Heljan E2001 Conversion

[Proton]

I have generally found Heljan diesels and electrics the easiest of the main manufacturers to convert to P4, in part due to their implementation of the A1A arrangement for three-axle bogies instead of the Co arrangement.
E2001 is correctly implemented with the A1A bogies, and has ten-spoke 14.67 mm wheels, correct as far as I have read. Also, the axles run in hornblocks, rather similar the Athearn arrangement, so I thought this should be a doddle!

Unfortunately, the wheels are on 3 mm diameter stub axles running in a plastic gear muff (plain for the centre axles), so conversion might be a bit trickier than I had first thought.

I'm thinking of dispensing with the split frame arrangement altogether and going with PCB-strip-mounted pickups.

I can't see Ultrascale or Allan Gibson doing a conversion set for a unique loco such as this!

John

[Mark Forrest]

EMGS stores have a 3mm diameter shouldered axle, with 2mm ends. Obviously, they are intended to give a 16.5mm back to back, but some washers could make up the difference (or it might not matter at all if cutting them in half to make stub axles).