The old Lima pancake motor is one of the most reliable and easily repaired model train power units ever. This is why there are still so many old Lima trains out there and running. Was never given the credit it deserved back in the day. But now it has become kind of legendary and for good reason. Also Mazok Rot and Zinc Pest will never be a problem for Lima locos.
I couldn't agree more and with a decent controller they can be run down to a crawl. The addition of extra pickups is a simple improvement and transforms performance at very low speeds. I am currently working on improving 3 more Lima diesels. Prices are increasing on auction sites but they are nothing like as silly as Hornby and Bachmann. regards Keith
It’s a great job, For mine I usually mix a bit of red and black paint and with a cocktail stick do a tiny blob on each tail light. The Lima model is a good representation of a 47.
fantastic weathering - the part immediately below the front windows and along the top of the buffer beam is particulalrly ecctive. Great work. I have a single criticism... the tail-lights need something.
Thanks for your comments - I am glad you enjoyed the video. A long term plan is to add directional lighting to the front and rears of my diesels...I have started with my old Lima Class 33 but I have quite a few diesels and there are other projects which are currently clamouring for my attention. One day perhaps, Regards Keith
When i worked at Crewe i seem to remember the locos were washed with high pressure hose and a broom and industrial detergent! The class 47 bogies and under frames were kept as clean as possible as they suffered with oil leaks usually running on the centres of the bogies. The 47s were quite prone to under frame fires if this practice was neglected. So if modelling well dirty models the bogies could well be wet too.
Fascinating stuff Mike. In the absence of first hand knowledge like yours I had to take my inspiration from the internet. The class 47.co.uk website has superb photos of all the class members including some of my 47487 in BR rail blue. The bogies looked absolutely filthy but I could clearly see the oil leaks to which you refer. Regards Keith
Thanks, you may well be right about adding extra pick ups to the motor bogie but I try to keep my soldering iron away from this end of the model as far as possible. I am very happy with the way the model runs so will leave it as it is, Regards Keith
@@KV12543 Yes, the motor shield is made in plastic, soldering close to it could damage it. You are right to keep away from it if the locomotive is running well.
I think like the real thing the lima model was one of the best all round engines of all time, but im biased of course! Like you say newer models are better but very very expensive. Again like you say its all subjective and how far do you take it, at end of the day it should be enjoyable. My only regret is I never kept any of the many lima 47s that I had😔 no doubt in years to come the people who have will cash in lol. Great vid to make this humble workhorse better for not alot of time, money and effort.
Thanks very much for your comments James and I reckon that if you want to buy any of the old Lima models, now is the time, before auction prices rise any more.
I remember being able to get the heljan ones at about £60 each and Lima ones for £25 each. That was only about 15 years ago. Prices are silly money now so at least Lima is more obtainable for people that just want to run some trains.
The problem with Hornby and Bachmann models now selling for silly prices is that it puts up the prices of Lima secondhand models too! Decent class 47s now start north of £50, Keith.
I agree on the Lima G-type pancake motor. If well maintained and lubricated and driven with a good controller it's excellent. I use Mehano controllers.
Just recently found your channel, and I just want to say that you're doing a wonderful job of keeping the Lima spirit alive. I'm an N Gauge modeller, however I do a similar thing with a lot of my older Farish locos, bringing them up to scratch with adding extra details, repaints, weathering etc. I still have some of my older Lima locos from back in the day, which I also plan on reworking when time allows. Keep up the fantastic work 👍 Wonderful channel. Cheers, Anthony
Hi, am a new subscriber and have been a railway and road transport modeler for many years and really enjoying the refurb on your son`s old layout in turning a what was a train set into a well modelled and enjoyable layout to watch,I still have a couple of lima class 37`s that I have done the same thing as yourself weathering,handrails and flush glazing , they still make a good model maybe not as good as todays models but they do a job keep up the good work.Rob.
Thanks Rob, I love Lima models as you can tell and I have a couple of 37's just waiting for some attention. I have not used any flush glazing before so I have decided my next project will be to try it out. I may have chosen a difficult model to start with - a 2 car class 117 DMU....there aren't half a lot of windows but I reckon if that works out then I can glaze anything......watch this space...., Keith
@@KV12543 Your welcome Keith, good luck with the glazing I have done the Lima class 121 bubble unit it really does make the difference just a tip if you want to take it up leave 1mm extra around the glazing unit, found it helps with glue and seating the glazing look forward to seeing the 37`s as my favourite 1st gen diesel loco.Rob.
Weathering is something I do a lot of, while I agree that reference photos are useful to have, I do believe that if the end result looks right then the job has been done! That been said, there's no excuse to apply Weathering in an unrealistic fashion - for example - Exhaust fumes on an area that doesn't expell exhaust fumes! Very nicely done though sir, enjoyed the video very much, thank you!
The interesting thing about using photos of the real thing is that if you select say 4 photos you will get 4 different types of weathering depending on all sorts of factors ( age of loco, how long since it has been cleaned, the time of year and even whether the sun was out when the photo was taken etc.) so sometimes I take bits of each to get the effect I want but I agree it must be done in a realistic fashion. Cheers, Keith
Many many years ago, I super detailed my BR blue 47, using a kit, supplied by Mainly Trains in Watchet.. I detailed about 12 of these locos…but sold on as moved over to N gauge… But I still have one left and a Western, which I did many hours of rebuilding and looks great, after viewing your video, I think I will get them out again and add sound and lighting to both the models I have and build a small refuelling depot…thanks for the inspiration….
great informative video i have nearly all lima models all run smooth all the dark blue boxed models like you i would rather buy a mint boxed lima than cost of the others i have a recent hornby body that fits dirctly onto lima chassis even the screw holes line up only locos not lima is a hornby pacer with extra pickups and a bachmann class 121 s/h my other 121 s are lima and all smooth runners thanks for sharing
Lovely job Keith, like you I love the Lima stuff and still have mine from the late 70s. How might we get the gold plated effect on the cab windows I wonder? at some angles from the outside it looked light a very light purple, often wondered. I have an updated one off service guide for Lima stuff, in case of interest its attached here. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-8vIUhJ7x6l0.html
The Lima 47 is a promising little thing; it’s no wonder then that Hornby now offer it in various liveries in their Railroad range, albeit with an improved motor tower, NEM couplings and DCC socket. I’ve got three of these so far, one that I’ve put a TTS sound chip into. Still need to weather them, and add buffer beam detail. I plan on converting tired ones - yet to be acquired - into Class 57s with the relevant light clusters, folding dellner couplings etc, in liveries of the likes of the Virgin “Thunderbirds”, First Great Western and maybe even Network Rail. The sad eye windscreen is a little excessive, and the model lacks some width; however, it still gives off that all important class 47 “vibe” better than the modern offerings, in my opinion. Similarly can be said for Lima’s classes 31, 37, 50 and many more, with their InterCity 125 being especially impressive for it’s time and even today when compared with Hornby’s top of the range 125. And of course, at the price you can get these little models for, it’s very hard to grumble about some gear noise or lack of pickup. Importantly, they can be serviced and mended - modern models are often expensive paperweights when they fail… Keep up the good work; your videos are very peaceful and inspiring. You produce very honest stuff, and it’s a much needed breath of fresh air. Cheers.
Thanks for your very interesting reply. The Railroad ones at £80 seem very reasonably priced compared to most of Hornby's recent locos. However I'm afraid the liveries are too bright and modern for my tastes so I will stick to my old Lima ones. Regards, Keith.
@@KV12543 Luckily for folk like us they have been intensifying the range with more liveries in the last couple of years, and I can’t wait to see what they come out with in 2022.
