LGB shunter conversion to Gauge 3

J

john

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I wondered if any of you would be interested in seeing the conversion I have just completed on an LGB shunter?
I got the basic toytrain loco from Dragon G scale a couple of years ago and started the conversion a few months ago. This was supposed to be a quick conversion, but I later realised there was a bit more to do than I first thought after starting on it. It has new dummy frames and buffer beams bolted to the original frames and beam casting, and also new side valences to widen it a bit and make the gap between the wheels and footplate appear less.

Loco is powered by 12 aa eneloop type batteries with a Viper ESC and cheap 2.4 Ghz transmitter and receiver. It ran for 5 1/2 hours today when I had to stop after the transmitter batteries ran out of charge.

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John
 
Looks a very convincing job there John, I'm sure we'd like to see more, and have you considered doing an article for Garden Rail?
 
Lovely conversion John.
I had a very pleasant visit to a G3 line yesterday and at such times my thoughts always turn towards a loco of my own.
I think that your excellent work could inspire a few more people to have a go.
 
john said:
I wondered if any of you would be interested in seeing the conversion I have just completed on an LGB shunter?
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Very much so! A fascinating conversion and a lovely paint job. At a purely nit-picking level, I wonder if a prototype is closer from the Class 02 (D2850-2869) shunters rather than the Hunslet dock shunters?
 
Nice conversion there....
 
Thanks for your kind comments.

I did use a lot of tips I have picked up from this forum so in a way you helped me a great deal.

Most want to know how the chassis was re-gauged. The short answer is that I sent it to GRS who have the appropriate jigs for widening LGB chassis. I have re-gauged playmobile, and I would take on a re-gauge of an LGB motor bogie, but I didn,t fancy having to quarter and realign the wheels and the gear wheels so that they aligned together. Price was very reasonable and I have no connection other than as a customer with GRS.

On the conversion, mini splines are put on the 6mm axles so they grip the gearwheel and loco wheels., and spacers are put between the motor block and wheels as can be seen in the photo below. The motor block plugs in to the original chassis/bufferbeam assembly to make maintainance easier.

The rest involved carving off the continental lamps etc from the body and filling/sanding the body. The footplating chequer plate I already had, but as this was steel (like the chassis and bufferbeams) it took a bit of time to shape and get right.

The esc is in between the dummy chassis members and has a plasticard cover which is a push fit between the frames the protect it and allow access for binding.

Painting was with Halfords rattle cans with sanding between coats followed by a coat of plasticote satin varnish.

I picked the number because I thought it hadn't been used in the D series shunters, but will have to live with it now as it has a layer of varnish over it! Putting the number on was one of the hardest things for me to manage and I had quite a job getting the individual numbers into line.

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Last pic shows it still fits in the original box.

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James, I hadn't thought of writing an article as I hadn't thought it would interest anyone outside this forum.

If anyone has anymore questions I will try and answer them. The playmobile/LGB bogie chassis conversion is the easiest and I can show my playmobile chassis in bits with lengths etc if anyone wants. I do have access to a lathe and this makes it easier though not imossible without one.

John
 
HI so where did u get 12 aa batteries from? pm me for a details...coz i ave same as yr motor block so im kitbashing into daveport....so need to knw where can i get batteries from pls? thks u..
 
john said:
James, I hadn't thought of writing an article as I hadn't thought it would interest anyone outside this forum.

If anyone has anymore questions I will try and answer them. The playmobile/LGB bogie chassis conversion is the easiest and I can show my playmobile chassis in bits with lengths etc if anyone wants. I do have access to a lathe and this makes it easier though not imossible without one.

John
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John, there are ALWAYS other people who would welcome this sort of info. As far as the bogie conversions are concerned - a big yes please from me. :bigsmile::bigsmile:
 
Steve,

I got my batteries and battery boxes, components etc from http://www.component-shop < Link To www.component-shop. Mine are AA Vapex instant which are cheaper (from them) than the Sanyo ones. They have a comprehensive catalogue online.

John
 
Can you recall the cost of re gauging by GRS? I'd like to see how you regauged the playmobil chassis- could have a cottage indstury on your hands! I think your loco looks great and is a good way to start in gauge 3.
 
Mel,

I will start another thread on a playmobile onversion, but it will have to wait until I have finished current round of decorating. The boss wants it finishing before we go on holiday.

John
 
Hornbeam,

A very reasonable £25.00 plus postage. If you call them ask for Roy who does the conversions - I think Monday is the best day (he only works for them part time).

John
 
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