TheRailwire

General Discussion => Product Discussion => Topic started by: bbussey on August 01, 2023, 12:19:44 PM

Title: ESM #920401 - 38" /.553" WHEEL *** PRE-RELEASE OPTION ***
Post by: bbussey on August 01, 2023, 12:19:44 PM
All,

Machining new wheel/axle combinations isn't a financial hardship.  The production run is where the cost starts to climb.  I've emailed my contractor to advise what the minimum would be for a bulk run (no clamshell packaging) of wheelsets.  I'm willing to machine the 38" wheel early and make it available for those who wish to upgrade their PD3500 hoppers.  I need to upgrade mine and I'm willing to share the privilege.  Assume that the cost per axle will be the MSRP of the standard ESM packs divided by 12, as there will be a cost penalty for a short run.  Please post here in this thread how many axles you wish.  The wheel eventually will be released as a standard item, as #920401.  Whether that happens early next year or later is up in the air, but there's a possibility it will be introduced when the next GSC Well Car run is released next year, along with the 28"/.540" wheelsets and the retrofitted ASF truck frame.

Once I have the minimum manufacturing quantity, I will post it here.  Figure that August 15 will be the cutoff date.


Final total:

40  Bryan B
48  Scott L
48  Daniel
16  Ed K
12  Pete
??  Ben
20  Philip H
40  Chris S
12  Harry
24  Jeff B
24  Jeff L
24  Mark H
20  Michael L
64  Stu
36  Alvin
16  Jim
16  Samusi01
48  cgw
-------------
528 axles

*** PRICING / LEAD TIME BELOW ***

Title: Re: ESM #920401 - 38" /.553" WHEEL *** PRE-RELEASE OPTION ***
Post by: Ed Kapuscinski on August 01, 2023, 12:48:27 PM
I only got three cars.
I like having spares.

So... 16 axles for me.
Title: Re: ESM #920401 - 38" /.553" WHEEL *** PRE-RELEASE OPTION ***
Post by: peteski on August 01, 2023, 01:40:34 PM
38" would be close to the size used on European prototype rolling stock.  I would like to get a sample.  How about 12 axles for me.
Title: Re: ESM #920401 - 38" /.553" WHEEL *** PRE-RELEASE OPTION ***
Post by: jagged ben on August 01, 2023, 04:28:12 PM
38" is also the size for the articulated truck axles on most double stack cars.  So I might be interested in a number for that.  I will have to make a count and consider the axle size.
Title: Re: ESM #920401 - 38" /.553" WHEEL *** PRE-RELEASE OPTION ***
Post by: Philip H on August 01, 2023, 04:40:46 PM
I'd probably be in for 16-20 axles, both for my Rapido PD's and some of my European N scale . . . .
Title: Re: ESM #920401 - 38" /.553" WHEEL *** PRE-RELEASE OPTION ***
Post by: peteski on August 01, 2023, 04:42:41 PM
I don't have any of my European models handy so I'm not sure how the axle length will work with them. They usually have fairly long axles, so 0.553" might be just right.
Title: Re: ESM #920401 - 38" /.553" WHEEL *** PRE-RELEASE OPTION ***
Post by: Chris333 on August 01, 2023, 05:16:59 PM
I could do about 40ish axles to play with in HOn30.
Title: Re: ESM #920401 - 38" /.553" WHEEL *** PRE-RELEASE OPTION ***
Post by: learmoia on August 01, 2023, 06:44:22 PM
Merlin at Caboose Stop once told me a funny story..

Precision Scale once did a run of high detail custom machined wheel sets in 2 Rail O scale.. (don't recall if it was O or On3), and they were marketing them in packs of 4 axles for like $30 a pack.

So Merlin ordered "200" (thinking he was ordering 200 packs).... the lady at Precision Scale was a bit shocked but said OK.

Several months later he got a box of 50 packs of wheels and thought.. What the heck they shorted me.....

So he called Precision Scale:

Merlin: Hey you shorted me on these wheelsets.

Precision Scale: You ordered 200, I think thats what we sent.

Merlin: Yeah.. 200 Packs.. you sent 200 axles..

Precision Scale: Oh, you wanted 200 PACKS?!?..........(long pause).......  We didn't make that many.  :|

Merlin: Well, can you send me everything you have left?

Precision Scale: Yep..

Title: Re: ESM #920401 - 38" /.553" WHEEL *** PRE-RELEASE OPTION ***
Post by: Snark45 on August 01, 2023, 09:36:01 PM
Hi Bryan

I would like 12 axles.

Many thanks, Harry
Title: Re: ESM #920401 - 38" /.553" WHEEL *** PRE-RELEASE OPTION ***
Post by: JeffB on August 02, 2023, 11:11:12 AM
I'd be interested in 24 axles worth...

FYI...  This size is just about 6mm.  The 009 (British HOn30) guys would probably be interested if you wanted to bulk up the order.  Just advertise the possibility on one of the UK NG forums.

Jeff
Title: Re: ESM #920401 - 38" /.553" WHEEL *** PRE-RELEASE OPTION ***
Post by: ai5629 on August 02, 2023, 11:42:43 AM
Bryan,

Please put me down for 24 axles.  Thanks.

