00GAUGE 4mm:1ft
1960s-1989 ERA
Straight from the box testing
THE design of the bogies is one of the most important considerations in this type of locomotive. Before any other feature of the model was checked and tested, the bogies were closely examined, straight from the box, to see how Heljan has tackled this critical area of the model with its carrying wheels and pony trucks, together with the long bogie frames.
There is very little room for the bogie frame to move back and forth in the underframe and enjoy a good level of detailing between body and the frames, especially as Heljan has achieved the close relation between the bogies and body seen in the full size locomotives. Movement is important to the performance of the model and its ability to take up vertical curvature such as the start of inclines, so a lack of flexibility could cause problems.
Heljan has cleverly resolved this by mounting the bogie inner frame with its three driven axles on a pivot so it rocks to and fro within the outer bogie frame. There is a small degree of rotational movement too, which allowed the test model to run through second radius test track curves and short Peco turnouts
