The new Bachmann Farish class 108 DMU (top) is one fine looking model and they’re selling like hot cakes if the information I have is correct.
Mine, in green of course, arrived last Wednesday courtesy of my local model shop and I set to straight away to dismantle with a view to fine scaling it.
Basically, to fine scale ‘N’ gauge diesel wheelsets it is really only necessary to reduce the wheel width/thickness at the flange, the depth of the flange and adjust the back to back dimension to suit our standards. Sometimes it may be desirable to reduce the width/thickness of the tread and in fact some folk insist upon it but it makes the job so much quicker and easier if it is only done when absolutely necessary. There are two different types of wheel on this model which presents something different for the ‘would be’ home wheel turner. The picture above shows the two different types of wheels. On the left is one of the bogies with the stub axles fitted and on the right the power bogie. The machining is obvious.
Mine, in green of course, arrived last Wednesday courtesy of my local model shop and I set to straight away to dismantle with a view to fine scaling it.
Basically, to fine scale ‘N’ gauge diesel wheelsets it is really only necessary to reduce the wheel width/thickness at the flange, the depth of the flange and adjust the back to back dimension to suit our standards. Sometimes it may be desirable to reduce the width/thickness of the tread and in fact some folk insist upon it but it makes the job so much quicker and easier if it is only done when absolutely necessary. There are two different types of wheel on this model which presents something different for the ‘would be’ home wheel turner. The picture above shows the two different types of wheels. On the left is one of the bogies with the stub axles fitted and on the right the power bogie. The machining is obvious.
Above - the machining operation is quite simple and straightforward and only takes a few minutes. All that is needed is a collet to hold the wheel by its tread and some means of measuring exactly how much material is being removed. In this case there is a standard collet available for Peatol lathe which fits the bill perfectly. It can be seen what part of the wheel needs machining off. The wheel on the left is almost finished while that on the right has already been done, as can probably be seen by the sharpness of the flange. My method of reducing the depth of the flange is to gently touch the right wheel with some very fine emery paper. It also takes off that 'sharp' edge. Even leaving slightly more than the 2mm Scale Association standard .5mm flange depth there has has been no fouling of chairs on Easitrac trackwork.
1 comment:
Might be obvious in the original pictures (middle picture of wheelsets / bogies), but far from obvious in the compressed small picture on the blog. I can barely see anything ! And its not a link to a better picture.
The first picture can be enlarged and suggests its a very long distance cross-pennine service operating from Wansbeck Road :-)
- Nigel
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