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Vitrains chassis upgrade for Lima Class 37 locos

29437 Views 43 Replies 25 Participants Last post by  reddo

top: Lima Body, middle: Lima Chassis, bottom: Vitrains Upgrade Chassis

Bring Lima Class 37 Locos into the 21stcentury with a Vitrains Chassis Upgrade.

Simply remove Lima body Cut off central glazing pillars that hold weight in place. Fit body to Vitrains chassis.

V0001L Class 37 Chassis Upgrade for Lima Body RRP £39.99
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I'll have 5 please!! Seriously though, about time someone did something.
daft question but arnt the vi trains 37s only about £40 anyway?

Peter
QUOTE (pedromorgan @ 8 Sep 2008, 14:23) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>daft question but arnt the vi trains 37s only about £40 anyway?

I suppose it could be useful for the variants that ViTrains haven't produced yet.

Regards
The standard issues do so I would assume that this would too.
QUOTE (neil_s_wood @ 9 Sep 2008, 03:21) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Does it have a DCC plug?

Looks like an 8-pin one on the top of the board in the photo.
Does it have the same working lights??

How easy to mod Lima body for lighting??

Ian
The problem is the lighting on the Vitrains 37 is really c*** especially the red, so it would need some modification I would think.
QUOTE (kiwitrains @ 6 Oct 2008, 06:29) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>The problem is the lighting on the Vitrains 37 is really c*** especially the red, so it would need some modification I would think.

***I'd have to agree with that - the Bachmann 37 is streets ahead in every way, and isn't that much dearer.

The self coloured yellow ends on the vitrains are a big problem for lighting - The plastic colouring density is low so even if you paint the inner body the light bleed into the plastic as the light transits through it is excessive, meaning that you really need to repaint the yellow ends to get a good result.

Richard
From that picture (at the top of this thread) I'd say the replacement chassis has no red lights, but looks like it might have the white ones.
Hatton's have them available for order - but none in stock. - Has anyone seen the chassis in the "flesh" ?

As I am thinking of upgrading the Model Rail green class 37 that I purchased a few years ago an have not seen a new Vitrains class 37 does the chassis have the lugs that would complement the Lima body ?

Dave
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G
QUOTE (pedromorgan @ 8 Sep 2008, 13:23) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>daft question but arnt the vi trains 37s only about £40 anyway?

Peter

Thats what I thought. I cant see the point of this at all. If for some sentimental reason you really wanted to use the horrid lima body would it not be better to by a normal Vi-trains 37 and flog the Vi body on ebay? You would get a hell of a lot more than the difference back.

Cheers

Jim
That would be the way to go if the ViTrain chassis (as described by Doug) is the same as the chassis in the ViTrain models now being sold. can someone confirm that this is the case??

Dave
3
QUOTE (Doug @ 8 Sep 2008, 20:44) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

top: Lima Body, middle: Lima Chassis, bottom: Vitrains Upgrade Chassis

Bring Lima Class 37 Locos into the 21stcentury with a Vitrains Chassis Upgrade.

Simply remove Lima body Cut off central glazing pillars that hold weight in place. Fit body to Vitrains chassis.

V0001L Class 37 Chassis Upgrade for Lima Body RRP £39.99

Well my replacement chassis arrived today and I can now answer my own question from a few posts ago.

I assumed - incorrectly as it turns out, that the lugs, clearly visible in the photo, would be in line with the lugs on the old chassis - Well they don't so the body just sits on the chassis - a point rubbed in when you read the instructions which warn you not to pick the loco up by the chassis.


So now I have a Lima body that I will need to somehow "fit" to the chassis to stop it bobbing around and find something to fill the four gaping holes where the old Lima chassis used to clip into.

As to an early question - there are no traction tyres on the chassis


Dave
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QUOTE (gdaysydney @ 12 Nov 2008, 09:09) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Well my replacement chassis arrived today and I can now answer my own question from a few posts ago.

