Hi all
Has anyone any experience in building the Golden Arrow 4mm scale kits for the two Southwold locomotives, I am planning to build them in 12mm gauge, any tips would be appreciated especially if anyone knows of a source of 12mm gauge 10mm diameter driving wheels.
Thanks
Barry
I can't help with any building tips, but for the wheel sets you could try looking at the 3 mm scale market. Your 'starter for 10' (though perhaps that should be '12'?) would be 3 mm Scale Model Railways, also known as 3mm SMR (https://www.3smr.co.uk/wheelstock.html) (link should take you to the 'wheels in stock' page), and you could also try Markits (http://www.markits.com/default.html) who I think now do the Romford wheels, but the website seems to be 'under construction' at the moment so you may need to look at the downloadable 2013 catalogue and 'phone or e-mail.
The issue may be getting driving wheels (ones with crankpins) that are 10mm (or 3' 4") diameter.
The final suggestion would be if you can access the 3 mm Society's sales (either via a friend who is a member or by joining for 12 months - which might be useful for other bits!) to see what's available there. I've just had a look at their price list (available here (https://sites.google.com/site/3mmpublic/products/price-list)) and the smallest driver they list is a 10.5 mm 10 spoke job (a 'Fine Scale' wheel, but I'm not sure if that would work with Peco HOm track for example). The other thought would be the 11mm diameter wheels that Alan Gibson list in their catalogue (4 mm scale for a Hudswell Clarke) bout could be pushed into 12 mm gauge and the axles cut to length.
Unfortunately my usual suggestion of using rolling stock (wagon, coach, tender, etc.) wheels will not work as the Southwold locos had inside frames so you need crankpins rather than the outside cranks I use on my Lough Swilly locos.
Julien, thanks for your suggestions, I had already looked at the 3SMR site and I am already a member of the 3mm Society and have used their SQ wheels on two of my IOM locos successfully, I think the scale wheels are a non starter with Peco track. I put a post on the 3mm group site earlier today and some 10.5mm diameter wheels with crankpins have been secured so it looks like this project is a "goer".
Hi Barry.
Just had the 3mm virtual group e-mail digest with your request - nice to see someone else 'cross-scaling', and it's useful to know about the SQ wheels for the IOM locos as at some point I'll like to have a go at one, suitability modified to one of the Ballymena 2-4-0 tanks.
Just to add some info.
I've just been poking around the Phoenix Precision Paints website and discovered that they sell Sharman Wheels. I'd been wondering what had become of them and have found that they have the 9mm spoked driving wheels and 10mm drives with spokes and disc centres this should be a link (https://www.phoenix-paints.co.uk/products/sharman-wheels/the-millimetre-rangea/the-millimetre-wheel-range-driving-wheels).
Hi Julien
The Sharman Wheels via Phoenix Paints is a useful source to be aware of, 12mm push on axles would be handy, they can probably be sourced from either the 3mm Society or Branchlines?
To be honest I think I'd save some money and cut 4.5 mm off the (assuming 16.5 mm gauge) 1/8 " plain steel axles that come with the wheels. A jeweller's piercing saw should do it, or a slitting disc in a minidrill if you are careful (how I've done similar jobs in the past)
Having had another look at the Phoenix site I'm not sure how well stocked they are when it comes to the Sharman range (might it be a case that they bought the name and remaining stock but are not making any new stock?).