Large Scale Central

Slaters Plastikard Wheel Sets

Reviews
#1

We’ve been looking around for tires for Devon’s 3D printed wheel centers and for my EBT 4-6-0 kit. Slaters in the UK has expanded their range into gauge-3 which is quite close to our Fn3. They also make gauge-1 (1/32nd scale) and 16mm scale (1/19th scale 2’ gauge) wheels. https://slatersplastikard.com/wheels.php

(Gauge-3 is 1/22.5 standard gauge, or 64.5mm gauge. The Brits seem to like it - you can even get a live steam 4-6-2 to run.)

I was looking for a 48" diameter driving wheel with 12 spokes. Slaters sell a gauge-3 4’ 6" 13 Spoke Driving Wheel for a UK loco, which works out to the equivalent of 48.314" in Fn3. So I ordered a wheelset with a gauge-1 (45mm) axle instead of the usual g-3.

#2

Hmmm… Let’s try the photos again.

The wheels are a tight fit on the axles, but the countersunk screw will force them on square. There’s a pic of a wheel with the crankpin loosely screwed in the front. They provide the threaded pin with a brass sleeve.

For those interested, the dimensions are as follows:
[note +/- 0.005" ! I’m not that good with a micrometer.]
back-to-back: 1.578"
crank throw: 0.45"
diameter over tread: 2.38" (which is 48.314" in Fn3)
width: 0.275"
flange: 0.090"

The tires/tyres are stainless steel, which makes the wheels quite expensive - about $60/set. However, we are talking to Slaters about making some tires exactly 48" in Fn3 using mild steel and they should be a more reasonable price.

#3

Pete has worked hard with slaters to put a tire package together and they have worked closely with him to get me and Kevin a tire made that is very close to prototype at a very reasonable price.

Thanks Pete for the leg work and a great find for large fn3 drivers.

#4

Thems right pretty.

#5

What material are the centers made of?

#6

Joe Zullo said:

What material are the centers made of?

Brass.

#7

Pete I think he meant the wheels not the bushing, I could be wrong but that’s how I read it.

#8

It sounds like the molded spokes etc are glass filled nylon. Pretty dog-on strong but not heat proof for live steam.

#9

I like the idea of square axle ends. That would eliminate wheels going out of quarter. I have wondered why certain other manufacturers didn’t/don’t do that.

#10

Devon Sinsley said:

Pete I think he meant the wheels not the bushing, I could be wrong but that’s how I read it.

Devon,

You are reading me correctly. I mean the wheels. Nylon would be good as it would provide insulation for track powered railroads.

#11

Pete,

Is the counter weight in this picture a piece of tape or what?

#12

Metal wheels are usually insulated between the tires and the wheel. When the tires are applied by the traditional method of heat expanding the rims and letting them cool/shrink in place it’s fairly easy to insert a heat resistant insulator.

I expect to cast my first bronze castings within a month… those tires on metal wheels of your design … ie; number of spokes and size of counter weights …

We might be able to modify my hf drill press into a wheel assemblerextraordinarycommon doohicky.

John

#13

wheel assemblerextraordinarycommon doohicky.

A.K.A. wheel press?

#14

I’ll answer for Pete the counterweight is paper to stimulate where one would need to be placed

#15

Thanks Devon,

I didn’t think it looked right. (http://largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-wink.gif)

#16

David Maynard said:

wheel assemblerextraordinarycommon doohicky.

A.K.A. wheel press?

2 comments;

  1. Wow you read the whole post!

  2. I got that $12 word from ebay just for you (http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-wink.gif)

#17

Devon Sinsley said:
I’ll answer for Pete the counterweight is paper to stimulate where one would need to be placed

Counter weight sizes depended on the side rods. The main driver also carries half of the drive rod, so it usually has the largest counter weight.

#18

John Caughey said:

Devon Sinsley said:
I’ll answer for Pete the counterweight is paper to stimulate where one would need to be placed

Counter weight sizes depended on the side rods. The main driver also carries half of the drive rod, so it usually has the largest counter weight.

Yeah - that counter weight didn’t look right. I pressed too hard when gluing it! The size of that one is off my drawing of EBT #14’s wheels.

As Eric says, they are mostly nylon wheel centers and not suitable for live steam. Slaters told me they put the rim and center bush in a master die with the spoke die and inject the nylon. There’s a groove under the inside of the rim to hold it from side pressure. They are quite expensive, so we need some currency fluctuations.

#19

John Caughey said:

David Maynard said:

wheel assemblerextraordinarycommon doohicky.

A.K.A. wheel press?

2 comments;

  1. Wow you read the whole post!

  2. I got that $12 word from ebay just for you (http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-wink.gif)

1, aren’t I supposed to?

  1. Just for me? I didn’t know I was that special.
#20

David Maynard said:

John Caughey said:

David Maynard said:

wheel assemblerextraordinarycommon doohicky.

A.K.A. wheel press?

2 comments;

  1. Wow you read the whole post!

  2. I got that $12 word from ebay just for you (http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-wink.gif)

1, aren’t I supposed to?

  1. Just for me? I didn’t know I was that special.

1.At times it seems folks only read the subject [No names]…

  1. Yes there is something Special about you… (http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-cool.gif)