One of my favourite locomotives is Maunsell’s four-cylinder 850 Lord Nelson. It looks and is very powerful! This model is from Bachmann and is a good runner with plenty of power. This is surprising considering that it is one of its split-chassis models. This does mean however that is a nightmare to convert to DCC. Reading instructions online involving dismantling the valve gear scared me, so I found one that someone had bravely converted themselves and bought it! Being a limited edition model, it was difficult to get hold of it cheaply but this model was fitted with a blown DCC chip and was a non-runner as a result. I rewired a new chip and bingo, it ran!
The model itself is ok – I replaced the chimney as Bachmann’s plastic job almost looked like a plasticine effort. Fitting a new chimney involved carefully drilling a hole in the model – a scary thing to do to something with a limited edition certificate! It was well worth it. I also picked out some cab details (see below). I’ve contemplating staining the valve gear black, but haven’t got round to it.
This is my only DCC fitted split-chassis model. I’ve often contemplated getting a Bachmann Ivatt 2MT tank, but DCC fitting would be too difficult. I’m hoping that Bachmann upgrade this model and base it on it’s 2MT Ivatt tender model – a much better model. Anyone agree?
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