivers, but thats hardly any great shakes. Just takes a bit of patience and time to get it set in the right place for the new driving axle.

Mike

[Brinkly]

Nick
AS far as I can remember, there is no major bodging to be done. No plastic to be carved off. You do need the original spur/worm to be replaced on the new drivers, but thats hardly any great shakes. Just takes a bit of patience and time to get it set in the right place for the new driving axle.

Mike

Thanks Mike that's really helpful.

Nick

[Tim V]

Bit of feedback about 4-6-0s and 3' radius curves, tried a scratchbuilt Hall around Clutton at the weekend, it went round (just) so with a bit of tweaking should be OK. Now for the Hornby Grange conversion

[Mike Garwood]

Tim
We've had to replace the motor on the Grange as the end bearing of the motor ceased to do its job - horrible grinding noises coming from the beast in one direction and fine in the other. As our Grange had only had a bit of running in and the exhibition at Scale4, I suggest you run it in really, really well. When we rang Hornby, the guy at the other end wasn't surprised this had happened as, "yeah, we had a bad batch of those in." However, they supplied a new one free gratis...just beware.

Mike

[Tim V]

Thanks for the tip Mike.

[Mike Garwood]

HI

After a good long time, Hornby eventually sent thru the motor, its fitted - no dramas there - and the beast runs very nicely. Dare I say it...almost as nicely as a decent kit built chassis.

cheers

Mike
(running for cover)

[Tim V]

I see the layout is at Bristol this May. I don't normally go, but will the Grange be there and working Mike?

[Mike Garwood]

Tim

It is on my bench as I type this, cleaning maintenance only, the mechanism runs smoothly as is. Yes, the Grange will be performing on that weekend...as will converted Hall and G2. You'll be able to recognise me as I'll be the one with his foot in his mouth - literally! Look forward to seeing you.

Mike

[Tim V]

Thanks Mike, I'll see you there

Hope to have a good look at the layout and engines.

[Tim V]

Hopefully have a good look at all three and get some pictures to post on here.

[Captain Kernow]

[No I don't unfortunately, that’s something I will have to invest in.

Nick, I can photocopy mine for you, if you like.

Did you buy the Grange yet? I've got one, cheapo from Kernow Models last year, but not a brilliant runner in OO. I'll be converting it sometime, perhaps we can tackle both at the same time?

Tim M

[Brinkly]

[No I don't unfortunately, that’s something I will have to invest in.

Nick, I can photocopy mine for you, if you like.

Did you buy the Grange yet? I've got one, cheapo from Kernow Models last year, but not a brilliant runner in OO. I'll be converting it sometime, perhaps we can tackle both at the same time?

Tim M

On both counts that would be smashing Tim, I purchased mine from Hattons for £60 I think. Needs a dam good running in mind!

Nick

[Captain Kernow]

Now that Comet have re-hashed their Grange chassis, I'm beginning to wonder whether that might not be as easy a route to go down, given that there will be tinkering with brake block spacings and other tweakings on the Hornby chassis (particularly as mine doesn't run very smoothly at the moment - although that may be the OO quartering being out)...