I think you missed my point I was talking about the space taken (by the plastic insulation)mand the space left for the Valve Gear which will be inside the frames.
Accucraft Dolgoch for 2019 in 1:19 Scale
- Thread starter Hugh Napier
- Start date
You only need dirty great chunks of plastic if you're doing adjustable gauge. Accy said that it would be either / or - not adjustable. You can have insulated wheels with minimal obstruction
(look at Accy US models)
Aha my experience is with the roundhouse Insulated Wheels and indeed they are adjustable. These will not be somthe issue remains confusing.You only need dirty great chunks of plastic if you're doing adjustable gauge. Accy said that it would be either / or - not adjustable. You can have insulated wheels with minimal obstruction
It's not just a question of the material being used - but also one of the physical design of the wheel fixing itself.
Back in the good old days, when it was still possible to manufacture high quality model railway items in China (good for us that is - not the poor Chinese workers!) Accucraft made some of their axles to a three diameter design with splines to locate the insulating bush. This worked reasonably well until economic considerations led to them to delete the splines which meant that the wheel fixing was no longer as secure.
The next detrimental change was to go from a three diameter design to a two diameter design which then meant that the bore of the locating bush was now, neccessarily, the same as the bearing diameter. This again reduced the security of the fixing since the bore of the bush could not be made large enough if they were to maintain a reasonable bearing diameter..
Fortunately - when Accucraft Au. commissioned the NA class loco, they specified that the wheels should be insulated between the tyre and the rim of the wheel itself - which has proven to be a totaly reliable solution to the problem - although not a very practical one for the low cost loco under disscussion here.
One of the many advantages of using tyre/rim insulation is that you only need to insulate one wheel on each axle - provided of course that you remember to reassemble the loco with all the insulated wheels on the same side ....
Sir, it must be some time since you looked underneath an Accucraft Beyer-Garratt locomotive with the space between the frames literally crammed with tubes, pipes and wiring - AND insulated wheels, too. All capable of being re-gauged to 32mm. I did it just once, to run on a pal's 32mm gauge track, and swore never to do it again.
Have to admit my only experience is with Roundhouse, Regner and Peter Angus Locomotives. All have insulated wheels, all regaugable except for my Roundhouse that have been fitted with SloMo’s. All 3 types have large Bosses inside that could effect Inside Valve Gear hence my original comments.
As for regauging, I can imagine a Garrett being a pain to do, many will not even attack Roundhouse which are simplicity itself on 3 and 2 axles types. Came across this in the 16mm Society where many would not attend my Open Days in Luton because they could not or would not run on 45mm die to the hastle of swopping Wheel Guge. Their loss.
I find that Accucraft are simpler to regauge as they have at least their driving axles drilled with "spots" for the wheels' grub screw retainers to seat into, centred on the axle at the correct gauge for 32 or 45 mm. Roundhouse on the other hand require a bit of centering by eye and judicious use of their supplied gauge plate, there are no "spots" in the axle and the plastic collars (on my 0-4-0 Darj') that the grub screws are threaded through are prone to stripping. An accucraft NG/G16 is a synch to regauge compared to and RH. But then RH products are a dream to run - can't have everything.
I suppose it depends on which area group you are with in the 16 mm NGM. The Northants group have a fair smattering of 45 mm operators (whisper it, a few with LGB code 332 built tracks not just Peco code 250 G45) I usually take my W&L Countess or the Darj' to 32 mm lines. Hosts invariably have a rake of stock for use of visitors. Nice inclusive lot we are here in Northants Jon
Be careful of Accucraft re-gauging, my Lynn has dimples but they are not quite in the right spot for 3mm gauge. TBH, someone set it up correctlyfor 3mm and I've not moved it since! (It's too large for my 45 mm gauge at home, so it's a travelling loco only)I find that Accucraft are simpler to regauge as they have at least their driving axles drilled with "spots" for the wheels' grub screw retainers to seat into, centred on the axle at the correct gauge for 32 or 45 mm. Roundhouse on the other hand require a bit of centering by eye and judicious use of their supplied gauge plate, there are no "spots" in the axle and the plastic collars (on my 0-4-0 Darj') that the grub screws are threaded through are prone to stripping. An accucraft NG/G16 is a synch to regauge compared to and RH. But then RH products are a dream to run - can't have everything.
I suppose it depends on which area group you are with in the 16 mm NGM. The Northants group have a fair smattering of 45 mm operators (whisper it, a few with LGB code 332 built tracks not just Peco code 250 G45) I usually take my W&L Countess or the Darj' to 32 mm lines. Hosts invariably have a rake of stock for use of visitors. Nice inclusive lot we are here in Northants Jon
Yes I went to Alan Regan’s do last year and very fine it was as well, you were present as well. Had intended to go this year but somehow missed the day. Not too far for me to go either many of the Northants Meetings.I find that Accucraft are simpler to regauge as they have at least their driving axles drilled with "spots" for the wheels' grub screw retainers to seat into, centred on the axle at the correct gauge for 32 or 45 mm. Roundhouse on the other hand require a bit of centering by eye and judicious use of their supplied gauge plate, there are no "spots" in the axle and the plastic collars (on my 0-4-0 Darj') that the grub screws are threaded through are prone to stripping. An accucraft NG/G16 is a synch to regauge compared to and RH. But then RH products are a dream to run - can't have everything.
I suppose it depends on which area group you are with in the 16 mm NGM. The Northants group have a fair smattering of 45 mm operators (whisper it, a few with LGB code 332 built tracks not just Peco code 250 G45) I usually take my W&L Countess or the Darj' to 32 mm lines. Hosts invariably have a rake of stock for use of visitors. Nice inclusive lot we are here in Northants Jon
Blimey, Paul, that's a pretty radical change of gauge.... mind it doesn't fall over!
(Yes, I know it's a typo, but I just couldn't resist.....)
Jon.
Northants group? Do tell - we live not far from the border, near Huntingdon. I've got lots of stuff to run on a 45mm gauge track. I'm in the 16mm Assoc, G-scale Soc and G1MRA.
16mm Society, you will find details in the Bulletin Page 19 latest Nov 2018 issue. Just missed the last Open Garden of the Year at Desborough (32 and 45mm) on the 9th December. I never made it though intended to!
Fortunately you're right about the typo!Blimey, Paul, that's a pretty radical change of gauge.... mind it doesn't fall over!
(Yes, I know it's a typo, but I just couldn't resist.....)
Jon.
