Keith Simons

Hi Cavalex. Did you manage to speak to Rails about scale wheel sets please? I phoned them this morning and they are still saying they are waiting for them to be delivered. 🤔 Kind regards. Keith down in not so sunny Devon.

Hi Cav and Alex. I have received my 56049 from Rails, but they tell me that the EM gauge wheelsets have not yet arrived and are on back order. Do you have any idea when we will get them please? I’ve had her up and running on a rolling road and I’m very impressed, but I can’t wait to get her running on the layout. Many thanks. Keith.

With reference to the EM gauge wheel-sets. Would it be possible to have a tutorial on fitting them please? I have successfully re gauged mine by pushing the wheels out on the existing axles, and the wheels remain quite firmly on the axles. The bogies aren’t straightforward to dismantle though, as the keeper plate is plugged into the side frames at each end. Cavalex have done a video on fitting scale wheel-sets in preparation for the arrival of their 56’s, and I wondered if something similar may be possible for the AS 37’s. Otherwise, I can see some having difficulties. Many thanks guys for a brilliant job. Very pleased with my Sprit of the Lakes. Keith.

Hi Fran. Perhaps I could rephrase that last question. Are you likely to be offering fine scale wheel sets as alternatives for those of us modelling in EM or P4? With the amount of effort you guys have put in to producing such accurate models, running them on realistic scale track would really do them justice. I can see from the pictures and a video that was posted that the axles just pop out quite easily. If replacements are available, then as you say, nothing could be easier as long as they aren’t too expensive or are offered as a swap. For P4 modellers this would be the only practical alternative as they use much finer wheel profiles. EM gauge on the other hand is a bit of a compromise as we can use the existing wheel sets on slightly longer axles. This means stripping the wheel sets apart with pullers and rebuilding them. Your wheels appear to have a generous boss on the back of them, which may mean we can simply pull the wheels out by a millimetre on each side without any danger of pulling them off the axle. Sorry this was a bit long winded, there must be other mad fools like me out there! Kind regards, Keith.

Thanks Fran. Does that mean you will be supplying replacement drop in wheelsets? Keith.

Hi Fran. I understand the MK 5 coaches are going to have provision for easy conversion to EM or P4 gauge. Could you please provide any more information about how this can be achieved. I have a Caledonian 92 and the Aberdeen set on order in the hope that I can convert them to EM gauge. If I’m confident this can be achieved, I would like to order one of the four coach sets to make up a ten coach sleeper as I think this would give a reasonable length train. Many thanks, Keith Simons.

Thanks Roy. I’ll try that.

Does anyone know if Rails are going to follow through with a second batch of BLA’s containing the EWS liveried wagons. It seems that Cavalex are planning a second batch of BBA’s with at least Bauxite and EWS liveries!