Bachmann Class 20 Conversion (2021 version)

[Ian FollandParticipant]

I have converted a couple of the recent version of the Bachmann Class 20 (part number 35-355 in this case) using Ultrascale wheels.

The design of the bogies has been modified since the Manual Sheet was produced hence the Ultrascale wheels as supplied are not a drop-in replacement, and the existing gear and bearings need to be reused (similar to the latest version of the Class 47 – Manual Sheet 3.2.6.(16a)).

The plastic spacing spigots on the back of the Ultrascale wheels need reducing (I filed them until about right, giving a bit of play), and the brake pull rods which run outside the wheels also need thinning.

 

A few pictures:

As supplied, 00 wheel sets; Bogie moulding removed; 00 wheel set in the wheel puller I use, bought on Amazon; one EM wheel set fitted; bogie moulding before thinning the brake pull rods; finished article (just some cleaning up to do)

 

Ian

• This topic was modified 2 years, 5 months ago by Ian Folland.

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[Simon StewartParticipant]

Thanks for the info and pictures Ian

[Garry owenParticipant]

Yes, Nice looks very easy i do like that little puller.

[Paul MossParticipant]

Yes, I liked the look of that puller as well and found its still for sale on Amazon.

 

Its only £9.76 and free delivery if you can wait a couple of working days!

 

Good conversion article by the way, thanks for sharing

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[Garry owenParticipant]

Thanks.

[Paul MossParticipant]

This is an incredibly useful post for me as I purchased an Ultrascale conversion set a year ago, and have been looking for an older version Bachmann Class 20 to convert on the secondhand stalls at shows without any luck.

I took a chance yesterday and bought a later tooled version of the model that was on offer at the Ally Pally show which has the later bogie design shown in your original post – so I have same conundrum with old style Ultrascale conversion set vs updated bogie design.

I’m up for doing the same conversion that you have done and purely by chance I happen to have the same blue puller set as you (great Amazon find!!), so I should have all of the parts and tools to do the job!

A couple of questions that I do have….

Did you reuse the original Bachmann axles complete with gears, or did you carefully pull off the gears and fit them to the Ultrascale axles?

Secondly, when you filed back the spacing spigots, how much overall float on the wheel set was needed to ensure good running?

Thanks in advance

Regards

Paul

 

[Ian FollandParticipant]

Paul,

I removed the Bachmann gears from their axles and fitted them to the Ultrascale axles. Which makes use of Ultrascales a bit extravagant perhaps, as you’re paying for an Ultrascale gear,but it does work.

Subsequent to the photos I included on the original post I reduced the wheel spigot slightly further and added a brass washer between the spigot and the bogie casting which made for smoother running.

If I was doing this again I’d probably use Accurascale Class 37 wheels, which even with a few left over would be far cheaper than Ultrascales. 20s and 37s both use 3’ 7” wheels. Or skim the backs of the Bachmann wheels in the lathe.

 

 

[Paul MossParticipant]

Thanks for coming back to me Ian,

I had some time on my hands on Sunday so pushed ahead with the conversion following your original method by re-using the Ultrascale wheels & axles with original gears, carefully filing back the wheel spigots to provide a bit of float and also trimming back the brake hangers.

I took a flyer on the amount of float and ended up with around 2mm of overall float which I tested with a bit of EM flexi track formed into a tight ‘S’ on a piece of scrap timber and it performed very well with no binding or problems.

I’m relatively new to EM gauge having spent the last several years working with finescale N Gauge (code 40 rail etc), and I’ve learnt how to convert RTR freight and coaching stock to EM, plus become a whizz at setting them up with reliable 3mm S&W couplings, although loco conversions have been limited to dropping in pre-made Ultrascale wheel & gear sets until now….. however, I now have the confidence to go further and explore beyond just Ultrascale products!

All in all, I’m really pleased with the end result (and the fact that I didn’t buy a lemon that would be tricky to convert!), plus I learnt a few things and boosted my confidence, so a sincere thanks to you for your original post and the follow up, its all really helpful thank you.

Kind regards

Paul

 

 

 

[John SimpsonParticipant]

Hi Ian,

Having read up on the current conversion which dates back 2006, I am interested in your conversion – for the benefit of the 25% who do not access the web site would you be interested in producing this as a Manual Sheet ? – it appears to be an ideal subject.

If you are interested in being immortalized in print (!!) then just ping me your personal Email via manualsheets@emgs.org and we can agree a way ahead that loads you with the least pain !

Regards

John Simpson

[Ian FollandParticipant]

Hello John,

Email sent.

Best regards,

 

Ian

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