Class 47 Chassis

[HighlandRailwayman]

Hi Guys,

I'm a newly converted modeller to P4 from N gauge. One of the things that has attracted me to P4 is the ability to heavily modify old RTR bodies and the variety of kits to build. To this extent, im keen to see just how good an old 47 body can be made, and am interested in a chassis to put under it that will do it justice.

Are there any kits/etchings that will allow me to build a chassis that will have sprung(preferable) or compensated axles, and a decent slow speed operation( being a plank railway at the moment, it is more for display/shunting rather then 90mph crack express speeds....

Is it worth doing down this route or would people recommend just re-wheeling a bachman chassis? I'm not affraid to have a go at semi-scratch building, if only i can get some etching/cosmetic castings to help build a decent bogie to mount/connect the rest (something similar to the 31 that is on the CLAG site.

Sorry if this has been discussed elsewhere, but am looking to bow to the superiour wisdom of you knowledgable folks out there.

I believe the phrase is.... Answers on a postcard....

[grovenor-2685]

Unless you are especially keen on having 6 axle drive i would avoid a Bachmann cl47 chassis, they have a tendency to be bent so they rock on the centre axle, which is a killer for P4.
See http://www.scalefour.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=21&t=211&start=0#p1099
If you are happy with 4 axle drive I would suggest converting a Vi trains chassis.

Alternatively if you want a challeng you can have a go at following cHris Pendlenton's MRJ article on how he modified a Deltic.

I don't know of any suitable kit.
Regards
Keith

[craig_whilding]

I'd recommend the Heljan bogies over the Bachmann as the Bachmann 6-wheel drive isn't great. Howes can sell you the bits and you could get spare Hornby motors and shafts to go with them.

http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index. ... -finished/ should give you some ideas on what to do with an old model and its chassis.

and a 47:
http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index. ... e-details/

[Horsetan]

Later on, you can replace the Hornby motor with a big Maxon coreless one, plus some big flywheels - plenty to choose from on eBay.

[grovenor-2685]

If you use the Hornby motor and flywheels from the class50 I don't think a maxon would show any improvement, but it might be quite tricky to fit in a 47 as the bogie centres are significantly further apart on the 50. For the use you describe all this sounds like overkill.
regards
Keith

[jim s-w]

Personally I reckon the Vi-trains 47 is the best available - yes it needs a bit of work but it runs well and is class 47 shaped.

Another option for older locos is Athearns PA 1 Chassis whos wheelbase is a close match for the (incorrect) Lima originals



HTH

Jim