Father Dougal Posted March 29, 2013 Share Posted March 29, 2013 Hi, browsing on eBay and I see several Lima 4f's for sale. Is it possible to super detail these and re-motor? Or is the model too inaccurate to the prototype to bother trying? Dougal. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
leopardml2341 Posted March 29, 2013 Share Posted March 29, 2013 Hi, browsing on eBay and I see several Lima 4f's for sale. Is it possible to super detail these and re-motor? Or is the model too inaccurate to the prototype to bother trying? Dougal. Which Scale? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Father Dougal Posted March 29, 2013 Author Share Posted March 29, 2013 Sorry, silly me, 7mm. I am converting a class 33 and the body shell is not 100% accurate, but it is close enough. I am thinking of trying the same on a steam loco- but I know virtually nothing about steam engines. Dougal Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
leopardml2341 Posted March 29, 2013 Share Posted March 29, 2013 Sorry, silly me, 7mm. I am converting a class 33 and the body shell is not 100% accurate, but it is close enough. I am thinking of trying the same on a steam loco- but I know virtually nothing about steam engines. Dougal Not necessarily so - I might not have seen this:- 7mm super detailing in the OP - the only thing I was going to offer is that I thought the 'other' Lima 4F was 3.5mm scale. Rgds Andy Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PatB Posted March 29, 2013 Share Posted March 29, 2013 Well, someone used to do a chassis kit for them and there may have been a detailing kit or two on the market (or you could do your own with individually bought or made bits) but, when you tot up the cost and effort involved, you could have a proper kit built loco (though maybe not a 4F) instead. Don't get me wrong. I'm not as dismissive of the Lima 4F as some. It has its uses if you're on the tightest of budgets and taking the "impressionist" approach to railway modelling. I had two when they could be bought new for eight quid a pop. But the mechanism is pretty awful (really feeble compared to the motor in the 33) and the running gear is crude. It really needs replacing with something better. Once you've done that, you're halfway to a decent loco so you might as well go the whole hog and build one. Overall, whilst I think the 33 has potential, I wouldn't bother with a 4F these days unless it was given to me. The going rate on Ebay was about 50 quid a throw last time I looked and I just don't think they're worth that. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Il Grifone Posted March 29, 2013 Share Posted March 29, 2013 The H0 version is well over width (a classic example of why we have 00 gauge!) and I don't know if the 0 gauge version was merely scaled up or whether they made a better shot at it. I seem to recall that the reversing rods on both sides made it through however. (All 3 on eBay at present show the LHS - exorbitant BINs of £45, £89 and £135 ) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Father Dougal Posted March 29, 2013 Author Share Posted March 29, 2013 Not looking too positive at the moment. May have to stick with the diesels for now! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
HSB Posted March 29, 2013 Share Posted March 29, 2013 I have been also been considering upgrading a 4F. Frames and coupling rods are available from Premier Components specifically to upgrade the LIMA model. They also do some detailing parts. Incidently, I have the H0 version which is too wide although that has more to do with LIMA than the scale! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Father Dougal Posted March 29, 2013 Author Share Posted March 29, 2013 I have been also been considering upgrading a 4F. Frames and coupling rods are available from Premier Components specifically to upgrade the LIMA model. They also do some detailing parts. Incidently, I have the H0 version which is too wide although that has more to do with LIMA than the scale!That is interesting. Do you know if they, or anyone else does a simple re motoring kit?Personally, I don't think paying about £40.00 for a loco is not bad for o gauge, adding detail is part of the fun and makes the hobby more affordable and accessible. Dougal. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Il Grifone Posted March 29, 2013 Share Posted March 29, 2013 I have been also been considering upgrading a 4F. Frames and coupling rods are available from Premier Components specifically to upgrade the LIMA model. They also do some detailing parts. Incidently, I have the H0 version which is too wide although that has more to do with LIMA than the scale! Not specifically Lima. Granted it's due to their wide wheels and sharp curves (and thick plastic splashers don't help), but these were/are no worse than those of other manufacturers. I very much doubt that the width could have been reduced to scale, without using fine wheels and limiting the model to wide radii and/or flangeless centre drivers (Ugh!) Ii've managed to acquire two of these things in various job lots (one is supposedly South African (???!!) and has a large hole in the smokebox presumably for a (missing) headlight). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
great central Posted March 29, 2013 Share Posted March 29, 2013 One of our club members specialises in getting 'something from (nearly) nothing' He's picked a couple of these up over the years, very cheap. One which came without a tender is now a passable LNER N5 (can't remember for sure and I've deleted the picture off my phone ) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
HSB Posted March 29, 2013 Share Posted March 29, 2013 There are a number of firms in the GOG Traders List (you don't have to be a member to have a look) that can supply gears and motors but none, as far as I know, specifically for re-motoring the 4F. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Father Dougal Posted March 30, 2013 Author Share Posted March 30, 2013 That sounds more positive. Must renew my membership with GOG! Dougal Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ozzyo Posted July 29, 2013 Share Posted July 29, 2013 Hello Father Dougal, am I to take it by your not replying to my PM and message in one of your other threads that you no longer want the 20 meters of solder? OzzyO. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold RedgateModels Posted February 12, 2014 RMweb Gold Share Posted February 12, 2014 I've just bought one from eBay for the princely sum of £36 including postage. For now it will have a service, 3 link couplings and a Lenz Standard decoder fitted ahead of the Mansfield Show . I'll probably have a go at detailing it up sometime, might even go as far as a new chassis, although the prospect of 60 quid on wheels is putting me off. The OO gauge pancake motor is a disappointment, I guess the larger O gauge version would not fit. A can motor and Romford gears might be in order Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold RedgateModels Posted February 12, 2014 RMweb Gold Share Posted February 12, 2014 Oh boy how the performance of the motor is transformed with the decoder! I've added two 4700uF capacitors for good measure and it runs really smooth. Slowest speed is a tad high even with cv 2 set to 1. I might try a couple of back to back diodes to drop the motor voltage sometime. See how it goes at the show. For now I'm happy with my cheapie loco. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Johnson Posted October 7, 2014 Share Posted October 7, 2014 I've just acquired a partially converted lima o gauge 4F. I'm tolled that an article appeared in an issue of railway modeller many years ago does any one know which year/ Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium kevinlms Posted October 7, 2014 RMweb Premium Share Posted October 7, 2014 I've just acquired a partially converted lima o gauge 4F. I'm tolled that an article appeared in an issue of railway modeller many years ago does any one know which year/ This one? http://railmags.org/rm1991/1487-railway-modeller-1991-june.html Or www.wimrail.org.uk/mag/Corkscrew078.pdf Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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