GCR 4-4-0 Butler Henderson. Motorising the static model.

Went into Sainsbury's this morning to get some bits and pieces and noticed the GCR Butler Henderson which is being done by one or other of the Part Work firms. I've always had a bit of a soft spot for them so I bought it to see what was what. When I got it home I took it off of its display plinth and studied it carefully. The whole thing screws apart so after removing the diecast, one piece chassis which includes moulded on wheels and motion I realised that there is enough room inside (after butchering) to fit one of the Hornby/Triang 2P chassis into it. I just happen to have one that has had Romfords fitted and a smaller motor so I think I will see how it develops. The tender also screws apart and it would be an easy job to replace the wheels with Romfords etc. and fit some sort of coupling on the back. There would need to be a certain amount of hacking to be done but it does look feasible. Cost so far £8.99 so if it all goes pear shaped I haven't lost a lot. If it works then it will be a lot cheaper than the Bachmann/NRM version. By the way, if you are thinking of using any of these locos as a static display on a siding the siding will have to be electrically dead as the whole of the chassis on these locos are solid metal so would quickly short out any running line.

Whilst I was waiting for my dinner to cook I had a good look at the tender. This is by far the easiest bit to modify first. Once the screws have been taken out to remove the cast wheels/chassis chunk there are two sunken screw holes. These screws have to be removed and the tender top separates from the underframe. Looking at the underframe now underside up, you will see two spigots where the chassis block screwed on to. These need to be removed. I used a pair of sidecutters and finished with a large file. On the sideframes of the underframe you will see a dimple where each axle would normally fit and underneath the dimple there is a block of plastic. There are three on each side. Remove them and then open out the dimples with a 1.9mm drill to allow the axles of the replacement wheels to go into them. I used a set of wheels from an old Mainline Scot tender and they are a perfect fit. Put the wheels in and rejoin the two halves of the tender and check that it runs ok. Mine did even through pointwork. All I need to do now is to add a bit of weight to it and a coupling. I shall be turning mine out in unlined black as some of the class ran in in later years so it also needs the old decals removing and a coat of primer first. Might even chop out the moulded coal and add some real into the tender. Pic to come later. I have also dis-assembled the loco body. This breaks down into two parts. The cab, boiler and smoke box and the footplate unit. The footplate unit will need a lot of material taken out of it to make room for the replacement chassis so will give detail of that when I do it.

Hi Bittern,

Keep it coming, it's sounds interesting. I'll look forward to the pics.

Toto

Here's a couple of pics to show what needs doing to put real wheels into the tender etc.

This shows the tender frames and you can see the bits that need chopping off. It needs tidying up. Notice the new wire drawbar.



This shows the tender top after the coal was cut off and a false floor put in to hold the real coal later.



Underside painted with wheels in.



Side view painted



Top view painted



That's all for now folks. Loco body and chassis to come.

Nice conversion Mick. :thumbs If it is not a hassle, I would like to see what you have done to the engine, to make it all fit together.

Cheers, Gary.

Will give a blow by blow account on the loco as I go Gary. Already made a start on the footplate section. I am going to do one that ran in plain BR black so the valances have to go to start with. The reversing rod is a bit short as well so will have to modify that and cut out the area where the motor will fit. I don't think the body in this case is the Bachmann one, it looks like it is a new tooling purely for the magazine. It's not bad to work on and the plastic works well and accepts most glues/liquid poly without any trouble.

As a Chesterfield schoolboy back in the late 50's/early 60's, I used to see "Butler Henderson" run into the old Great Central station on a virtually daily basis, so this thread brings back many memories. Having seen it in the flesh at Barrow Hill recently, it made me smile to think it never looked like it does now back then, scruffy, filthy and on it's last legs! (Shedded at Darnall then, if I remember correctly). Great job on the conversion, and I'll be following this thread with great interest.
                         Keith.