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7 Posts
Gentlemen
I thought you may like to see the sort of mods I have been doing to the Hornby live steam locomotives. The example is our old friend the A4 which I think looks a bit better now. I am sorry the pictures are not of a better standard but my loft isn't the brightest place around.
The mods carried out to this locomotive are:
* Closer coupling of loco and tender - an easy mod achieved by making a new loco/tender drag bar out of thin sheet steel. You do not even need to shorten the steam pipe; it works fine with an "S" bend in it. The new drag bar has 6mm holes drilled, 45mm apart and is then bent to the same profile as the Hornby one at the tender end. The shorter part is under the loco rear pony truck
* Scale size front bogie wheels from Romford/Jackson (Mainly Trains). These fit the A4 as is but must be machined down slightly for the A3. A little bending of the bogie bar is usually required otherwise the front drivers can lift off the track
* Dummy screw link coupling from Smiths (Mainly Trains)
* Real coal glued to the Hornby coal load with exterior PVA. Works fine
* Kadee #18 NEM coupler on the tender
* 3.5mm hole through chimney
The last point has helped prevent oil blocking the chimney on single chimney A4s. Gently increase the size of Hornby's hole using a 2.5mm, then a 3mm then finally, a 3.5mm drill. It is well worth the small effort involved.
The close coupling mod offers the greatest improvement but is probably only for large radius curves.
The photos:
I thought you may like to see the sort of mods I have been doing to the Hornby live steam locomotives. The example is our old friend the A4 which I think looks a bit better now. I am sorry the pictures are not of a better standard but my loft isn't the brightest place around.
The mods carried out to this locomotive are:
* Closer coupling of loco and tender - an easy mod achieved by making a new loco/tender drag bar out of thin sheet steel. You do not even need to shorten the steam pipe; it works fine with an "S" bend in it. The new drag bar has 6mm holes drilled, 45mm apart and is then bent to the same profile as the Hornby one at the tender end. The shorter part is under the loco rear pony truck
* Scale size front bogie wheels from Romford/Jackson (Mainly Trains). These fit the A4 as is but must be machined down slightly for the A3. A little bending of the bogie bar is usually required otherwise the front drivers can lift off the track
* Dummy screw link coupling from Smiths (Mainly Trains)
* Real coal glued to the Hornby coal load with exterior PVA. Works fine
* Kadee #18 NEM coupler on the tender
* 3.5mm hole through chimney
The last point has helped prevent oil blocking the chimney on single chimney A4s. Gently increase the size of Hornby's hole using a 2.5mm, then a 3mm then finally, a 3.5mm drill. It is well worth the small effort involved.
The close coupling mod offers the greatest improvement but is probably only for large radius curves.
The photos:


