Whilst perusing a well known auction site I came a cross a rather sorry looking Hornby M7 which had been converted quite crudely to a Caley 439 Class. 

 

Now I have seen conversions of M7's to 439's that have been rather good such as Ben Alder's of this parish.

 

Like many I would like to see a Class 439 produced to complement the Rails/Bachmann Caley 812 Class. No doubt we will eventually see a ready to run version.

 

The badly converted M7 was purchased and arrived safely. It had been de-Southernised with removal of the additional route indicator disc brackets on the smokebox and rear of the bunker. 

 

The original M7 number had been removed damaging the paintwork and poorly applied numbers for a 439 Class had been applied. 

 

The whistle was missing as was the attached pipework. A few other minor jobs were needed to reconvert the Caley conversion.

 

I should have taken some snaps of the loco when it arrived but set too quiet quickly on the project.

 

Here it is in its completed state.

 

 

Dapol B4 spares are available from Peter's Spares. I ordered a set of lamp/disc brackets which having made good the damage from the previous owner certainly looked the part.

 

The smokebox door dart was a replacement from RT Models and has the correct profile. The original was missing.

 

Replacement middle route indicator brackets on the bunker. Real crushed coal added.

 

 

The smokebox and cab roof received an airbrushed coat of Tamiya Flat Black to blend things in.

 

 

The missing whistle again came from Peter's Spares and is a standard Hornby affair. A piece of piano wire replaced the missing pipe to it.

 

Cab spectacle plates came from a Mainly Trains etch available from Wizard Models. Microscale Liquid Glaze made up the glass. 

 

 

I asked Steve at Railtec to make me up one of his excellent 3D printed smokebox numberplate/shed code plate combinations for Bournemouth 71B's M7 30107

 

These 3D printed numberplates  are released in water like normal waterslide transfers then allowed to dry on an old tile.

 

I edged in the number plate sides carefully with a black Sharpie. Then both plates were fixed in place with matt enamel varnish.

 

These 3D printed number/shed code plates are well recommended from Railtec and great service as always from Steve.

 

 

Here is the other side. I have inked in the wheel rims with a black Sharpie. Also the connecting rods have been treated with a silver Sharpie. 

 

Replacement numbers on the bunker sides are courtesy of Fox Transfers. Then to seal everything a coat of airbrushed Tamiya Satin Varnished completed the detailing.

 

 

I will lightly weather the loco and also add in a piece of plastic tube to replace the centre gap between the vacuum cylinder ends as well behind the front buffer beam.

 

A nice project and it has been good to reconvert the converted, bringing a model back to its former glory.

 

Cheers,

 

Mark