Products > Sprung Diesel Bogie Kits

Heljan Classes 26/27 & 33

Kits PK010 and PK011. Prices and Availability here

These are two closely related kits: PK010 for the Class 26/27 and PK011 for the Class 33. The differences are in the details supplied for the outer transoms, guard irons, brake pull rods and secondary suspension. The kits are suitable for both the original and the more recently upgraded Heljan models.

Kit Features

Class 33

Etched brass fold-up, soldered construction.
Steel ‘guitar wire’ springing.
Primary suspension by a single, continuous spring wire on each side of each bogie to mimic the sprung equalization beams of the prototype.
Secondary suspension by longitudinal spring wires.
Bogie secured to locomotive chassis block by a simple etched frame, with correct pivot location (as manufactured, the pivot points are moved in towards the centre of the model).
Adjustable ride height to allow builder to set optimum desired distance between top of bogie frame and lower body side.
The original cosmetic bogie sideframes are re-used, suitable fixing surfaces being provided.
Etched front and rear transoms mate with the cosmetic sideframes, to model the full bogie frame.
Etched parts to model the following items, which are included on the two-dimensional sideframe moulding but, in reality, are positioned further inboard on the bogie:
- brake shoes, hangers and actuating levers,
- brake pull rods, different patterns for 26/27 and 33,
- secondary spring planks (the moulded springs and dampers being re-used), with alternative arrangement applicable to the leaf-sprung and some other 26s.
Etched parts to model the following items:
- outer transoms, with sundry bracketry and guard irons, different patterns for 26/27 and 33,
- inner transoms, with handbrake linkage and supports,
- AWS bracket.

The bogies are mounted in the locomotive by etched brass pivot frames secured to the chassis block. The pivot locations are at the correct longitudinal distance from the centre of the locomotive.

Class 26/27

This is the outer transom detail for the Class 26/27. Early in their lives, the locos had brackets inboard of the guard irons, as on the left hand side here. Later the brackets were sometimes removed, leaving the pattern shown on the right hand side, simply achieved by separating the fold-over brackets from the etch.

A view of a Class 26/27 bogie from the side, showing the different brake pull rods and an alternative arrangement for hanging the secondary spring plank. This is appropriate for the early locos with leaf spring secondary suspension, but is also seen on some locos with coil spring secondaries.

For comparison, this is an unmodified Heljan 33 bogie, which has been fitted with an Ultrascale 'Drop-in' Conversion Pack.

Functional parts of kit assembled, with 3'7" Ultrascale Diesel Disc wheels and cosmetic sideframes fitted. For a working model, you can leave it at that - it's fully operational as a sprung loco bogie at this stage…

…but here it is with all the etched details fitted…

…and here with the drive unit and cosmetic sideframes removed to show the assembled components of the kit.

This shows how the cut-down plastic sideframes fit into the brass transoms and retain the primary springs. The etched hand brake linkage is also seen.

The secondary suspension detail is built up from brass and wire components, together with parts of the moulded plastic detail from the Heljan sideframes.