Introduction

Welcome to a blog that aims to assist modellers in tweaking the newly released KHIAC O Scale NSWGR 44 Class Diesel Locomotive.

I recently purchased 4427 after viewing the Auscision Blog, and having a double take of what was available, and the price of the model, they looked impressive, so I thought what the heck I have to have one. And that was exactly what I did, bought the model. It arrive within a few days and the when the BIG wooden box was opened it really did grab my attention, it looked fantastic.

I grabbed the loco out of the foam packing and started the task of looking all over the loco and viewing photos of 44 class locos to make sure that everything was in the correct place. All looked OK until I noticed that the bogies were of centre, and I thought to myself, what have I bought, this looks terribly wrong.

Upon investigation, the problem was found to be a small pivot plate that is screwed to the bogie with 4 screws and then screwed to the footplate, with a stepped screw that is sprung, allowing the bogie to rock. Now the thought of pulling the loco apart worried me a little, after all I had just spent $1200.00 on this thing and I am now faced with the possibility that it was a bit of a dog.

This blog will break down the process of pulling the loco apart and finding and correct all the faults that may be found, it is not a witch hunt of how good or bad the loco may or may not be, but an instructional blog on repair and or replacement of bits and pieces that will make the loco run better and look good on the track.

I have already heard from modellers who have bought this model, that they have had similar issues that I have had, and with the addition of photos and text, in the next couple of weeks, hope to provide fixes, and upgrade the model to DCC and sound.

Let  us remove the body from the footplate. There are 11 screws holding the body to the footplate. 1 at the front middle of the loco, between the head-stock and the coupler pad, 2 (1 each side, opposite each other) just in front of the Cabin door. 2 between the cab door and the engine compartment door, 2 under the rear of the panel with the side numbers, 2 in front of the cooling pipes, and 2 to the rear of the cooling pipes. The body should come away from the footplate, however there will be 2 plugs that are connected to the PC board screwed to the inner roof of the body. The red and blue wires are supply from the PC Board to the motor and the orange and white wires are pick up wires from the plunger pick ups.

More, including photos in a couple of days.