West End Workbench

[Atlantic 3279]

I'll be interested to know the details too, as it will save me trying to look them up...

[jwealleans]

Someone tipped me off recently that Cambrian are doing their underframes separately: https://www.cambrianmodelrail.co.uk/sto ... -c25053466.

PECO haven't changed what Parkside used to offer, but their LNER underframes are 10'WB and I want a 9' here.

I can use the MT brake gear, MJT or BB W irons and make the rest. It'll keep me occupied for an evening.

While we're underneath wagons, someone also told me that Peter's Spares are doing their own wheels which are cheaper than everyone else's. Maybe worth a look.

[mick b]

I never realised you were refering to the whole underframe.


Wagon Wheels.

Alan Gibson £1.70 a set , min postage £4.50 ,free over £50.00

Peter Spares £2.10 a set , postage £5.00 for all orders

The Peter Spares wheels are the Wizard Models 51l branding. Wizard sell them at £1.60 a pair plus £4.00 postage for all orders.

Gibson looks best value if you need anything else as well at the same time, Wizard as second choice.

[kimballthurlow]

Dapol sell 12mm metal wheels.
Hattons has a pack of 20 (single axle) for £17.00 which does 10 wagons.
Product code wheelsspoke.

Kimball

[jwealleans]

Dapol's metal wheels are awful. The profile is wrong and they throw themselves off the track all over the place. I used them on the very first ex-Airfix brake van conversion I did and had to swap them out almost immediately I started testing it.

Mick, thanks for the comparison which I hadn't done yet. The advantage for me is that Peter's is less than 5 miles away. Wizard is my usual supplier of choice.

[Atlantic 3279]

Good grief. Are Dapol still providing wheels with flat treads and hook-section flanges (pointing outwards)? I first encountered those 16+ years ago, and got into unreasonable trouble on "the other channel" (not difficult to do) 14 years ago (when they were clearly still selling the same) for making some thoroughly deserved comments about the way they were perhaps being manufactured, Dapol's evidently slack standards, and what poetic justice ought to be applied!

[jwealleans]

I'd be happy to be proved wrong if anyone has some new Dapol wheels and can compare the profile to current Hornby or equivalent, but I'm personally not prepared to throw 17 quid at them in case they are still just the same as 15-ish years ago.

[65447]

Just catching up on your recent posts and photographs, I was confused by your reference to Bill Hudson 5, of which I was unaware. Then I twigged that you might mean his Oakwood Press book, which not only features WB Dick on the cover but in the relevant chapter has the same photograph placed directly opposite a tanker carrying Pratts Spirit. There's a coupling to which your infant sense of humour might rise to the occasion.

SWMBO will be away so, progress with decorating and other tasks permitting, I might be able to make it across to the Ely show.

[jwealleans]

As Mike has hinted I shall be at the Ely Show this weekend operating Wickham Market for only the second time. My good lady will be happy to sell you comestibles should you wish. If you're not too distant, please come along and help make it a success.

https://elymrc.org.uk/exhibition/

[earlswood nob]

Good morning all from sunny Surrey

I now use Gibson wheels as they are cheaper and available quicker than Markits. I also think they are slimmer.

I build the chassis using Markits wheels and then switch them for the Gibson variety after all the assembly and disassembly is finished.

It is possible to short out the Gibson wheels using thin brass wire (available from Gibson).

Malcolm
(Earlswood Nob)

[kimballthurlow]

I'd be happy to be proved wrong if anyone has some new Dapol wheels and can compare the profile to current Hornby or equivalent, but I'm personally not prepared to throw 17 quid at them in case they are still just the same as 15-ish years ago.

Sorry Jonathon, I have been super busy at work.
I have recently purchased Dapol wheelsets and honestly have my doubts about them.
Mainly because the coned metal axle ends seem to be unfinished.
Not a smooth end.
I too found out on (part of) an Airfix brake van chassis which is now incapable of being prised apart without wrecking the GN body which has taken me years to build.

I might be able to more specifically compare to Hornby in the coming weeks with magnifying glass and measuring calipers at the ready.
regards
Kimball

[jwealleans]

I've not had the chance to try any more wheels as Mrs W and I went off to Germany for ten days and brought a dose of COVID back with us which laid me low for a good week. For anyone interested, there's a fairly comprehensive travelogue beginning here and some film of our visit to the Danglebahn and Harzqerbahn on my YouTube channel.