Jeff
Title: Re: ESM #920401 - 38" /.553" WHEEL *** PRE-RELEASE OPTION ***
Post by: bbussey on August 02, 2023, 01:25:00 PM
...  This size is just about 6mm.  The 009 (British HOn30) guys would probably be interested if you wanted to bulk up the order.  Just advertise the possibility on one of the UK NG forums.

This will be just a quick sample run. The real production retail run will be sometime next year.
Title: Re: ESM #920401 - 38" /.553" WHEEL *** PRE-RELEASE OPTION ***
Post by: JeffB on August 02, 2023, 05:39:07 PM
This will be just a quick sample run. The real production retail run will be sometime next year.

Got it...  Thanks Brian.  The comment still stands though.  I think that the UK 009 narrow gauge crowd would find these wheelsets useful.

Jeff
Title: Re: ESM #920401 - 38" /.553" WHEEL *** PRE-RELEASE OPTION ***
Post by: daniel_leavitt2000 on August 02, 2023, 11:07:20 PM
Are there any other cars these would be appropriate for? Would they be on articulated double stacks besides what Kato made?

If these were on the Walthers or DI well cars, I'll need a lot more.
Title: Re: ESM #920401 - 38" /.553" WHEEL *** PRE-RELEASE OPTION ***
Post by: sundowner on August 02, 2023, 11:51:42 PM
Di MaxinIII used the same axle spacing as Kato’s Maxis.
Title: Re: ESM #920401 - 38" /.553" WHEEL *** PRE-RELEASE OPTION ***
Post by: bbussey on August 02, 2023, 11:56:35 PM
Are there any other cars these would be appropriate for? Would they be on articulated double stacks besides what Kato made?

If these were on the Walthers or DI well cars, I'll need a lot more.

I don't know, you'd have to measure the axles.  Kato axles tend to be on the long side.  Deluxe well cars ran on 33" wheels if I remember correctly, as they were designed originally to run on MTL trucks.
Title: Re: ESM #920401 - 38" /.553" WHEEL *** PRE-RELEASE OPTION ***
Post by: haasmarc on August 03, 2023, 11:16:11 AM
I'll take 24.
Title: Re: ESM #920401 - 38" /.553" WHEEL *** PRE-RELEASE OPTION ***
Post by: daniel_leavitt2000 on August 04, 2023, 05:00:07 PM
Bump me up to 48. If these are used for Maxi-Stacks, I'll need a few.
Title: Re: ESM #920401 - 38" /.553" WHEEL *** PRE-RELEASE OPTION ***
Post by: thbguy on August 07, 2023, 04:29:56 PM
I’ll take 20 axles. Never know when you need a slightly different size.

Thank you,
Michael
Title: Re: ESM #920401 - 38" /.553" WHEEL *** PRE-RELEASE OPTION ***
Post by: cgw on August 07, 2023, 05:38:27 PM
you can put me down for 64 axels.   
Title: Re: ESM #920401 - 38" /.553" WHEEL *** PRE-RELEASE OPTION ***
Post by: Wutter on August 07, 2023, 05:57:52 PM
I'll take 36 axles
Title: Re: ESM #920401 - 38" /.553" WHEEL *** PRE-RELEASE OPTION ***
Post by: Lemosteam on August 08, 2023, 05:15:12 AM
Anybody know if these size wheels on any mid-50's PRR cars? If yes, I might be able to support the cause.  With all of the truck classes I have designed, I don't think I have come across any 38" wheels in my era.
Title: Re: ESM #920401 - 38" /.553" WHEEL *** PRE-RELEASE OPTION ***
Post by: Jim Starbuck on August 08, 2023, 06:57:07 AM
I think these would work nicely on some of my chassis builds.
I’m in for 16 axles.
Title: Re: ESM #920401 - 38" /.553" WHEEL *** PRE-RELEASE OPTION ***
Post by: samusi01 on August 09, 2023, 10:17:42 PM
Put me down for 16; now I need to figure out a 6'0" wheelbase roller bearing truck that these will fit into.
Title: Re: ESM #920401 - 38" /.553" WHEEL *** PRE-RELEASE OPTION ***
Post by: cgw on August 13, 2023, 09:30:13 AM
Pease put me down for 48 axels.      Thanks for setting this up.
Title: Re: ESM #920401 - 38" /.553" WHEEL *** PRE-RELEASE OPTION ***
Post by: bbussey on August 17, 2023, 12:00:54 AM
I'm submitting the order tonight.  I'll gather the emails for everyone I don't have when we get a ship date.  Production runs take 10 weeks from order to receipt.  This is being accepted as a sample run, even though the quantity is larger than expected, so the timeframe should be shorter.  They may even arrive before the gondolas, which are scheduled to arrive mid -September.  Watch this thread for updates.
Title: Re: ESM #920401 - 38" /.553" WHEEL *** PRE-RELEASE OPTION ***
Post by: bbussey on August 17, 2023, 01:38:29 AM
PRICE AND LEAD TIME:

Price per axle:  $1.10
Lead Time:  4 weeks
Shipping:  1st Class USPS Exact Cost (padded envelopes most likely)

So expect the wheels to be here mid/late September.