Steve Johnson Modelmaker
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BRCW Class
33 Bo-Bo Diesel-Electric
Heljan's first tooling of a Class 33/0 Ordered in 1957, the Class 33's were built for the Southern Region between 1960-1962 by the Birmingham Railway and Carriage Works Ltd. at their Smethwick works. Although based on the company's design for the the Scottish Region Type 2's, the absence of a steam heating boiler (as the SR used electric train heating) allowed a larger more powerful eight cylinder Sulzer engine to be used making the class a Type 3. Cab design also differed from the Type 2's as no communicating doors were provided and a two digit head code panel in the centre cab window was used instead of a roof mounted box. The last twelve locomotives were built with narrower bodies to enable them to work the restricted clearance Hastings line, becoming known as 'Slim Jim's', or Class 33/2's under TOPS. In 1965, D6580 was converted to Push-Pull operation for working the Bournemouth-Weymouth non-electrified section hauling 4-TC or other multiple units. The experiment was successful and a further 18 locomotives were converted, becoming Class 33/1 under TOPS. D6580 was the only Class 33/1 to carry BR Green livery with a narrow small yellow warning panel. The other 18 Class 33/1's were out shopped in BR Corporate Blue upon conversion. The Class 33 has proved to be one of the more successful locomotives of the Modernisation Plan. Most of the class had been withdrawn, but three still remain in service and some 24 preserved.
My model of a Class 33 is one of Heljans original toolings from 2010 in plain green livery. As noted below, it has numerous body issues, particularly around the cab roof area and general roof area. As with a lot of Heljans early models, it does not have an etched roof fan grille but a moulded representation instead. I always thought this a bit curious as their competitors were offering etched grilles at the time. The model runs well enough, but I think I might exchange it for a later retooled version in green with small yellow panel.
The first model of a Class 33 was by Lima in 1973. This marked first Lima's entry into the UK market. Although a little crude by modern standards, the main problem with it was that is was HO scale. The early models also had the continental style loop and hook couplers, although these were replaced with tension lock type. This was replaced in 1977 by a OO scale model and continued in production in various liveries until 2002. Heljan introduced their model of a Class 33/0 in 2005 but it did have numerous errors. The cab roof area was particularly bad and no distinction was made between early and late roof types. The Class 33/1 and 33/2 versions were released 2006, the 33/2 having the later roof. The model was retooled in 2014 to produce both the early and the later roof pattern along with other refinements, making a much better looking model. Another retool in 2022 saw the Class 33/2 gain an early roof type. Hornby released a revamped version of the old Lima tooling in 2010 as part of their 'Railroad' range. MTK offered a white metal kit of the class.
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