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BR Class 37 (English Electric type 3)

The prototype was introduced in 1960, since when 309 have been built. They feature a 1,750hp V12 diesel engine powering electric traction motors mounted on the axles, with a cab at each end in usual British format. There have been some modifications carried out during the locomotive's life, but visually the main differences are that the initial batch had split headcodes to allow for gangway doors at each end, whereas later models featured a single 4-digit headcode box in lieu of the doors. They are, or have been used on all regions of BR, and their distinctive engine note has earned the class the nickname 'Growler'

The LEGO(R) model was built as a serious attempt to replicate the look of the original, if not the exact proportion. I chose the 1970s blue livery, which quickly dissolved my stock of small blue plates. And to make things worse, nearly all BR locomotives of this era were blue! The body is 38 studs long and required some experimentation to get the bogies looking and running correctly. In the end I used a '1-bo-bo-1' arrangement to replicate the rigid bogied 'co-co' arrangement of the prototype. The outer set of wheels pivot on a short technic pin which joins together two 2x2 plates (with hole on the rounded extension to one side). This allows a low-line pivot and a very short wheelbase over the three axles. Experiments using 2x2 turntables and long tiles were abandoned as they made the bogies too high. This double motored set up works well even at speed, as long as you do not crash the couplings when picking up wagons etc.

The blue body took about 8 hours to get right, including many experimental builds. I started from the top down as I felt the area around the cab windows and bonnet would be the factor in determining how well the character of the original had been replicated. It was only when I'd finished the model that I discovered some 4mm scale drawings, so all the proportions, vents and body detailing have been taken from photographs, which is probably the best way to go if you don't want to get obsessed with scale! One very important detail was the subtle slope of the bonnets from cab window to nose - this is not always apparent in photos, but the model did not look right with a level bonnet top. The familiar dodge using half-stud offset 2x1s was used to inset the cab doors and yes, there is a minifig at the controls.

After having been 'happy' with my creation I am now beginning to get very critical (sound familiar?). Next time I'll try for a longer body probably in Railfreight grey which will open up a wider source of bricks, especially for louvred grills. My only concern with length is the ridiculous overhang which visually I can live with, but causes some operational problems.