Nearly every model railraoder knows that problem: he got an used electric loco for a good price, in a great condition, however the roof doesn't look very prototypical. The reasons are the wrong pantographs - most often the DB standart type DBS 54, mountet on prototype locos of the classes 103, 110, 111, 139, 140, 141, 150 and 151. However, to save costs, many model railway producers used this pantograph type also for oldtimers or locos of other railways as the DB.

Luckily, Sommerfeld offers the right pantographs for nearly every engine. So it's no problem to replace the old ones by new, prototypical pantographs. However, in many cases, this means not only dismantling the old pantograph and screwing the new one on its place. So, what esle has to be regarded? This article tries to explain thist, using three Märklin and Roco engines as an example.

The two Märklin models are a Class 1200 of the NS and SBB Re 4/4 IV. The catalogue numbers are #3055 and #3328. However, both locos aren't currently produced by Märklin.

Something General

When I start, I only dimantle one of the old pantographs. The other one ist dismantled only after the first new pantograph has already been screwed! So the sheet metal strip, which connects both pantographs electrically inside the loco, can't fall out, which makes the work easier!

Isolation

Espacially Märklin has a faible for metal bodies. That means, however, that the metal parts of the pantographs musn't have contact with bodie - ground contact! Some Sommerfeld pantographs have plastic isolators doing that "job", also our #933 and #944. If a pantograph is screwed driectly on the metal body, without any isolators between, a piece of thick transparant plastic foil can be used for isolation - it is cut into the fitting size and then screwed between the pantograph and the engine roof.

NS Class 1200

For this engine we need a Sommerfeld pantograph #933. It's a SNCF pantograph, however also used by the NS on some their electric locomotives. The isolators are part of the set with two pantographs and still have to be mounted. Every isolator has two retaining collars - one on the above side, the other one on the lower side. The lower retaining collar has to be cut off and the surface to be smoothed.

The the isolators are glued on in the holes (on the lower side of the pantograph) supposed for them. this can be seen on the graphics (No. 2; red arrows). The isolators are painted with grey colour afterwards.

When everything has been dried, the pantographs could be screwed on the locomotive. However we realize there's still free space between the pantograph (screw hole) and the roof. But the solution for that problem is quite simple! Take the base plate of an old pickup shoe, and cut it so that only a small stripe with the screw hole in the middle ist left. This can also be seen on the first graphics, part No. 1! Then, the filing piece is screw betwenn the engine roof and the pantograph. This part can also be painted in the same colour like the engine roof.

SBB Re 4/4 IV

For this loco we need the #944 pantograph. Here we get a complete lower part made of plastic which is only screwed togehter with the pantograph on the loco.

However, the retaining collars of the isolators have to be cut of first, afterwards the pantographs can be screwed on the loco without any problems.

In this case, the replacement of the old pantographs was quite easy.

Now let's have a look on a model from Salzburg. i got this used Be 4/6 for a very good price. Unluckily this beautyful loco can't be found in the current Roco catalogue.

For the Be 4/6 we need the Sommerfeld pantograph #939, which is being delivered also as a set consisting of two pantographs. In this case we don't have to look so much on the iolation, because Roco most often use plastic bodies for their locos, also in our case. Also here, I first have dismantled only one old pantograph.

	Before mounting the new pantographs on the loco they first have the be reworked a little bit. Four retaining collars are fixed on the isolators. On the lower side they are narrower, so that they can bet fittet into special holes on the enginge roof. Ther weren't such holes on the Be 4/6, and I didn't want to drill some.
So I cut of the narrow pieces - on the graphics they can be seen below the dotted line - and smoothed the surfaces a little bit. Now the pantographs can be screwed on the engine roof. Regard that the retaining collars are standing straight! If necessary, also bend the cross member with the screw hole a little bit below - work carefully!

The engines now look much more prototypical than before. Certainly, the new pantographs weren't cheap, but the better look of the models is really worth that investment in every case!

Disclaimer. I can NOT be held responsible for any damage you cause by following my instructions, on modifying your model railway equipment. Everything you are doing, you are doing it at your own risk!