Hi All, Can anyone suggest a type and source of metal wheeled wheel sets to replace the plastic wheel sets supplied in 00 Ratio wagon Kits? All the Hornby and Bachmann wheel sets are too short in the axle. They have c25mm axles but the Ratio kits require c28mm axles. I think the standard Maygib and those supplied with Parkside kits are also too short for the Ratio kits. Many thanks Paul
Do you have brass bushes fitted in the axel boxes. If not then these may be your saviour, fit the bushes into the axel box holes (a little MEK in the hole to soften the plastic may help), then see if the wheel sets fit. Paul
I don't think that brass bushes will take up the 3mm slack unless they are only partially inserted into the axle boxes. If they are not fully inserted, how can you be sure that they are square to the axle? Has anyone experience of this solution? Many thanks Paul
I was going to suggest Steam Era Models wheel sets but they only come with 23.8mm, 25mm or 26mm axles. http://steameramodels.com/wheels.htm Could you glue a 1.5mm thick piece of pre-drilled styrene over the axle boxes to take up the slack then use the brass bushes ?? Cheers, Gary.
Are these Ratio kits NOS (new old stock)? Reason I ask is that newer, current kits come with metal wheel sets with brass top hat bushes that you drill, I think 2mm, and insert before assembling the kit. The axleboxes are fitted with their W irons to the sole bars then glued to the wagon base with the wheels and axles fitted and held in place for a short while for the glue to grab. Once it has dried and all is solid the axles can rotate freely without to much end float. The top hat bushes can be bought from (for example) Romfords or Alan Gibson, the same for metal wheel sets. If the wagon is already assembled it is possible to buy a tool that fits between the two axle boxes and has a very small short drill bit at one end to open up the axle boxes to except the bushes. It is also useful for opening up the boxes on RTR 00 wagons for fitting brass bearings. Dunno who makes them though, though a google search may throw up some suggestions. Cheer's, Pete.