ESM #920401 - 38" /.553" WHEEL *** PRE-RELEASE OPTION ***

[bbussey]

All,

Machining new wheel/axle combinations isn't a financial hardship.  The production run is where the cost starts to climb.  I've emailed my contractor to advise what the minimum would be for a bulk run (no clamshell packaging) of wheelsets.  I'm willing to machine the 38" wheel early and make it available for those who wish to upgrade their PD3500 hoppers.  I need to upgrade mine and I'm willing to share the privilege.  Assume that the cost per axle will be the MSRP of the standard ESM packs divided by 12, as there will be a cost penalty for a short run.  Please post here in this thread how many axles you wish.  The wheel eventually will be released as a standard item, as #920401.  Whether that happens early next year or later is up in the air, but there's a possibility it will be introduced when the next GSC Well Car run is released next year, along with the 28"/.540" wheelsets and the retrofitted ASF truck frame.

Once I have the minimum manufacturing quantity, I will post it here.  Figure that August 15 will be the cutoff date.

Final total:

40  Bryan B
48  Scott L
48  Daniel
16  Ed K
12  Pete
??  Ben
20  Philip H
40  Chris S
12  Harry
24  Jeff B
24  Jeff L
24  Mark H
20  Michael L
64  Stu
36  Alvin
16  Jim
16  Samusi01
48  cgw
-------------
528 axles

*** PRICING / LEAD TIME BELOW ***

[Ed Kapuscinski]

I only got three cars.
I like having spares.

So... 16 axles for me.

[peteski]

38" would be close to the size used on European prototype rolling stock.  I would like to get a sample.  How about 12 axles for me.

[jagged ben]

38" is also the size for the articulated truck axles on most double stack cars.  So I might be interested in a number for that.  I will have to make a count and consider the axle size.

[Philip H]

I'd probably be in for 16-20 axles, both for my Rapido PD's and some of my European N scale . . . .

[peteski]

I don't have any of my European models handy so I'm not sure how the axle length will work with them. They usually have fairly long axles, so 0.553" might be just right.

[Chris333]

I could do about 40ish axles to play with in HOn30.

[learmoia]

Merlin at Caboose Stop once told me a funny story..

Precision Scale once did a run of high detail custom machined wheel sets in 2 Rail O scale.. (don't recall if it was O or On3), and they were marketing them in packs of 4 axles for like $30 a pack.

So Merlin ordered "200" (thinking he was ordering 200 packs).... the lady at Precision Scale was a bit shocked but said OK.

Several months later he got a box of 50 packs of wheels and thought.. What the heck they shorted me.....

So he called Precision Scale:

Merlin: Hey you shorted me on these wheelsets.

Precision Scale: You ordered 200, I think thats what we sent.

Merlin: Yeah.. 200 Packs.. you sent 200 axles..

Precision Scale: Oh, you wanted 200 PACKS?!?..........(long pause).......  We didn't make that many. 

Merlin: Well, can you send me everything you have left?

Precision Scale: Yep..

[Snark45]

Hi Bryan

I would like 12 axles.

Many thanks, Harry

[JeffB]

I'd be interested in 24 axles worth...

FYI...  This size is just about 6mm.  The 009 (British HOn30) guys would probably be interested if you wanted to bulk up the order.  Just advertise the possibility on one of the UK NG forums.

Jeff

[ai5629]

Bryan,

Please put me down for 24 axles.  Thanks.

Jeff

[bbussey]

...  This size is just about 6mm.  The 009 (British HOn30) guys would probably be interested if you wanted to bulk up the order.  Just advertise the possibility on one of the UK NG forums.

This will be just a quick sample run. The real production retail run will be sometime next year.

[JeffB]

This will be just a quick sample run. The real production retail run will be sometime next year.

Got it...  Thanks Brian.  The comment still stands though.  I think that the UK 009 narrow gauge crowd would find these wheelsets useful.

Jeff

[daniel_leavitt2000]

Are there any other cars these would be appropriate for? Would they be on articulated double stacks besides what Kato made?

If these were on the Walthers or DI well cars, I'll need a lot more.

[sundowner]

Di MaxinIII used the same axle spacing as Kato’s Maxis.