Converting Dapol Terriers to Scale 7

[Marc Dobson]

I noticed that some one as converted a Dapol Terrier from FS to S7. Does anyone know what it involved in converting them? I have 4 of them and it would be nice if I can convert them.

Marc

 

[NewportRod]

Wasn't there an article in a recent MRJ from Barry Norman abour converting one?

And there is this post Converting Dapol Terrier to S7 on WT

 

[Marc Dobson]

Any idea which issue of MRJ?

MArc

 

[daifly]

Any idea which issue of MRJ?

MRJ issue 252
Dave

 

[Marc Dobson]

I will have to get my hands on a copy.
Marc

 

[Eastsidepilot]

I have converted a few of these in the past. I use the original wheels which have the backs turned down and re-profiled and then re-gauged on the original axles. I the grind back the outer edge of the splasher cut outs in the footplate, which are usually very slightly narrower than the inside of the splasher, so as to give some room for sideplay. You may also need some thin packing washers behind the wheels to limit the sideplay so that the wheels do not short on the footplate.

I do offer a service for converting any rtr model to S7, plus wheel and axle processing.
My ad appears in the S7 newsletter, but I have to admit my website needs updating to show this

Col.

 

[Marc Dobson]

I can turn the wheels down as I have a lathe I just need to order a HSS tool which I'm going to need for some other kit built locos. My major problem is how do you get the wheels off with out destroying them?
I can't convert them until later this year at the earliest as they have to run on our FS layout "Scratchy Bottom" at Folkstone Show in October.

Marc

 

[Eastsidepilot]

I can turn the wheels down as I have a lathe I just need to order a HSS tool which I'm going to need for some other kit built locos. My major problem is how do you get the wheels off with out destroying them?
I can't convert them until later this year at the earliest as they have to run on our FS layout "Scratchy Bottom" at Folkstone Show in October.

Marc

Use a wheel puller and a backing plate the same dia. as the flanged part of the wheel, the reason for the back plate is to stop the tyre being pulled off the centre.

When you re-profile the wheel measure the width of the flange and turn off the back of the wheel enough to leave 0.7mm of flange width. This brings the wheel width down to nearer scale width ( approx. 3.16 - 3.25 mm) The F/S flange will be around 1.00mm width.
This will give enough meat for the re-profiling tool to cut a new flange, but you will have to take some off the dia. of the tread as I can garantee they will not always be perfectly concentric to start with.
Measure all the wheel dia. first before turning and start with the smallest as I have found in the past that they are not always the same ( only fractionally but it makes a difference). I get the same problem with Slater's wheels.

The photo' is for demonstration purposes and is obviously not the Terrier wheels we are discussing, they are Heljan wheels.

Col.

 

[Ian@StEnochs]

Thanks Col, you have confirmed what I have found re Slaters wheels. When re-profiling to S7, Not all tyres start perfectly round. Not much but noticeable when the form tool is applied. I have just had a session and prepared 24 Wheels of various sizes so getting a wee bit wabbet!

Ian.

 

[Caggers]

Great thread, just got to find a lathe now...

 

[Eastsidepilot]

I should add to my previous post #8 that some F/S ( if you can call it that ) flanges on certain RTR stuff does come in at 1.25 mm which means taking quite a bit off the backs of the wheels for S7.
And in some cases I've taken material off the front of the tyre especially with some Slater's drivers which are like steam roller wheels, but that's F/S ? for you.

Col.