Golden Arrow Models Maunsell diesel shunter.

Since it comes (just!) within my modelling era of late 50's/early 60's, I decided I'd have a crack at a couple of resin bodied models to get some experience of working with this medium before I start with my "GT3" model (also from "Golden Arrow"). It uses the Bachmann Class 08 shunter chassis with some modifications, so having obtained a suitable 'victim' cheaply (as it's not DCC ready), I removed the body, got rid of the small circuit board at the radiator end, and wired in a small LaisDCC decoder, which fitted nicely where the circuit board had been removed from. This is the starting point of this build.

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Some cleaning up of the 'flash' was done to both body and sundry other parts before assembling the body shell, using superglue for speed, rather than waiting for Araldite to go off. Once assembled, some small areas needed an application of filler and cleaning/sanding after it set.

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Inside the body shell, I decided to add a bulkhead between the cab and motor area, mainly because the body had a little too much 'spread' of the body sides, Gluing a bulkhead in held the body sides in sufficiently to make it a good and closer fit to the chassis, with the added advantage that the motor now can't be seen through the cab windows. At this stage, after pre-drilling holes for handrails, the body is now ready for primer spraying, but as I use 'rattle cans' of car body primer which is a bit indiscriminate with it's wide fan spray, I need to do this outside (if it ever stops raining!), so this is presently on 'hold'. The chassis has had some modifications in the meantime, cutting a small amount off the running plate and under cab buffer beam to allow the new cab to sit onto the chassis, and a length of 40 thou square section plastic rod glued down each side of the running plate to bring it out to match the new body sides.

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This pic of the modified chassis hopefully shows the cut down rear buffer beam (and a small amount removed from sandbox tops), to clear the new cab. You may also be able to see the added sections to the running plate, widening it to suit the body, and also the supplied new cab steps, all fitted and painted.

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At the front end, this is where the original DC circuit board was fitted, now both it and the two bosses to which it was mounted have been removed and replaced by the DCC decoder, which occupies about the same space without causing any difficulty in fitting the new body. Since this pic was taken, connecting rods have been black painted and a further coat of BR green given to the modified running boards. This leaves it now ready to accept the new body after painting.

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I downloaded a photo of one of these shunters in the early 60's (they were all scrapped in 1964), and there were no wasp stripes, so maybe they never got around to painting stripes on. As a result of this, I doubt I'll bother with the stripes, Ron.
Keith.

 

I won't bother fitting lights, purely because the body is quite a tight fit around the motor so very little room to fit LED's. I hope to be able to paint the cab internally and fit a driver, part of the reason for the bulkhead. Can I ask how you glazed yours, Jeff?
Keith.

 

Since the rain has now ceased, I've been able to nip outside with rattle can at the ready, and give the body a couple of quick thin coats of white primer. As is often the case, it also shows up the odd blemish thats not otherwise seen before, so a touch of filler and a bit more sanding is called for before a final primer coat, then on to the finish coats. Here's the body just loosely fitted onto the chassis without any fixings, and as you can see, it's a snug fit!

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This is the pic of one of these shunters I found on the internet, taken apparently in 1960, and as can be seen, no wasp stripes are apparent, (or lights either) although it's so filthy that if they are indeed present, they're not visible in this photo.

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I've not had a lot of spare time over the last few days, but have now completed the build of this shunter. I was going to pick out the handrails in white paint as many Class 08's are now, but the pic I have seems to show the handrails in body colour, so BR loco green it is.

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I also replaced the Class 08 front steps with the SR pattern ones supplied with the kit, adding the front handrails also. Transfers were some 'Fox' ones I had on stock, cab glazing using clear cellophane. As has been said, although these were the forerunners of the Class 08, they are sufficiently different to make one worthwhile building, and I can't fault the "Golden Arrow" model as a kit. Now for the next one, something a little different, the "Golden Arrow" Class G16. I shall be weathering this loco at a later date, probably do a batch at one go.
Keith.

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