Hornby Thomas Conversion to P4 - Advice wanted

Help and advice for those starting in, or converting to P4 standards. A place to share modelling as a beginner in P4.
garethevans1986
Posts: 92
Joined: Mon Sep 19, 2016 9:18 am

Hornby Thomas Conversion to P4 - Advice wanted

Postby garethevans1986 » Wed Sep 13, 2017 10:27 am

Hello everybody,

I'm a member of the Barrowmore Group who own Mostyn (P4, 1977 Diesels) so anything steam-wise is way out of our "knowledge zone" I'm afraid.

I purchased a Hornby Thomas set as my eldest is nearly 3 and train mad, the plan was to have it running on Mostyn during exhibitions! I'll think springing Annie and Clarabel may be a bit easier but we will see.

So I'm looking for some advice on what chassis and wheels to buy to convert this loco to P4. I ideally want to keep the current chassis as the loco also runs on another American H0 (00 track) group layout.

PS Having Thomas zoom round an American H0 layout during an exhibition kept the younger viewers entertained for a while! :D

Thanks
Gareth
Gareth O. Evans
IT Consultant/Director of Web46 IT Solutions
Croes Newydd Yard

Diesel Crank

dal-t
Posts: 654
Joined: Mon Jan 11, 2010 8:06 pm

Re: Hornby Thomas Conversion to P4 - Advice wanted

Postby dal-t » Wed Sep 13, 2017 1:59 pm

Have you seen this?
David L-T

garethevans1986
Posts: 92
Joined: Mon Sep 19, 2016 9:18 am

Re: Hornby Thomas Conversion to P4 - Advice wanted

Postby garethevans1986 » Wed Sep 13, 2017 2:43 pm

David,

I haven't but certainly a starting point!

I *think* the video is from a fello Scalefour Forum member Knuckles too.

Thank you
Gareth
Gareth O. Evans
IT Consultant/Director of Web46 IT Solutions
Croes Newydd Yard

Diesel Crank

User avatar
Knuckles
Posts: 1262
Joined: Fri Nov 18, 2011 9:15 pm

Re: Hornby Thomas Conversion to P4 - Advice wanted

Postby Knuckles » Wed Sep 13, 2017 3:21 pm

Yup! Certainly is my chassis. Was my first attempt at building a chassis in P4 and my first go at springing. Worked out pretty good although I since buggered the coupling rods so need to replace them.

I've made several E2 chassis as fixed axle 3D prints and can make one with cut outs for springing if you are happy gluing hornblocks in.

If you convert the Hornby chassis to P4 though it won't be 00/H0 compatible so unsure what you have in mind.

Wouldn't it make sense to make a P4 chassis and just swap the body over depending which layout you run it on?
“He who dares not offend cannot be honest.” Thomas Paine

https://www.sparkshotcustomcreations.com/
Mostly 3D Printed Loco kits etc.

SCC Price list (7/4/22)
https://www.sparkshotcustomcreations.co ... e77d42.pdf

garethevans1986
Posts: 92
Joined: Mon Sep 19, 2016 9:18 am

Re: Hornby Thomas Conversion to P4 - Advice wanted

Postby garethevans1986 » Wed Sep 13, 2017 3:31 pm

Knuckles wrote:Wouldn't it make sense to make a P4 chassis and just swap the body over depending which layout you run it on?


That would be the best idea IMHO.

I would also want to make the P4 loco chassis sprung too (a requirement to having the loco run on Mostyn).
Gareth O. Evans
IT Consultant/Director of Web46 IT Solutions
Croes Newydd Yard

Diesel Crank

User avatar
jim s-w
Posts: 2186
Joined: Wed Jul 30, 2008 5:56 pm

Re: Hornby Thomas Conversion to P4 - Advice wanted

Postby jim s-w » Wed Sep 13, 2017 3:51 pm

I would guess that Hornby used their bog standard jinty chassis. Weather it's vaguely accurate or not I dunno but a high level jinty would be my starting point.
Jim Smith-Wright

http://www.p4newstreet.com

Over thinking often leads to under doing!

David Knight
Posts: 812
Joined: Sun Jul 20, 2008 6:02 pm

Re: Hornby Thomas Conversion to P4 - Advice wanted

Postby David Knight » Wed Sep 13, 2017 5:08 pm

BIll Bedford also does a Jinty chassis http://mousa.biz/fourmm/loco/frames/lms ... -3f-0-6-0t which has the advantage of being designed to be sprung. The High Level chassis comes with more detail and if you were looking to convert an actual Jinty might be the better choice, Bill's is a little more basic but does the job.

Cheers,

David

garethevans1986
Posts: 92
Joined: Mon Sep 19, 2016 9:18 am

Re: Hornby Thomas Conversion to P4 - Advice wanted

Postby garethevans1986 » Wed Sep 13, 2017 5:39 pm

Thank you for the replies so far.

Gareth
Gareth O. Evans
IT Consultant/Director of Web46 IT Solutions
Croes Newydd Yard

Diesel Crank

User avatar
kelly
Posts: 525
Joined: Mon May 30, 2016 1:59 pm

Re: Hornby Thomas Conversion to P4 - Advice wanted

Postby kelly » Wed Sep 13, 2017 8:43 pm

The bodies should be very cheap on eBay so you could keep the train set one in tact and get a new chassis for a cheap body off eBay.
DEMU UPDate Editor
DEMU
Photos on Flickr


Return to “Starting in P4”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: ClaudeBot and 0 guests