MR48

Thunderbirds are
Virgin’s Latest Novelty Locomotives in ‘OO’
The good old Brush Type 4, or Class 47, seems destined to go on forever. Just when you thought they were being phased out,
along comes the re-engineered Class 57. DAVE LOWERY explains how you can create your own model of this impressive
locomotive which will be used to ‘rescue’ failed trains and to haul Pendolinos over non-electrified routes during diversions.
Oh, I do love a cloak and
dagger story and one such
occasion was the recent
launch of Virgin’s Class 57/3
locomotives for
‘Thunderbird’ rescue duties. I was
commissioned by Virgin to make
‘hush-hush’ models of their then
new Class 57 Thunderbirds -
based on the Pendolino style of
livery.
It is especially rewarding when
the Virgin staff also whisper
‘Secret squirrel’ - don’t say a word
about this new livery to anyone.
At that stage they were still
talking to the Anderson company
about royalties for the use of the
Thunderbirds logo and name
from the cult TV series.
For me, it was a personal coup
to make a model that would be
presented to the Thunderbirds
creator, Gerry Anderson, who I’m
sure could be called the master of
models. His models for the longrunning
television series are
famous world-wide.
My conversion is based on a
Lima Class 47 and uses a
Shawplan conversion kit, available
from Howes Models at Oxford (see
advertisement pages). MR
Below: The cab side of the class 57 showing the Pendolino-style ‘swoosh’ of red and silver.
October Issue 2002

go!
Here’s How You Can Do It...
Carefully remove the handrail detail from the
1front of the locomotive with a craft knife. Always
use a new blade, and take several thin cuts rather
than one large one. Drill holes at the extremes of
the old moulding to take the new wire then finish
off with a fine file.
The next step is to fill in the marker light box
2moulding. As this hole is reasonably large it is
often worth gluing in a piece of Plastikard of an
appropriate thickness first to part-fill the space,
and then add filler, a little at a time, this will avoid
possible shrinkage problems.
The finished model in all its glory. A good gloss
finish has been applied to the paintwork to give it
the ‘new-off-the-shelf’ finish, which the prototypes
exhibit. All final paints used in this conversion are
from the Railmatch range.
The roof modified with Shawplan Class 57 kit. Class
57/3s actually have additional new roof sections but
at present no conversion kit is available so the
model is something of a compromise.
Plastikard will give a solid base on which to
3 apply the filler. This method reduces the amount
of filler needed, therefore reudcing the likelyhood
of shrinkage. The bodyside steps are small so can
simply be filled. Allow the filler to dry and then
smooth with wet-and-dry paper.
It’s always wise to read the instructions
4 thoroughly first. For this conversion, Shawplan
tell you not to cut the buffer beams off the body
until the main holes for the large lights have been
drilled - good advice to avoid having to drill too
close to the edge.
Now you can run a Pendolino even if you don’t
have overhead wires. Virgin’s Class 57s are fitted
with equipment to power lights and air
conditioning when hauling Pendolinos over nonelectrified
routes.
Always step-drill large holes that could weaken
5the structure. Start with a small pilot drill and
work your way up to the finished size, using a
larger drill bit each time. The white metal lights
should be ‘super-glued’ in place from the inside of
the model. Ensure the lights fit square in the holes.
Once the lights are in place and the glue is
6cured, the front buffer beam can be removed
from the model. Take extra care when using a
razor saw, they can bite and it is painful! Cut the
body upwards from the sides first, then cut back
from the front.
Once you have carefully cut off the buffer beam
7take a large flat file and - and keeping it as
square and as flat as possible - file the rest of the
bufferbeam away, up to the lower edge of the front
footsteps. Make a couple of file strokes then check
as you can quickly go off-square.
With the front ends altered, the roof is next.
8 New etchings are required to represent the GM
engine exhaust ports fitted to the ‘47s’ during
conversion to ‘57s’. However, the roof
modifications specific to the 57/3 are not available
in kit form, so the model is a compromise.
2002 October Issue
31

Here’s How You Can Do It... (Continued)
The Shawplan 57/0 kit includes an excellent
9representation of the exhaust box. The etch
needs to be folded and curved to shape. A hole
should to be cut into the roof using a razor saw,
then carefully filed back to accommodate the new
exhaust unit.
When the body conversion complete, and you
10 are happy the filler is smooth, the next step is
to spray the model with Halfords white primer.
Allow eight hours drying time then spray the cab
ends and side using Phoenix paints Railtrack
warning yellow.
Front end details of 57301 in ‘Pendolino’ livery.
Note revised buffer beam jumper connections to
power auxiliaries on Pendolino and Voyager trains.
BEN JONES
When the yellow paint is completely dry, mask
11 off the front. In preparation for the red paint.
Use photographs for livery reference. Patience is
the key to success check and re-check especially
the curved line from the cab front up to the cab
roof.
I am fortunate to have an official colour
12 diagram for the Pendolino style livery to be
applied to the Thunderbird Class 57s. It is very
important to get the same smooth curve at both
ends of the model when applying the masking tape
in preparation for the silver paint.
Thunderbirds creator Gerry Anderson named 57301
Scott Tracy at Euston on June 17. Shortly after
unveiling the distinctive plate and International
Rescue crest, Mr Anderson is joined by Scott
himself. PAUL BIGLAND
When masking off your model, always ensure
13 that you have covered all painted areas. I
decided to spray the silver body-side colour last as
the metalic finish makes it difficlut to apply and
remove masking tape, without damaging the
model.
I use thin RC26 tape (from Howes) to form the
14 initial line to be masked. Then as seen in the
last step a paper mask is cut to the shape of the
painted area to be protected. The edges are sealed
with masking tape and the final gap sealed with
Maskol.
The first of the class 57/3 locomotives at its Euston
naming ceremony. It is possible that other train
operators will also have similar locomotives for
‘rescue’ of failed trains. PAUL BIGLAND
I worked closely with Fox Transfers, who
15 produced a selection of rub-down transfers to
ease production of the models. White ‘Swishes’,
Virgin logos in red, plus numbers and nameplates
were comissioned. These will be availalbe in
waterslide form soon from Fox Transfers.
Finally the chassis end needs to be cut back
16 and the centre gap filled with Plastikard. The
etched brass replacement buffer beam can then be
folded, soldered and glued in place. There are
etched holes for adding pipework and turned brass
buffers.
32 October Issue 2002