Branchlines"Hawk" loco chassis kit

[Barry Witteridge]

I am thinking of buying the Branchlines "Hawk" loco chassis kits any suggestions for loco body kits it would be suitable for? Thanks in anticipation.

[Graeme Dunbar]

I don't know if it has changed at all but I bought one years ago (still unmade) and I think it is more suited to 09 than 009. It it is very chunky. I don't know if I can find it to measure it but the wheels are at least 12 mm diameter I'm sure. It is very much an OO chassis reduced in gauge to 9 mm.

[JulienW]

At the time they were released I think they were marketed as a replacement for the Ibertren 0-4-0, but they have much larger wheel diameter and (I think) longer wheel base.

I have a couple as flat packs versions in the workshop and I can take some measurements in the next day or so, but to give you an idea of size I've half-formed plans to make a Ceylon (Sri Lanka) 2-4-0+0-4-2 Garratt and I have a vague memory of someone building an L&B Baldwin with one (using a Langley body).

I did see one under a Chivers/ Five79 'Cackler' 0-4-0ST (Hunslet) but to be honest it didn't look right (too big a chassis).

Hope that helps Barry.

[B.Meldon]

As is mentioned the 'Hawk' chassis is quite a bit larger than the Ibertren, and even the Fleischmann 0-4-0.
Also, does it come with the gears and motor?
If not you need to make sure that these are still available before you purchase kit.

[Graeme Dunbar]

I can see how a pair would suit a Garratt.

I bought a gearbox and motor (I think) with it. Everything suggested OO gauge to me - 1/8 inch axles and wide tyres.

Edit: found this Chris Ford photo of a Hawk chassis next to a Cuckoo chassis:


http://unnycoombelala.blogspot.com/2013/03/

If I recall my thoughts at the time of buying it were along the lines of a straight re-gauged Pug, as opposed to say a Pug-bash making the kit look more like a narrow gauge loco.

Edit again: I should have read Chris' blog entry instead of just lifting the photo. Indeed, he says it uses Pug  wheels, presumably from a Branchlines OO gauge Pug chassis kit, possibly even for the Airfix/Kitmaster kit??

[Barry Witteridge]

Thanks for all the comments, a complete kit with wheels, motor and gearbox is available. If I can't find a suitable body, I do like the idea of a L&B Lyn, filing that, I can always use the motor and gearbox for my next 3mm loco build! Barry

[Martin Collins]

I bought a Hawk chassis many, many years ago (didn't realise it was by Branchlines), with a view to putting it under a Langley L&B Baldwin  "Lyn" kit - the wheelbase and size of drivers seemed about right, but I must admit I have never checked the dimensions precisely.

Despite Messrs Heljan, I still aim to build it sometime........

Martin