LEGO Hogwarts Express 8-Wide Conversion

First of all happy new year to all, there was no 'what I've made this year' pics on the 1st because I forgot :P anyway.

 

Here is my Hogwarts Express model converted to 8 wide after seeing a few features that my 7 wide version lacked.

 

Now I know the British loco builders are going to be up in arms over this but there was sound sound reasoning behind the change.

 

The most noticeable thing about the 7 wide version is that the wheel arches were right to the edge of the loco which is far from how the actual loco looks, so there is that for starters, but there were a few other things that were made possible such as a bit of a smoother roof design, more room in the cab, and a much more realistic, wheel spacing to body width ratio that always bugged me with the 7 wide version.

 

The overall strength has been vastly improved due to the fact the loco now has large plates in the frame rather than the 3 studs, 1 stud, 3 stud arrangement of 7 wide.

 

This new change is not without it's disadvantages however as I have now brought upon the need for new connecting rods, which I planned to change eventually anyway but with this new size I have no option but to.

 

I have only made this change to my LDD copy of this loco so my physical one remains the same for now.

Done