D2703

The second batch of D2/1 Class 0-4-0 diesel-hydraulic shunters were built by North British in 1953 for use in Scotland. Numbered 11703-11707, they were subsequently re-numbered D2703-D2707. Powered by a 200hp Paxman engine, transmission was a Voith hydraulic unit. When new, they carried the BR Black livery. This was later changed to all over green then receiving yellow and black chevrons later. The radiator access ladder was removed sometime between the latter two liveries.

The kit is a Judith Edge etched brass kit and it follows Michaels usual construction sequence of separate frames, footplate and body units bolted together. For some reason, I couldn't seem to get the roof to fit, which shows in the image below. It's almost as if it isn't wide enough! Not a problem, the gap will be filled later.

Early stages of construction

I have powered my model using one of Chris Gibbons excellent revised Roadrunner gearboxes and Mashima 1020 motor. The gear ratio being 60:1, as I want low speed performance from a shunter. The wheels are Scalelink 14mm, axles and crankpins are Romford.

Body completed and ready to prime

Painting is relatively straightforward with a BR Green body, yellow ends with wasp stripes, red buffer beams and grey roof. The paint used was: Green - Halfords Rover Brooklands Green, Yellow - Halfords Vauxhall Mustard Yellow and Red - Halfords Volkswagen Mars Red. All the transfers are from Fox Transfers. With the body painting and decoration complete, it was sprayed with Phoenix-Precision Satin varnish PAV72.

Glazing from acetate sheet was added fixed with Deluxe Materials Glue'n'Glaze. The sprung buffers are a combination of Gibson with brass etched oval heads. Extra weight, made from lead sheet, was inserted under the engine casing at the front and between the frames at the rear. There is not a lot of room in this diminutive shunter and these seemed the best places to put the weight while trying to maintain an even balance.

The chassis with decoder tucked under the motor

As usual, this is another DCC locomotive and for a small shunter like this, I turned to my favourite Digitrax DZ126P. This minute decoder is tucked beneath the motor in the chassis. A little bit of setting up is necessary such as acceleration and deceleration rates (CV's 3 and 4). I find I have alter the 'Start Volts' on this decoder as nothing happens on Speed Step 1. I increased the value of CV2 to 10 for this shunter. I usually like to add a working cab light to my loco's and this was done by using a small pre-wired SMD LED obtained form China via eBay. The DZ126 only has forward and reverse light functions controlled off f(0). However, all the functions are able to be remapped. So, I reconfigured the decoder to have the yellow output wire switched from f1 and on in either direction. This is simply done by the value 2 in CV35.

This version of the D2/1 shunter is probably best known for the oddly scaled Playcraft/Jouef model produced years ago, but still available second hand. The model was produced as either a clockwork or electric version. Its main drawback were the incorrect outside frames. The scale seemed to be about 3.8mm/ft.