Big Big Hymek

Colin M

Colin M

Western Thunderer
I did promise some Hymek pictures for the Western fraternity; so here goes...

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This was my very foray into O gauge. My club needed an extra pair of hands to exhibit at Telford; and I figured it would be nice to have a loco of my own to run. I've never looked back..!

The club layout was late BR steam, so only green diesels allowed. But on reflection, Green does trump Blue for Hymeks. (....And perhaps Deltics??)

This is what I started with:

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The fan drive is just a little 12v motor I robbed out of an old VCR machine.
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Slaters coach wheels and a motor/40:1 gearbox combo designed for OO.
(Later added a delrin chain to improve traction. It now copes OK with 4 lima coaches)
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Finished shots coming after I've ate breakfast...
 
Phill Dyson

Phill Dyson

Western Thunderer
Very nice conversion job :)

I have two of these conversions too, one like yours, but using a Ron Chaplin gearbox & one done using the PRMP conversion kit :)

Good stuff !

Phill :)
 
Colin M

Colin M

Western Thunderer
Thanks for your comments. It's not in the league of Heljan or JLTRT, but a satisfying result for well under £100. I think it is a good route into O guage.

The light green shade was from Precision paints. It was a while ago, but I think I sprayed over grey. Perhaps I should have used white undercoat? I photographed with back light; maybe it's just the lighting conditions? Can't compare hues from memory... I'm far too young to remember the real thing! ;)
 
S

SteveO

Guest
This looks super Colin. I'd love to have a blow by blow account of what you did and how you did it. I have one in the rapidly overflowing 'to do' box. I have a PRMRP kit (actually, it's an old RJH kit, but same as) to build up but the instructions, particularly correcting the bodywork, are quite complex.

I'm not sure if the Lima 33 is an easier conversion to 26/27s so I'm interested in these workshops too.
 
ceejaydee

ceejaydee

Western Thunderer
Lovely conversion in my favourite colour scheme for the Hymeks - using coach wheels rather than loco wheels saves a few bob too!
Did you fix the cab roof/ends in place or leave them loose in case you need to work on them at some point in the future?
 
Colin M

Colin M

Western Thunderer
No problem, I'm happy to talk in more detail. I'll start a workshop thread later today when I get home from work. (I've done a Lima 33 to 27 too.)
 
Colin M

Colin M

Western Thunderer
I think they were from Peter Clark. (They come on a single moulding which I split into two).
 
Phill Dyson

Phill Dyson

Western Thunderer
The main fault I have found with the Triang body is the incorrect profile of the windscreens & the cab roof, I can post some pics of my attempt to correct this if anyone would like to see them when I get back home next week ?

Cheers Phill :)
 
S

SteveO

Guest
Personally, I'd like to see as many conversions as possible. It's a great way into this scale (many people are put off by prices) and can be really fun and rewarding - I hope!
 
Colin M

Colin M

Western Thunderer
Absolutley! I would never have moved to O gauge, if the only way in was a £400-£500 kit or ready to run.

My conversion was cheap and chearful. Mostly just bits of wire and plastic scraps. The roof grill mesh was cut out from a broken kitchen strainer. No replacement bogie side frames - just lowered and cut off a big chunk of excess plastic from the front. I cut away the battery holder to make clearance for the motor, mouted vertically onto the bogie with scraps of plasticard. I glued hex nuts to the roof and screwed through from underneath, so I could fill the screw holes on top. Air tanks under the buffer beam - cut and filled bits of an old biro. Cab interiors were scratch built from plastic scraps.

I set out simply to create a reasonable representation, but there's miles of scope for purists to go as far as wanted. My own modelling philosophy is to choose projects and set myself goals which push my skills a little bit further each time. That way, I'm always improving and it's never impossible to find some enjoyment and sense of achievement from the hobby.
 
iploffy

iploffy

OC Blue Brigade
I like the thinking behind that one. After all who's going to notice a bold missing whilst flying round the back garden
 
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