I assumed - incorrectly as it turns out, that the lugs, clearly visible in the photo, would be in line with the lugs on the old chassis - Well they don't so the body just sits on the chassis - a point rubbed in when you read the instructions which warn you not to pick the loco up by the chassis.


So now I have a Lima body that I will need to somehow "fit" to the chassis to stop it bobbing around and find something to fill the four gaping holes where the old Lima chassis used to clip into.

As to an early question - there are no traction tyres on the chassis


Dave

Can i ask why would anyone want to put a lima class 37 body with the awful wrong shaped windows when the Vitrains ones are better anyway and the Bachmann are even better than that and i think i am right in saying going on the prices for the Vitrains 37's compared to the Bachmann ones there is no contest to me. It's Bachmann every time (my personal opinion only). Vitrains 37's seem to be at least the same price as Bachmann. Mind you the Vitrains ones are good runners i have got one in DRS livery and i am very happy with it.


Kind regards
Paul
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QUOTE (madon37s @ 12 Nov 2008, 20:00) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Can i ask why would anyone want to put a lima class 37 body with the awful wrong shaped windows when the Vitrains ones are better anyway and the Bachmann are even better than that and i think i am right in saying going on the prices for the Vitrains 37's compared to the Bachmann ones there is no contest to me. It's Bachmann every time (my personal opinion only). Vitrains 37's seem to be at least the same price as Bachmann. Mind you the Vitrains ones are good runners i have got one in DRS livery and i am very happy with it.


Kind regards
Paul

Hi Paul,

There was no logic - its was sentimental - I have a Class 37 D6700 in British Rail green that was a special edition for Model Rail Magazine in the late 90's - so it was more for giving an "old friend" a new "set of legs" so it could make appearances with my new Bachmann 37s on my DCC layout than for any other reason.

Dave

PS thanks for the advice on the weathered Falcon
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QUOTE (gdaysydney @ 12 Nov 2008, 10:58) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Hi Paul,

There was no logic - its was sentimental - I have a Class 37 D6700 in British Rail green that was a special edition for Model Rail Magazine in the late 90's - so it was more for giving an "old friend" a new "set of legs" so it could make appearances with my new Bachmann 37s on my DCC layout than for any other reason.

Dave

PS thanks for the advice on the weathered Falcon

Hi Dave yes i understand your logic actually. I myself still have a few Lima 37.s because of sentimental reasons and to be honest as long as you keep the wheels very clean they don't go too bad!!. Actually some of mine even sound like a 37 when there running without dcc!!!


Dave no problem with my advice about the weathering that is what this forum and i personally believe this hobby is all about.


Kind regards
Paul
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Just come across this topic - 1) it's stated that the Vi trains replacement chassis doesn't have traction tyres - does that mean that the complete Vitrains 37 locos do? (i'd rather they didn't)
2) Bachmann vs Vi trains - are bachmann better/worse detailed, how do te hbody shapes compare for accuracy, - how does the running of both compare esp. slow running?

Thanks for this, my only 37 is a Hornby one from 1970s and while its ringfield motor just purrs around the layout I could do with a better looking one..


cheers,

Bill
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QUOTE Just come across this topic - 1) it's stated that the Vi trains replacement chassis doesn't have traction tyres - does that mean that the complete Vitrains 37 locos do? (i'd rather they didn't)
2) Bachmann vs Vi trains - are bachmann better/worse detailed, how do te hbody shapes compare for accuracy, - how does the running of both compare esp. slow running?

Thanks for this, my only 37 is a Hornby one from 1970s and while its ringfield motor just purrs around the layout I could do with a better looking one..

cheers,

Bill, I'm no expert but in the absence of other comments here's my two bob's worth:
1) I believe the earlier models from ViTrains had traction tyres - later models don't
2) Consensus appears to be that the more recent Bachmann models have the edge on the ViTrains version - lights still seem to be ViTrains achilles heel - but ViTrains have a greater selection of liveries and can generally be bought for less. Both are very good runners even at slow speed.

Dave
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