Source of small diameter wheels?

[ljudice]

I'm looking for a source for small wheels, ie. standard gauge - but small diameter as MOW machines might use.

Any thoughts?

[Missaberoad]

I'm looking for a source for small wheels, ie. standard gauge - but small diameter as MOW machines might use.

Any thoughts?

Z scale wheels drilled out to fit on a N scale axle? What's the hole diameter of a Z Scale FVM wheel once you pop the insulating bushing out?

Obviously expensive and you would have to devise a jig to hold the wheel while you enlarge the hole but it might be worth trying...

Or alternatively cut the Z scale wheelset in half and use a tube to form a new axle (Similar to a Kato/Atlas locomotive axle)

[craigolio1]

I did that with an HOn30 wheel set that was the right diameter for a steam trailing truck. Worked well.

Craig

[jagged ben]

Fox Valley makes 28" wheels.  But I gather you need smaller than that?

[nkalanaga]

Do they have to roll?  If not, brass tubing and a piece of shim brass for the back/flange might be the easiest.

[peteski]

How about the Bachmann N scale Plasser car?  Those have bunch of small plastic small wheels with metal axles.  You can probably find one cheap on eBay.

[ednadolski]

NWSL?

[ljudice]

Thanks for the ideas - NWSL goes down to 28"....

I doing some MOW models on Shapeways and was considering NOT modeling the wheels, figuring a set of metal wheels would add a bit of weight so the models which weigh almost nothing don't blow off the track if someone sneezes.

I am staring to think of  designing a fret  with 10 or 12 wheels.

[randgust]

The smallest full-flange, full-tread metal flanged wheels I've ever seen are on the 'powered' VW bus (which is also available as a dummy).

The model was intended to be a working hirail vehicle.   I got a dummy just to get the wheels and reuse the body elsewhere.

http://www.1zu160.net/neues/neu14/conrad-neu2014-modelle.jpg

I got one off Ebay at what I thought was a great price and didn't realize the german translation for 'dummy' made me look like one.  Buyer beware, but the wheels are REALLY well made, well-suited for a powered MOW application.

[narrowminded]

Randy, what do those VW bus wheels measure?  I ask because I'm pretty sure that a typical auto wheel diameter at the tire is about 25" or so. 

What sizes do you need?  I have some 24" (.150" actual at the tread) split axle style already made for my projects.  True RP-25 flanges, too.

[pnolan48]

Some of the first-gen Atlas steamers (4-6-2 light) had tiny pilot wheels with large flanges.

[up1950s]

I had encouraged Wutter to do some n scale wheels and he came up these . They are very very small , good for MOW carts . Also the old Bachmann 4-4-0 had small pilot sombreros 3rdrail ( RIP ) brought to my attention for the UP DC2 mag detection wheels which did not work out for my needs , wound up using Z wheels .

https://www.shapeways.com/marketplace/miniatures/trains/?tag=wheel&sort=popularity&facet%5BpdcId%5D%5B%5D=141&facet%5Bprice%5D%5Bmin%5D=1&facet%5Bprice%5D%5Bmax%5D=2500&facet%5Bprice%5D%5Bfrom%5D=1&facet%5Bprice%5D%5Bto%5D=2500

MTL has these http://www.micro-trains.com/parts/zwheelparts/00412001

[SandyEggoJake]

Wutter's wheels are nice for a static model, but aren't rail worthy.  I doubt any 3DP wheel could be.

As Ryan (@Missaberoad ) mentioned, after scrubbing the world (NWSL, 2mm, etc) the best metal wheel I've found commercially available is actually a z scale 33', which equate to N scale 24". 

(I've yet to find someone willing to supply say a 20" N scale, but let me know if you do.)

The Boswer / Full Throttle wheelsets are comprise of four parts, press fit.  An insulated metal wheel , it's POM insulator bushing, a non insulate metal wheel and the metal axle.  The bore of the FT z scale wheels is ~0.8mm.  A Walkera puller makes separation easy. 

I didn't need them more my purpose, but as a test, I tried to bore the FT POM insulated bushing from .8 to 1.2mm to fit on a Fox Valley axle..  It was a miserable failure to try to drill the hole out via my crappy Dremel Drill Press in one shot....melted the POM and spun it in the wheel.  After trashing a few, I was able to ream one insulator when captured in a wheel via use of progressively larger bits by hand, when done via the front and using the puller plate to press down to keep the insulator from spinning in the wheel... but not a method suitable for more than one (very expensive) wheelset.

By the way, I also tried to remove the bushing, but it's ~1.6mm bore allows it to ride freely over the ~1.5mm FV axle. You might be able to dip the axle point in epoxy to build up an insulator layer before attaching, but I didn't try as I doubt that will give you a smooth rolling centered & true wheels.  Also didn't try drilling out the noninsulated wheel either, as for me creating a noninsulated wheelset isn't of any value.

My hope is to locate an off the shelf  0.8mm dia point N gauge axle to fit these FT Z's, or a different brand Z scale metal wheel that has a 1.2mm bore.  Failing that, I plan to turn some if/when I next get some Sherline time. 
 

[narrowminded]

Wutter's wheels are nice for a static model, but aren't rail worthy. 
My hope is to locate an off the shelf  0.8mm dia point N gauge axle to fit these FT Z's, or a different brand Z scale metal wheel that has a 1.2mm bore.  Failing that, I plan to turn some if/when I next get some Sherline time.

If it's only a few to complete a model, send me some wheels and axles that you want to mate and I'll do a few for you. 

Meanwhile, I have 24" N or 33" Z (24" Nn3) wheels with 1.2mm stub axles already made.  They are both the same tread diameter (.150") but have true RP-25 standard flanges and the appropriate axle length for N or Z gauge track.   I have muffs for them as well that set the gauge on the money.  They aren't the pointed end style as they were made suitable for outside wheel applications.  If I knew what folks needed and if there was enough demand over a reasonable time frame to sell, maybe 100 sets, I could run about any size needed.  They wouldn't be as inexpensive as FVM or some others who are doing them in thousands and probably 10's of thousands in China but would be first rate, US made, nickel silver, and dimensionally accurate. 

[peteski]

Jake, you must be employed by a large corporation (since you love using acronyms).  So, what is POM again?  I'm a bit dense . . .