Accruascale Class 37 using their EM wheels

Alan, there’s a new post on the Scalefour forum concerning this conversion that might be of interest to you :

https://www.scalefour.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=21&p=101526#p101526

Ive done it. No pitfalls as such, but yes, take the sides off the bogies first (pry off sideways, carefully, so as not to break the chain) then the keeper plate off (6 caatches), but i also had to tweak the pick-ups out on one bogie.

• This reply was modified 2 years, 5 months ago by Giles Favell.

I converted my 37 using the accurascale EM wheelsets a couple of days  ago and to be honest it went well, I’d watched the Peter Dixon video a few days previously so I was prepared !
I also contacted the accurascale help line as there might have be some additional tips. I was referred to their deltic photo sequence and in the reply it was stated that there was no need to remove the side frames, I assume the help desk person had no experience of the procedure as I would say it is impossible to remove the keeper plate without first carefully removing the side frames.

There is also an article by Steve Hall in MRJ 301 on conversion (to P4) of this model, which is informative. Steve chose to remove the centre brass bearings, to avoid the bogie “see-sawing” (my description) about the centre axle. This might not be necessary in EM, but in any case it’s not something I’d choose to do. It’s a nice-looking model, I’d say.

I too contacted Accurscale regarding conversion to P4 and was directed to the Deltic conversion with the remark that removal of the side frames was uneccessary and that there were only 4 clips to open!  Obviously some at Accurascale do not know what they are talking about!  I spoke to their staff at Alexandra Palace and was told that as EM/P4 only account for less than 2% of sales there was no need to correct their ‘drop in’ wheelset claim as finescale modellers would have to manage for themselves!  Somehow i dont think i will be purchasing from them again!

Further to my previous comment about how relatively ‘easy’ I found the conversion I unfortunately had to return my green 37 last month due to erratic running. It can back after a couple of weeks or so, on opening the box (I had kept all the original packaging) there was a dislodged buffer, bogie frames not reassembled properly and excessive oil and no note to say what was wrong with the loco. I did contact accurascale again and I was told it was probably due to rough handling by the post office and the ‘motor has been replaced’ Couldn’t be asked to get into conversation them so I left it that.
What’s the point of providing EM/P4 wheelsets if that’s the attitude.
The 37 will no doubt be my last loco purchase from them, I’m 60’s era modeller anyway so most of their locos don’t appeal to me, don’t need any more  panniers !

Michael’s post above i feel shows that this manufacturer, whilst producing a nicely detailed model (but little attention paid to the transmission area) shows that either the design staff in UK, or the Chinese factory, haven’t given much thought to the transmission design, and don’t seem to care!

A friend of mine experienced in CAD design made the observation, that for a relatively short timescale, considering the well known fact that modellers might wish to change wheelsets etc, the design could have accommodated a method whereby items such as wheels motors etc could be changed easily.

Its a great pity that for an extra few hours work the model could have had a much wider appeal and given the company a far better profile in the modelling world at very little cost, bearing in mind the high purchase cost label placed on it.

Perhaps both EMGS and Scalefour Society could get together and find an experienced modeller who could vet new models when they come to market (or ask manufacturers for a sample before final design approval) and comment on the transmission design which would benefit all modellers in the long run?

• This reply was modified 1 year, 10 months ago by David Harris.