Need a spoked 28” wheel

[craigolio1]

Hey all.

I’m gathering details for the next steam loco project I want to do and I need lead and trailing trucks that have 28” spoked wheels.

I searched the web and found Peco and Kato have spoked wheels but they appear to be a regular 33” size.

@CNR5529 found these and I have inquired as to what the diameter is:

https://gophermodels.com.au/products/bnwsp8

2mm Association has 6.4mm but 28” is close to 4.5mm.

Can anyone lead me to a spoked wheel that I could use?

Thanks.

Craig.

[garethashenden]

I bet those are 36” wheels, or similar.

Do you have a lathe? It’s a straightforward project with a disk wheel and a piercing saw. Turn the wheel, then use a piecing saw to cut out two semicircles leaving one spoke through the center of the wheel. Then fill in the other spokes with styrene.

[Lemosteam]

Thought an old Minitrix Decapod leading axle might work but it measures 5.29mm.

[craigolio1]

I bet those are 36” wheels, or similar.

Do you have a lathe? It’s a straightforward project with a disk wheel and a piercing saw. Turn the wheel, then use a piecing saw to cut out two semicircles leaving one spoke through the center of the wheel. Then fill in the other spokes with styrene.

I don’t have a lathe. I do have a friend with every machine tool you could have. He builds cars and makes his own parts. He has a lathe. But he doesn’t typically do much that’s this precise. Although he did cut grooves in two locomotive wheels for traction tires. It’s worth checking in with him.

Craig.

[turbowhiz]

You can replicate what I did on this custom 38’ wheel. I drilled out a commercial wheel with a basic drill press (chucking the wheel, the drill bit in the vice method to ensure it was concentric) and I just printed a spoked insert. It’s tricky to get the sizing just right, but totally doable and you should be able to perfectly model the prototype wheel in question.

[CNR5529]

That looks incredible. I need to do this to my mogul too!!

[craigolio1]

You can replicate what I did on this custom 38’ wheel. I drilled out a commercial wheel with a basic drill press (chucking the wheel, the drill bit in the vice method to ensure it was concentric) and I just printed a spoked insert. It’s tricky to get the sizing just right, but totally doable and you should be able to perfectly model the prototype wheel in question.

I litterally had this discussion with my lathe friend and @CNR5529 about an hour ago. That looks awesome. And is happening! 

Craig

[craigolio1]

So everyone sees the wheel I’m after. It’s the loco in discussing in this thread, page 5…

https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=38144.60



Craig

[Chris333]

Those MDC/Athearn 2-6-0 and 2-8-0's have a small spoked wheel:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/GkzLCszfoS8gMPEJ8

[craigolio1]

Those MDC/Athearn 2-6-0 and 2-8-0's have a small spoked wheel:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/GkzLCszfoS8gMPEJ8

Oh interesting.  Thank you.  I wonder if a phone call to Athearn parts department would yield a couple of them.

[peteski]

Oh interesting.  Thank you.  I wonder if a phone call to Athearn parts department would yield a couple of them.

They are very helpful and friendly to talk to (at least they were when I bought bunch of Big Boy parts).

[BCR 570]

Those MDC/Athearn 2-6-0 and 2-8-0's have a small spoked wheel:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/GkzLCszfoS8gMPEJ8

Anyone know the driver size on the Athearn 2-8-0?

Tim

[Tad_T]

A caliper on my MDC reads .31”. ~50”

[peteski]

Fleischmann has a huge selection of N scale steam locos and spare parts for them.  I suspect that some of the spares would yield what is needed here.  The only drawback is the deep flanges, and of course the dimensions of the wheels are unknown unless someone actually measures them for you.

[craigolio1]

Deja Vu!  We discussed this in the thread I linked to above where I was asking how we might model this loco. We landed on the MDC is too large and widely spaced. I ended up getting a Fleischman BR80 which is very close and what I’m moving forward with for now.

Craig.