Wheels
Posted
#245359
(In Topic #13549)
Full Member
Are any kits supplied with metal wheels
Hi All. I am considering having another go at kit building, but it may end with “ Bashing “. As I am worried about the type of wheels supplied with the kit,or not, my previous attempts at “building wagons “ have seen me opening the plastic with a 2 mm drill to fit bearings and Going too Far and that was by hand. The side frames weren’t very stable either, as for the brake gear? that was very fragile, or maybe that was me being too heavy handed. Please advise. Best wishes Kevin
Staying on the thread Kevin.
Posted
Legacy Member
With standard OO wagons kits, many parkside Dundas kits come with wheels and bearings.
A lot of the Cambrian kits dont come with wheels but states on the packaging what wheels and bearings are required.
If you are talking brass kits well in that case you need to go to the manufacturer site to see what they supply with the kit.
Brian
OO gauge DCC ECOS Itrain 4 computer control system
Posted
Full Member
Reaming out the axle bearing holes for the bearings is best done with a reaming/cleaning tool, which has the correct cutting angle. It also depends on the plastic used. Oversize holes can always be drilled out and filled with styrene rod, and a new hole made.
Use a thin, fast evaporating model weld solvent when assembling a kit, otherwise the plastic details will soften or even melt. Ratio and Cambrian ones especially.
Plastic wagon and passenger carriage kits always benefit from having metal wheels and axles. Adds weight, runs better, stays cleaner, and can be used for lighting/lamp contacts.
Nigel
©Nigel C. Phillips
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Full Member
Staying on the thread Kevin.
Posted
Legacy Member
I assume they do that to allow you to bend the underframe out to get the wheelsets in easier if it were a more rigid plastic they would get complaints from customers breaking underframes putting the wheels in.
To be fair once the wheelset is in they do hold shape very well but i accept when you first look at the kit the plastic on the underframe does seem flimsy.
If looking at kits look at coupling types you intend to use and does the kit allow you to use that type of coupling.
Brian
OO gauge DCC ECOS Itrain 4 computer control system
Posted
Full Member
Hi Nigel. Thank you for your reply. I appreciate and understand most of your reply, but, Lighting/ Lamp contacts that beats me. Best wishes KevinScale frames/brake gear/running boards in plastic kits are delicate compared to RTR ones. and not anywhere near as robust. That's the price you pay for scale accuracy and detail.
Reaming out the axle bearing holes for the bearings is best done with a reaming/cleaning tool, which has the correct cutting angle. It also depends on the plastic used. Oversize holes can always be drilled out and filled with styrene rod, and a new hole made.
Use a thin, fast evaporating model weld solvent when assembling a kit, otherwise the plastic details will soften or even melt. Ratio and Cambrian ones especially.
Plastic wagon and passenger carriage kits always benefit from having metal wheels and axles. Adds weight, runs better, stays cleaner, and can be used for lighting/lamp contacts.
Nigel
Staying on the thread Kevin.
Posted
Legacy Member
Great if you have half a dozen wagons but if you have 60 it would be a mammoth task
Brian
OO gauge DCC ECOS Itrain 4 computer control system
Posted
Full Member
Always be prepared to change the wheels. Most kits come with metal wheelsets now, some older stock may not. I have given up using bearings unless the plastic is really soft (styrene-based) or the hole is so worn from years of use that the axles drop out.
Nigel
©Nigel C. Phillips
Posted
Full Member
Staying on the thread Kevin.
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