Easy RTR steam loco to convert to P4

[Bob Essex]

I going to ask a silly question now. Why are P4 and EM wheels not self quartering?

Basically because it's more complicated and expensive to manufacture them and as the scales get smaller the tolerances required get tighter. When they appeared Maygib wheels had brass insert centres like Slaters wheels but these weren't self quartering and just used a shouldered axle. I still have a tin of P4 ones, the last of them given to me by Alan Gibson. Self quartering works in OO because of the width of the wheels while the narrower width of EM and especially P4 ones mean there isn't the leeway without having a large hub on their rears. TBH quartering is easy compared to trying to get true running wheelsets in my experience! Of course with diesels except shunters these issues don't arise....

Bob

 

[James]

Of course with diesels except shunters these issues don't arise....

It does depend on the wheels themselves.

When I use Gibson wheels for diesel conversions, I use a GW Models wheel press to fit the wheels onto the axles to make sure they're properly mounted.

 

[Mancunian]

I haven't ever used Romfords/Markits wheels, not ever, but I gather from gossip that they are by no means always true on the axle.

 

[James]

I haven't ever used Romfords/Markits wheels, not ever, but I gather from gossip that they are by no means always true on the axle.

When I still use them in my teens, I never had a problem with them. Certainly the original Romford wheels back in the 90s always worked for me.

 

[John_B]

I've got locos built or regauged with Romfords in the 70s and 80s that worked well, and probably still will, as I'll need to use them again soon. Although they don't look as good as the wheels on the Dapol 517 class that arrived yesterday, which I'd like to investigate re-gauging.

 

[Captain Kernow]

I haven't ever used Romfords/Markits wheels, not ever, but I gather from gossip that they are by no means always true on the axle.

I've used them a fair bit on OO locos over the years and still do. I've only ever had one problem with a wheelset not being set at 90 degrees when the axle nut was tightened up. A replacement axle and wheel solved the problem.

 

[76043]

I've used Markits on an EM Bachmann 08, that was an odd experience, they did special 08 wheels without cranks, but still using their quartering system!

Wizard still list them.

WH201B: 4’6″ 14 Spoke Driving Wheel (diesel shunters) – Wizard Models Limited

They seem ok to me for EM usage if splasher clearance isn't an issue.
Tony