Regauge G scale to 2 1/2" ?

[H2O]

Hello all,

 

Looking at the Piko range there seem to be some half decent industrial style 0-6-0 and BoBo diesels that could be anglicised for decent money (£300ish).  Unfortunately they are set to metre gauge so would be difficult to run in a UK small industrial setting.

 

Has anyone regauged a 'G scale' model to fit 63.5mm (2.5") track which would be near enough standard gauge for a (loosely accurate) gauge 3 model?  Spacing the wheels from 45mm to 63.5mm would obviously be a bit more than sliding them out on the original axels!  A new false chassis may also be needed to eliminate the big gap behind the wheels but if the minimum radius was limited to something more than the comic LGB minimum then there could be scope to do this?

 

I wasn't thinking this would be a super accurate modelling standard but something half decent for the money to get people started in UK large scale?

 

Thanks for any answers.

[DavidB]

Garden Railway Specialists of Princes Risborough have done something similar for their Gauge 3 diesel railcar kits, which use USA Trains 45mm gauge motor bogies fitted with extended axles and bushes to fit onto 63.5mm track (as well as adding larger diameter wheels). I haven't built my Pressed Steel class 121 railcar kit yet, but I've just checked the contents of the box - without dismantling the motor block, I can't see how they have dealt with the fitting of the longer axle to the gear train, but it might be worth giving them a call to talk through options for re-gauging 45mm locomotives.  In my experience they are very helpful, and they always seem to get particularly enthusiastic when talking about G64/Gauge 3.

 

David

[unklian]

I have regauged an LGB steam tram, which uses the standard LGB motor block. I had to make new axles in 6mm steel with turned down ends for the wheels, the gears are a tight fit but can be slid off and on to the new axles. The trickiest bit was lengthening the pickups so they reached the backs of the wheels again. I also fitted standard buffing and coupling gear too . Hope this helps.