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S310

S Class locos where introduced into Victoria in the 1950s, after the success of the B Class locos. There are a couple still in service today but only just.

S310 was the first of the second order of S Class locos, commencing service in 1960. It has been in service for Freight Australia until fairly recently, still in V/Line livery.

This model is actually a Weico white metal body. These are no longer made, however the Weico master has changed hands and is now released as a polyurethane casting. Notes below refer to constructing the polyurethane kit.

Model construction notes:

Components

Body Pete Boorman’s Workshop makes S class polyurethane bodies (try Pallas Hobbies). It's a one piece moulded body, with extra pieces for the pilot and rear chassis/coupler mount, designed to fit a Life Like SD7 chassis.
Decals VR decals available (try Pallas Hobbies - $10 a set, you can do 3 locos). There are no decals in other liveries specifically for S class locos. For V/Line, you can use decals that come with some of the wagon kits.
Mechanism Lifelike SD7s are most commonly used. These aren’t the best mechs on the market but quite adequate, excellent value and relatively easy to adapt. You’ll have to order one from America or keep an eye on E-bay. Cost - $35-50 or thereabouts, depending where you get them. Atlas SD7s are certainly better mechs but will set you back around $100. I expect there will be some extra work to fit the pilots as these were designed for Lifelike SD7s.
Couplers Standard Microtrains 1015.

Degree of Difficulty

Assembly A bit of fiddling to alter the SD7 mech. but not too hard. The bits fit together pretty easily after that.
Painting V/Line orange/grey livery is easier to paint than VR blue/gold because masking is all straight edges so quite easy. Painting the bulldog nose in VR livery is a little more challenging.