The El11.2084 was built in 1952 as part of the El11 serie locomotives. It was one of the last El11 locomotives to get repainted in the new red colors (also known as nydesign). It ran in the 1960's gammel design until 1989.
Some of the El11 locomotives had a silver color around the windows but in all the pictures that I saw of the 2084 it was also in the standard brown color. Therefore it was a great subject for a small project. Create the 2084 as it appeared in the 1980's.

The starting point is the NMJ Topline El11.2093, which interestingly is shipped in an NMJ box that has a picture of the 2084. You wonder whether NMJ was planning the 2084 as well but as far as I know they never offered this particular model. Skaladesign did offer the 2084 in HO. The following modifications will be needed::

• The window frames need to be in the same color as the rest of the body.
• Renumber to 11.2084
• Install new wheels, as this model was an AC model

First step is to remove the shell and then strip it from all its detail parts. Including hand rails, windows, mirrors etc. All these items are not glued by the factory and with small pliers are easily removed.

The old numbers are being masked off so they can be removed without damaging the rest of the body shell. The picture shows another El11 project as well. The numbers were removed using Testors airbrush thinner, which loosens the number after wetting it with a cottom swab.

Next step is painting the window frames. I tried doing this with a small brush but wasn't satified with the result. Therefore I completely masked off the body shell, with the exception of the front window area. Then this was sprayed with Tamiya TS-33 (Dull Red). This color matches the NSB gammel design color very well.

This photo shows the newly painting front window frames and you can't distinguish the color from the rest of the body color. The new numbers are applied using custom decals from Romerike Modellservice.
After this the roof was taped off and the whole shell got a new top coat using Tamiya TS-80. Then all the details were applied again.

The basis of this model is an AC model. This means I have to change out the wheel sets as they are not isolated. I contacted NMJ to see whether they had El11 DC wheels but they didn't. I tried a few other wheels, including the NMJ Di8 (suggestion from NMJ). But none of them worked. Some were too large and some were too small. In the end I opted for NWSL 42 inch wheels. They are about the same diameter as the original wheels. I ordered a set of wheels with 2mm axle hole, plus a set that has a larger hole and the associated bushing. On the second photo the bushing is pressed into the wheel.

The first photo shows all the tools that are being used for this wheel set exchange. With the wheel puller the wheels are pulled from the axle. In a small vice the new NWSL wheels are pressed on the existing El11 axle, the NMRA gauge is being used to make sure the wheels have the right track gauge.

The end-result. A NSB El11.2084 in gammel design as it ran in the 1980's.

• Prototype pictures and info on NJK.no
• Prototype picture and info on jernbane.net
• Wikipedia article on El11
• My El11 model collection in HO