DJH 02 diesel - the kit that started it all for me

 

I have inherited a kit from my late friend Andy. And it's a very special one to me. 

Many years ago, I was a poorly paid junior audit clerk, who went out with friends, operating their model railways. Under their influence, I wanted to build locomotive kits. But which one to start with? On my wages, whatever I bought would be a significant investment, so I couldn't afford to get it wrong. 

On the market appeared a diesel shunter kit from DJH, marketed as a beginner's kit. This sounded just right. 

At a show I looked at one of the kits on sale. It included a ready-built chassis, and the whitemetal castings didn't look that different from a plastic kit. My friend Dave checked it over, and concluded I couldn't got far wrong with it, so I handed over my cash. 

Back home, I carefully assembled the model. As hoped, it sent together well. The chassis featured a double-reduction gearbox for slow running, and even I could manage to screw the Romford wheels on. 

I even detailed it by scraping off the moulded handrails, and replacing them with wire. Pretty much what I was already doing with RTR models anyway. 

I think I made a good job of it. For a while I was allowed to run it on Dave's layout Scotland Street - although it couldn't get into one of the platforms due to its width. 

Sadly, the whitemetal chassis eventually twisted. This must have been a problem generally, as an etched version replaced it in later kits. Even sadder, this loco was in the box of trains that was stolen from the back of our van on the way back from a show. 

It was replaced with an etched kit from Craftsman, but I'll never forget that first loco. Which is why I'm really pleased to have another chance to build it. The kit is even an early version with a whitemetal chassis. Proper nostalgia. Thanks Andy.