Last weekend was the show at Ely, however, so off we trotted again with the prospect of Wickham Market emerging for only the second time since 2019. The day did not announce itself well when I arrived as nothing was working at all, but by the time the public were admitted we at least had trains running. Not all of the goods yard was as cooperative, but I was able to do some symbolic shunting and start to familiarise myself with where the magnets are at least. Had a good long chat with 65447 which is always a pleasant way to spend some time. The shunting position is outside the layout, so it lends itself to conversation with the public. It was nice to see some of the stock and especially locos which hadn't been used since 2019 running again.

In between holding forth and a small amount of shunting there was not much opportunity for photographs, but I did manage the odd one:



I'm afraid these are compulsory now. Do tell me if it becomes annoying.



Gibson J15 seen through the gap between the Airey houses.



... and viewed across the goods yard.



The Framlingham Branch engine (F6, also by Gibson) simmering at the rear of the station.

[Danby Wiske]

I'm afraid these are compulsory now. Do tell me if it becomes annoying.

Not bored of it yet JW. Keep it coming...

[kimballthurlow]

I'd be happy to be proved wrong if anyone has some new Dapol wheels and can compare the profile to current Hornby or equivalent, but I'm personally not prepared to throw 17 quid at them in case they are still just the same as 15-ish years ago.

.. I might be able to more specifically compare to Hornby in the coming weeks with magnifying glass and measuring calipers at the ready.
regards
Kimball

Armed with a new batch of Hornby R8098 wheel sets I have done a direct comparison.
Cost from Hattons was now £19.58 for one set, and one that had been in my trunk for 6-7 weeks was £16.31.

The mm measurements are nominal (average of a few) - D = Dapol, H = Hornby
Total width of tyre and flange - D2.8 H2.6
Length of axle to cone ends - D25.9 H25.6
Diameter of tyre at intersection with flange - D12.45 H12.65
Means of insulation between wheels - D and H - plastic bushing on axle at each wheel centre.

The photographs are not as clear as I hoped.
The Dapol finishes to a very sharp cone which on some sets ends almost in a hook.
The Hornby cone is finished much more rounded which makes for a smoother running set in whatever bearing cup is used.

Photography is via iPhone camera and magnifying glass.
Dapol wheel and cone


Hornby wheel and cone


Kimball

[jwealleans]

Been a while. Mrs W brought a dose of COVID back from Germany with her which she kindly shared and it knocked the stuffing out of me for several weeks. I still have a cough. That and being busy at work while the weather was being kind meant not a lot of modelling has gone on recently.

I can't locate the Dapol wheelset I know I had in the bottom of my toolbox for years. If I find another set which I can positively identify then I may do some tests to see how they compare to Hornby in terms of running and trackholding. Someone else (I can't recall who, but it was at Ely Show) commented on their poor running quite unprompted so the reputation at least still persists.

Bits and bobs I have been fiddling on with.... Lowfit now painted and with load posed in place.



I thought I'd illustrated the van which donated the underframe, but apparently not. Here it is with 9' WB underframe from Evergreen strip, wire and the Mainly Trains brake gear etch.



Painted and varrnished the towed fuel bowser. The Warwell needs weathering and then the bowser can be chained down permanently. I deliberately didn't try to put any unit markings onto the bowser - having talked to Pete Goss about them when he had Rowlands Castle, it's just a whole world of questions which I don't want to get into.



Also for Wickham Market, it seemed appropriate to have a Wickham trolley. ModelU do a crew pack for this and here they are aboard it. It needs bit more matting down and the wheels painted. If I can find it I also intend to rope a wheelbarrow onto the trailer to hide the moulded load.



Finally I have finished the first Alan Rose Barnum I started months ago. In a moment of complete stupidity I decided it would look good with the fancy handrails. The printed one which came with it were a bit chunky for my taste so I made them up from .45 wire. I could only do one pair a night before I went crosseyed, but in the end I'm quite pleased. They are a little out of gauge, I think, but at that height unlikely to foul very much. I see some of the knobs need straightening, we'll do that before it goes into the box with the others.