BEFORE embarking on a refinishing and detailing project on the EFE Rail Trainload Coal Class 58, finding a way to convert the model to ‘EM’ gauge was sought. Budgets are tight at this time, making a bespoke conversion pack out of the question for many modellers, so with this in mind, the decision was made to show how the model can be prepared for life on an ‘EM’ layout without having to throw a lot of money at it.
A favourite method of converting Heljan models to ‘EM’ and ‘P4’ is to take advantage of the 2mm diameter axles and use coach disc wheels. Whilst quick, effective and depending on which wheels are used, low cost, the wheel diameter is a touch on the small size, and with bogie frame clearances on the subject model being particularly important, this really was not an option.