Heljan O Gauge Class 25 - DCC sound and detailing completed

I have been building an O gauge layout for at least 3 years now, and frankly progress has been very slow. The layout is all wired up and scenic work has started, however, two house moves in two years has really disrupted progress. The other big limiting factor has been a lack of rolling stock ready to use and completing the fiddle yard for the layout. Well I have partially managed to remedy one part of this equation with the completion of the class 25 detailing project.

Weathered and sound fitted class 25 on the test track.

The model is the first release of the class 25 by Heljan and I pre-ordered it as soon as it was announced. A mere 7 or so years later I have installed the DCC chip and finished the weathering. The transfers on the locomotive are from Railtec, and all weathering was done using Railmatch enamels from an air-brush. The decoder fitting was an ESU Loksound V5 Xl with screw terminals and figuring out how to wire it up was a good challenge! Once I had got my head around the common return, it was relatively straightforward...... 

Screw terminals on the Class 25 DCC sound chip, after complete removal of the PCB board - take a deep breath when you do this for the first time!

After weathering the bogies, underframe and body separately - I reassembled the chassis first to fit the dcc chip. I placed a speaker on two small pillars of foam packing, glued to a piece of plasticard, so it sits above the drive shaft. I also added the headcode transfer to some very thin clear pasticard (from food packaging - after washing) and trimmed these to fit the headcode boxes.When I was reattaching the body I realised I had lost one of the red tail lights (typical) and had to fudge a new one using some red plastic. Once all this was done I reattached the body - which I really struggled with. Getting the body to sit on the chassis correctly was really hard work and took me about an hour. I, of course, scratched the roof when doing this, so I had to touch up some paint (I do not think this is too noticeable - but it was very frustrating). Handling these big O gauge diesels is tricky - but once it was back together - I did having a wow that looks great moment.

I removed the bogies and weathered these separately.

Chassis reassembled.

The speaker cradle constructed from plasticard and two pillars of foam packing, so it sits above the drive shaft and the bogie pivot.

Headcode transfers applied to some very thin plastic - these were then trimmed to size.

Beyond these tribulations - putting this locomotive on the test track and hearing the sulzer engine was a delight! I am however, not that impressed with the speaker and might add some more packing around it, it has a somewhat tinny vibration at the moment. I have turned down the volume a little and this has helped. Anyhow, it is now fully operational and whilst I might replace the speaker in due course - this locomotive is finished. Taking some photographs of the locomotive - I must say I am pretty happy overall with how it turned it. It was also a great learning experience, being the first O gauge diesel I have sound chipped. Like all modelling projects, there were bits I could have improved, but it is all learning.

Body side view, showing the layering of faded paint and bodyside detailing.

The other end of the locomotive, showing the wobbly headcodes - a characteristic feature of the 1970s.

In my experience, the smooth running of Heljan locomotives is the best there is - and this model is no exception. I spent a good few hours letting the locomotive potter about the little test track with the sound running - really great fun.

And the first passenger train leaves the station on the test track behind the class 25.

Class 25 coupling up to its train.

From here, I have a clear set of modelling priorities, to fit around the ongoing house renovation. First up is to finish some buildings and add some detail to the micro-layout/test track. The only rule for this, is I have to use stuff I already have lying about (except for maybe the backscene), just to keep costs manageable in the short term. I have a couple of Slaters wagon kits on the go atm, alongside rebuilding a Dapol milk tanker and these projects require finishing off. I am also weathering a class 03 shunter and fitting a stay alive to this locomotive - that will be perfect for operating the microlayout. I am also about to detail and dismantle a Dapol class 122 and a Heljan warship. These are the the priorities for the next 6 months or so, alongside the painting of various wagons already in the paint boxes. The aim will be to have the little micro-fully operational in a few months - and if it looks OK I might take it to a few exhibitions. Then from summer onwards, it is back to the proper O gauge layout - I have the traverser ordered for the fiddle yard, - so when that arrives it will really help with the running of the layout and getting the layout over the line.

O Gauge test track

We are still renovating the house and this has really impacted my opportunities to set up my O gauge layout. This is really frustrating as I have several O gauge projects that are nearly complete and I need somewhere to test rolling stock, especially the DCC sound fitting to the O gauge diesels. So over the last week or so I decided to build a small O gauge micro layout/test track. I had a 5ft scenic box that I purchased from Tim Horn several years ago - I had made the box up, but had gone no further. So I dragged this out of the garage and started to arrange some track. I was keen to see what track I could get into a 5ft box in O gauge - the answer is not much!!! However, I added in two points, wired in the polarity switches (Gaugemaster), and used the Express Models Powerbus kit all soldered up. I also added in a small internal light and added a control panel for the NCE powercab on the front. By the end of Sunday it was operational - fantastic. I cut out some simple paper templates of buildings to see how things could fit, and  I now plan to add a couple of buildings to the layout, alongside a backscene and some simple scenery to provide a photographic plank, as well as a fully operational test track.

Test track operational. This is with the lighting unit switched off, showing the real benefit of O gauge and coach lighting.

So now there are now excuses for not finishing off some DCC diesel detailing projects. I am determined to finish off the Class 25 project this week and reassemble the locomotive. I cannot wait to try it on the test track. Otherwise wagon building and painting continues, with a Conflat now ready for transfers and the SR pill box brake van and the SPV being painted. Lots of fun and a satisfying weekend... I plan to spend this evening building another wagon!

Aerial view showing the very limited track layout.

The internal lighting is visible to good effect in this picture.