Heljan - first of the Intermediates

Nice photo John.

This question may have been asked before, but are the off-white roof hatches on many of Heljan's Class 47's representative of the prototypes? I have been watching and photographing these loco's for more years than I care to remember but cannot recall ever seeing roof hatches in this colour, even on ex-works loco's.

Daniel.

i might be wrong here but i think they represent engine room access fibreglass panels so would be an off white colour from new and later on more of a translucent nasty yellow again i seem to recall seeing these panels removed along with everything else having been cleaned when the locos went in for complete overhaul

cheers david a. pritchard

Daniel Pears>Nice photo John.

"Gene" wrote

I blame Jarvis! ;-)

John.

"Gene"

Looks the same to me. :-)

Reminds me of an ad that appeared on the back cover of the two major U.S. magazines about ten years advertising, a new throttle MRC (Controller). I featured the throttle and about 12 locomotives, steam and diesel. Every one of the locomotives had at least one wheel not on the tracks.

-- Cheers Roger T.

of the Great Eastern Railway

At least two, I would surmise.

"MartinS" <

Picky, picky, picky. :-)

-- Cheers Roger T.

of the Great Eastern Railway

Thanks David.

I believe you are right about the translucent roof panels from what I can remember from a few engine room visits however I am sure on more 'modern' liveries these are still painted out. I suspect they only looked like those on Heljan's models on the day they were rolled off the production line in the sixty's. If anybody can point me to a photograph on the internet that proves this theory wrong I would appreciate it.

Many thanks.

"Daniel Pearson" wrote : but what are the off-white roof hatches

Daniel.

Daniel, These are found on many diesel locos, (bar class 66 and a few other new builds) and have been around for many a year, it could be that Heljan highlight the fact that they are the plastic parts of the roof, made opaque to allow natural daylight into the engine rooms....

Other locos that also have this feature are : 24,25,27,31,33,37,47 and 57 to say the least, and probably more... In later days, some have been painted over (late rail blue livery) but the majority don't show due to the much and grime with a grey roof to match...

-- Andy Sollis Churnet Valley Model Railway Department (Remove the Standard Tank from E-mail to reply)

Thanks Andy.

I guess my point is however that on a lot of Heljan's 47's these roof hatches are just plain wrong. Take a look at this photograph of 47 829, which I took less than a week following its 'Police' repaint, and compare it to John Turner's earlier posted picture of the new Heljan model.

In the days of people measuring grille sizes and cantrail curvatures I am surprised that not many seem bothered by such a fundamental mistake? For me at least it ruins an otherwise great model.

Guess I'll get my paint brush out and shut up. :-)

Daniel.

Could it be then (Guessing) that they were painted and paint didn't stick to the plastic material as well as the metal body going in and out of the wash plants? Also that the "grime" kept it hidden... Then Heljan have mistaken this and modelled it pristine?

Having said that, I have seen it done like this on a Class 33 (102) but can't lay my hands on a picture.... Try the CVR website below...

-- Andy Sollis Churnet Valley Model Railway Department (Remove the Standard Tank from E-mail to reply)

Yep, while at the Great Central diesel gala in September, with a few moments to spare I was inspecting 33201. On looking in through the engine room window there was yellowy light coming through the fibreglass roof panels. The amount of light may not have been great but I could see what I wanted to.