Concluding the Sprung Bachmann Class 37 Project

BRASS soldering work was concluded in the second part (REM183) of this long and involved project to equip a Bachmann Class 37 model with a Penbits sprung chassis, or more accurately, sprung bogies.

The project has involved the fabrication of new bogie sub frames; new bogie bolsters to support the body and chassis on the bogies together with the springs themselves. Testing of an unpowered but rolling chassis was undertaken which showed that the Penbits kit delivered a different performance, the chassis rolling smoothly and with minimal sound over joins in the rails and over the crossing vees in turnouts and crossings. It has a distinctly different feel to it compared to the unmodified model used to push the chassis around the layout during the unpowered testing stint.

One concern was the amount of brass in the new bogie subframes and bolsters, and the close proximity of the wheels to the brake hangers, shoes and rods. Disc wheels