Richard Hall Posted February 16, 2016 Share Posted February 16, 2016 Having sold my N gauge layout I'm thinking of taking the plunge into 3mm. The one thing that is putting me off at the moment is wheels. Before I send off a cheque to the 3mm Society, can anyone tell me what the current position is with the availability of finescale loco driving wheels? It would be nice to know what sizes are currently available and how good they are. I was thinking of starting with a rewheeled Triang Jinty chassis and a cast metal body kit, just to get something up and running fairly quickly - still trying to decide whether to go for 13.5 or 14.2 gauge, I can see the arguments for both. Track building is no problem, I built an EM layout a long time ago and I don't think my soldering skills have got any worse since then. I just like the idea of a scale where you can't buy perfect museum quality models off the shelf for less than it would cost to make them yourself. I'm awkward like that. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold roundhouse Posted February 16, 2016 RMweb Gold Share Posted February 16, 2016 Have a look here http://www.3smr.co.uk/wheels.html Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnarcher Posted February 16, 2016 Share Posted February 16, 2016 I'm afraid the 3smr page seems a bit out of date (it mentions Sharmans). For finescale the 3mm society is the main source, there is a pretty good range of finescale wheels available from them, certainly for 14.2mm, I'm not sure about 13.5. I should think they would send you a list before you decide to pay to join. They are also doing square-ended fit wheels in Intermediate standard. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium NCB Posted February 16, 2016 RMweb Premium Share Posted February 16, 2016 (edited) Hi Richard No problem with the availability of 3mm Society finescale wheels. Not only is there a comprehensive range of sizes, but there are variations for each size (eg number of spokes). The actual sizes for driving wheels are 9mm, 10.5mm, 12mm, 13.5mm, 15mm, 15.75mm, 16.5mm, 17mm, 18mm, 19mm, 20mm. There are comprehensive stocks of these. Shouldered axles for use with the wheels are available for 14.2mm and 12mm gauges; the wheels take a 2mm diameter axle and the broader bit of the axle is 1/8th inch. For other gauges folk normally use a 2mm diameter axle and set the gauge using BtB gauges. One member now offers a service of squaring the holes in the wheels to take square-ended axles, provided as part of the service, to obtain automatic self quartering. There is a moderate charge. Wagon wheels are listed as 9.25mm (I've a vague idea this might change to 9mm, it was discussed but not sure about the outcome) spoked or 4 hole disc. Coach wheels are 10.5mm disc or Mansell. Bogie/tender wheels are 9mm, 9.25mm, 10mm, 10.5mm, 11mm, 12mm, 12.5mm spoked or 11mm and 12mm disc. Bulleid and Webb drivers have been talked about but as far as I'm aware not yet available. Hope that helps Nigel Edited February 16, 2016 by NCB Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Hall Posted February 18, 2016 Author Share Posted February 18, 2016 Thanks very much for that, it all sounds very promising. I'm not in a position to do any modelling right now, but I might buy a loco kit and a few bits so I can sit and look at them. I see there is a whitemetal J72 available, designed to fit the Triang Jinty chassis which makes me wonder if the dimensions have been messed around with. Could be a good starting point even so. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium NCB Posted February 19, 2016 RMweb Premium Share Posted February 19, 2016 Thanks very much for that, it all sounds very promising. I'm not in a position to do any modelling right now, but I might buy a loco kit and a few bits so I can sit and look at them. I see there is a whitemetal J72 available, designed to fit the Triang Jinty chassis which makes me wonder if the dimensions have been messed around with. Could be a good starting point even so. Richard The 3mm Society are working on an easy-to-assemble LMS 4F 0-6-0 which might be a good place to start. I believe some pre-production bits were on display at the last AGM. Brynkits chasses via 3SMR are relatively easy to put together and some can be used with existing whitemetal kits, eg the GWR 57XX pannier; only problem is Brynkits stuff isn't always available. Cheers Nigel Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
whart57 Posted August 8, 2017 Share Posted August 8, 2017 The LMS 4F is now available from the Society Wim Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Joseph_Pestell Posted August 9, 2017 RMweb Gold Share Posted August 9, 2017 The LMS 4F is now available from the Society Wim Is there a webpage for it? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium NCB Posted August 11, 2017 RMweb Premium Share Posted August 11, 2017 Is there a webpage for it? Did a quick enquiry and at the moment there doesn't seem to be any publicity for it; it is a very new product, although has been a long time in development. I'll shove something in these threads if something becomes available. Nigel Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium NCB Posted August 14, 2017 RMweb Premium Share Posted August 14, 2017 The 4F has been announced on the 3mm Society web site. See: https://sites.google.com/site/3mmpublic/products/a-3 No pics that I know of yet. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
whart57 Posted August 23, 2017 Share Posted August 23, 2017 A pic of the 4F has just been posted up on the 3mm Society web page https://sites.google.com/site/3mmpublic/products/a-3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Dava Posted August 23, 2017 RMweb Premium Share Posted August 23, 2017 That is a very big improvement on the old BEC kit and very reasonably priced for a complete kit. Dava Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium DavidLong Posted October 14, 2017 RMweb Premium Share Posted October 14, 2017 One member now offers a service of squaring the holes in the wheels to take square-ended axles, provided as part of the service, to obtain automatic self quartering. There is a moderate charge. Hi Nigel, The Society price list doesn't show any square-end axles for 14.2mm gauge. Does the member that you mention provide them as part of his service? Regards David Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
whart57 Posted October 15, 2017 Share Posted October 15, 2017 I've emailed him with a link to this discussion thread Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium NCB Posted October 16, 2017 RMweb Premium Share Posted October 16, 2017 Hi Nigel, The Society price list doesn't show any square-end axles for 14.2mm gauge. Does the member that you mention provide them as part of his service? Regards David Hi David The current arrangement is that you send him your wheels less crankpin nut and washer (to stop them getting lost) plus the round axles, and you'll get in return the wheels with the hole in them "squared", plus square-ended axles. Cheers Nigel Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium DavidLong Posted October 16, 2017 RMweb Premium Share Posted October 16, 2017 Hi David The current arrangement is that you send him your wheels less crankpin nut and washer (to stop them getting lost) plus the round axles, and you'll get in return the wheels with the hole in them "squared", plus square-ended axles. Cheers Nigel Thanks, Nigel. With that news I may well be rejoining the Society. David Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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