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Departmental No.88 and 89 Hunslet 0-6-0DM
These two shunters started off life as standard Hunslet 'Type B' Class 05's D2512 and D2615. The later Class 05's differed from the earlier batch by having a taller cab necessitating an extra cab side window above the sliding lights, radiator shutters and larger diameter wheels. Compare to the earlier version Judith Edge Kit I built (click here). No.88 was transferred to departmental use in February 1961 starting off at Faverdale Wagon Works. It was later transferred to Barrasie Works for a short while before ending up at Ayr. It was withdrawn in September 1967. This model is made by Heljan and very good it is too. Originally announced at the 2012 Warley Show, the model duly appeared in July 2015. The detail is impressive and is offered in a variety of guises, including Departmental No.88. There is a lot of fine, delicate detail easily knocked off. Although there is a cab interior visible through the large cab windows, it is painted plain cream. It might look better if some of the levers and dials are picked out with the appropriate paint. No crew is included, but is easily fixed. The performance is very smooth and quiet and slow running is good, essential for a shunter! Working marker lights are also provided, although I didn't notice this until I had fitted DCC! It is the lower outer markers that light up red and white, changing positions with direction. The front markers are considerably more dull than the rear markers. My version is DCC and uses the 6 pin Bachmann decoder which is easily fitted. The cab just slides off vertically and two screws secure the bonnet to the chassis. When undone, the bonnet slides of vertically too. There is little room for a decoder and I fitted the recommended 6 pin into the socket provided. The cellotape securing the wires had to be lifted one side to move the wires out of the way to get to the circuit board. I did have to carefully trim back some of the blue shrink wrap insulation from the non pin end of the decoder to get a good fit. With the model re-assembled, it works perfectly. |
