Heljan BR class 02, conversion to S7

[RichardG]

This seems like a good time to start doing some actual modelling. Let me see how this goes before I spend money on better wheels.

The handrails beside the front steps could be better. These are of plastic, fixed to the buffer beam but not the bottom step. I imagine, Heljan have done this to let the buffer beam be a removable subassembly. The handrails are too thick and to me they just look wrong.


This is an original handrail and an experimental replacement.


The new handrails are of nickel silver wire (diameter to match the brass wire handrails on the model) with top brackets drilled and cut from 1 mm square styrene. When I stick these on, the buffer beams will be fixed onto the model. I want to decide on the buffers before I do this.

The Heljan buffer heads are completely flat, while the photos I have found show buffers of the usual curved shape. Please, does anyone know of flat buffer heads like the Heljan ones? Perhaps on different classes of locos working in industry.

To make things easier, I want my model to be an unidentified ex-BR loco, now working in industry or possibly preserved. I’ll imagine it is one of the locos which was scrapped upon withdrawal from BR.

 

[RichardG]

I am waiting for a decoder to arrive. See if this lets the model runs better or worse.

Like a fool I saw a second hand "ESU" decoder advertised on eBay and bought it. This turned out to be a Bachmann decoder made by ESU around 15 years ago. These decoders carry the letters ‘ESU’ on the circuit board and they are a first-generation LokPilot, suitably crippled by ESU to make sure they don't complete with their own product. Needless to say the performance was crap (the loco would barely start or stop) so this was returned for refund.

Buy cheap buy twice! I now have a brand new (and real) LokPilot 5.

This decoder has twelve (12) CVs associated with motor control, which would be a bit daunting were it not for ESU’s auto-tune feature. I have never seen one of these in action before. Essentially, you put the loco on a length of track long enough to let it run flat out in either direction for two seconds. Write the value 0 into CV54 and then press F1. The model runs and stops, and you then have a decoder configured for the characteristics of the motor.

I am quietly amazed. When I think of the hours I have spent setting up the decoders for my H0 locos, and never being quite sure I have got it right, this is a game-changer.

For completeness, I don't think the 470uF capacitor on the Heljan motherboard is providing any stay-alive capability beyond a tiny fraction of a second, but it isn't doing any harm either. ESU do a full-fat stay-alive module to pair with the LokPilot, but there isn't space to hide one of these inside the bonnet.

The Heljan 02 is running staggeringly well (though it was pretty good with ESUs factory settings) so I will put it aside to run it at NEEGOG on 11th July before beginning the conversion.


Decoder and packaging!