Don't suppose you have thought about using paper clips for the wire? Just wondering if that would be a good solution as the wire in them is certainly bendy!
How to make pickup wheels
- Thread starter Simon Potter
- Start date
I think that what you need is SPRINGINESS, not bendiness.... you don't want a wire that will bend easily and stay bent, because that won't keep good contact - you want it nice and springy so that the spring pressure maintains a good contact on the wheel-backs.
Jon.
As Jon says, it needs to stay in contact. Another problem would be that paperclips are steel with micro plating. No doubt they can be soldered using Bakers Flux - because it is far better to solder the connecting wires on.
Virtually all the wheelsets you might use are cast metal (like Mazak - monkey metal) although the Accucraft ones appear to be turned metal - never thought of testing for which metal - but the wheel profile and diameter does not suit all railways.
Even with the half hard brass they sometimes need adjustment - not too much of a problem for me as there are eight contact points ensuring continuity!
As said, the best pick-ups are the ball bearing wheelsets! But a pair of wheelsets buys me a Bachmann or Aristo freight car or even a carriage!
I'll do a simple drawing showing the basic bent up shape. Bear with me!
If you are grouping coaches
Consider....
Springing for lgb electrical ball bearing wheels, one set, not cheap, and the running a tether between cars. I tend to make the most often used car, like a baggage van, the power car. In days of old, with the starter coaches, i used the 3019 post car. The BB wheels are pricey, but, offer a lot less drag, especially on longer trains and grades and curves.
As mentioned above, Tethering and wire connectors, like the old marklin /lgb style plugs, or the new, are not convenient, but they work, and save a lot of cost. The loco with an outlet is cheapest. If you group, the loco can uncouple, run around etc.
While i understand saving money, the lgb metal wheels, even non ball bearing, with double plungers, are reliable and last years. Yes, they can flicker a bit. I mention the obvious because they are not fiddly, and that seems to be a consideration for you. Having rigged pick up on n scale and...z, and, a single lgb item, its difficult to do well. Harder with low drag.
Btw, There are also electrical plans for cars that use track pick up, and rechargeable AAs which keep the lights on when track voltage drops.
I imagine one could install track shoes, like those on locos. Havent thought that one out, and i imagine they would be rather obvious visually. Things that slide on the track have great pick up, and, drawbacks too.
Best of luck.
Consider....
Springing for lgb electrical ball bearing wheels, one set, not cheap, and the running a tether between cars. I tend to make the most often used car, like a baggage van, the power car. In days of old, with the starter coaches, i used the 3019 post car. The BB wheels are pricey, but, offer a lot less drag, especially on longer trains and grades and curves.
As mentioned above, Tethering and wire connectors, like the old marklin /lgb style plugs, or the new, are not convenient, but they work, and save a lot of cost. The loco with an outlet is cheapest. If you group, the loco can uncouple, run around etc.
While i understand saving money, the lgb metal wheels, even non ball bearing, with double plungers, are reliable and last years. Yes, they can flicker a bit. I mention the obvious because they are not fiddly, and that seems to be a consideration for you. Having rigged pick up on n scale and...z, and, a single lgb item, its difficult to do well. Harder with low drag.
Btw, There are also electrical plans for cars that use track pick up, and rechargeable AAs which keep the lights on when track voltage drops.
I imagine one could install track shoes, like those on locos. Havent thought that one out, and i imagine they would be rather obvious visually. Things that slide on the track have great pick up, and, drawbacks too.
Best of luck.
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I've mentioned this before on other threads: when I fitted extra pickups to the trailing wheels of my little Chloe and Olomana locos I used what I call "roller-bullets", the sprung roller pickups used by Bachmann on the Davenport and other locos such as the Rail Truck.
These were the ones extracted from a Davenport, which needed to be separated for use on the LGB locos as described here
https://www.gscalecentral.net/threads/extra-pickups-for-lgb-chloe.130453/
Later on I got hold of a bunch of spare roller-bullets from Bachmann spares during one of their spare part sales.
http://estore.bachmanntrains.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=66_69_138&products_id=5205
These were the ones extracted from a Davenport, which needed to be separated for use on the LGB locos as described here
https://www.gscalecentral.net/threads/extra-pickups-for-lgb-chloe.130453/
Later on I got hold of a bunch of spare roller-bullets from Bachmann spares during one of their spare part sales.
http://estore.bachmanntrains.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=66_69_138&products_id=5205
And whilst your at it, why not add a red Led (flashing type) to the end of train coach.
My 10 car rake of RhB 3063 coaches have a ball-raced pick up bogie at each end with interlinking to each coach with prewired mini plugs & each roof has a strip of Leds (yellow) glued into the roof underside and is connected to the wiring under the chassis via a mini Plug & socket hidden in the toilet compartment, this also makes each roof interchangeable. Each coach is also removable so that the rake can be adjusted to suit the seasons requirements.
Another plus is when you park up at a station with the loco on an isolation section,
all the coaches remain lit whilst your small people alight.
Hold on a moment, I'll just pop down to Norridge Central with my camera, where a short train is awaiting it's duty loco.
*************************************
You all still there, goody, here are a few pic, they may help.
Enjoy.
John.
My 10 car rake of RhB 3063 coaches have a ball-raced pick up bogie at each end with interlinking to each coach with prewired mini plugs & each roof has a strip of Leds (yellow) glued into the roof underside and is connected to the wiring under the chassis via a mini Plug & socket hidden in the toilet compartment, this also makes each roof interchangeable. Each coach is also removable so that the rake can be adjusted to suit the seasons requirements.
Another plus is when you park up at a station with the loco on an isolation section,
all the coaches remain lit whilst your small people alight.
Hold on a moment, I'll just pop down to Norridge Central with my camera, where a short train is awaiting it's duty loco.
*************************************
You all still there, goody, here are a few pic, they may help.
Enjoy.
John.
Off-the shelf PIKO wheels with power pick-ups + LED strips + large capacitor = perfect results.
More info here: http://my-miniature-worlds.blogspot.com/2015/08/custom-interior-lighting-in-g-scale.html
More info here: http://my-miniature-worlds.blogspot.com/2015/08/custom-interior-lighting-in-g-scale.html
Try....
LGB 67403 Ball Bearing Wheel Set Metal, 2 Pieces at Dragon G Scale....£24.99.
Kev
Out of stock unfortunately! But thanks for posting. I couldn't believe the Piko proces though!
Ouch you can say that again £43.50 at Gaugemaster. Available in different sizes though 30mm and 35mm. May be of use. No doubt that there will be slightly better deals available.
http://www.gaugemaster.com/search_r...~~brand+scale~~%ACg%AC%7E~scale¤tpage=7
JonD
Piko version discounted to just under 35 squid at Top Slots'n'trains, who always seem to be very keen on pricing for Piko stuff - still a lot more than LGB ones, but not as bad as Gaugemaster's list price.....
http://www.topslotsntrains.com/tops...PICKUPS-&id=13630&manufacturer='PIKO G Scale'
Jon.
If you email Jeremy he will still be able to get the stock I believe....I just ordered a load of metal wheels from him and they were also listed as out of stock.
Kev