I bought a couple of old stock Dundas wagons (DM2 & 16) and they have white metal cast under frames and wheels with nylon(?) axles.
Is there anything that I need to know before I assemble these, please?
I have a vague idea that I read something about easing axle boxes with a small drill but I am not sure if that advice was for plastic rather than white metal.
Any other advice for smoothing running of kit and rtf wagons is most welcome.
Thank you in advance.
If they have the white metal chassis they really are old stock!
A couple of thoughts/pointers from me:
Make sure that the top edges of the solebars (the underframe side pieces) are flat without any casting flash, and try to smooth any unevenness so that the top edge is at right angles to the W irons (the bits holding the bearings).
You may need to take a drill to the axle boxes, but from what I can recall of building a couple of these (20+ years ago?) it doesn't need much, just a turn or 2 to smooth out any casting roughness.
You could try fitting the original Peco Nylon wheel sets, but considering the age of the kit the moulded wheel sets of this vintage may not be fully compatible with modern points, and you may want to replace them with something a bit more up to date with a steel axle and metal tyres, and this is probably easier to do before the solebars are stuck to the wagon floor (replacing them after without taking one of the solebars off may risk breaking the axle boxes off).
When it comes to fitting the solebars to the floor make sure that the axles are both parallel to one another and that they are at right angles to the solebars to get the best running.
Finally, if you are not too keen on the white metal chassis Dundas also released a later edition of these kits with a plastic underframe, catalog no. DM05
Quote from: JulienW on February 26, 2021, 16:37
A couple of thoughts/pointers from me:
You could try fitting the original Peco Nylon wheel sets, but considering the age of the kit the moulded wheel sets of this vintage may not be fully compatible with modern points, and you may want to replace them with something a bit more up to date
Finally, if you are not too keen on the white metal chassis Dundas also released a later edition of these kits with a plastic underframe, catalog no. DM05
Thanks for the help. If I change the wheels rather than the chassis do you know a good place to get wheels, please?
Quote from: Derek Clark on February 26, 2021, 19:27
Thanks for the help. If I change the wheels rather than the chassis do you know a good place to get wheels, please?
I buy mine from Dundas itself.
https://dundasmodels.co.uk/webstore/index.php/hikashop-menu-for-module-108/category/511-dundas-models-009-wheels-bearings
I haven't tried them yet but have only heard good things about the wheelsets made by the Greenwich MRC, which are also available from Dundas.
https://dundasmodels.co.uk/webstore/index.php/hikashop-menu-for-module-108/category/505-greenwich-couplings-accessories
Dundas have a range here (https://dundasmodels.co.uk/webstore/index.php/hikashop-menu-for-module-108/category/511-dundas-models-009-wheels-bearings), and Narrow Planet (https://www.lightrailwaystores.co.uk/collections/all/wheels) also carry some.
Off the top of my head I can't recall the diameter of the Peco wheels is - it may be 6 and a bit mm across the tread (the flat bit, not the size over the flange), but you'd be advised to check first before ordering to confirm my suspicions.
Edit: Stephen posted whilst I was typing the above. Whilst I've not tried the new(er) Greenwich wheels the samples I have seen do look nice and have a thinner profile. The Markits ones are more like the earlier metal-tyred wheels Dundas sold, though they may have unblackened (brass) tyres (if they do a black permanent marker will sort that out).
I will keep the white metal castings - they will add to the weight - and Greenwich 6.2mm wheels should do the job.
Thank you both.
I phoned Dundas and a very nice and helpful chap helped me out.
The wheels were here in a couple of days.
Thanks all.