Materials used in RTR steam loco wheels

[Miss Prism]

A couple of questions, and I accept the answers are probably going to vary considerably.

 

1  Typically, are tyres plated? Is the meat of the tyre usually brass? (or zinc alloy? or steel?)

 

2  Are wheel centres usually plastic?
 

[hallmodelspares]

There is many methods which have been used over the years in rtr models to make wheels for locos Hornby/triang linage being a good example

These are made firstly in sintered steel and later on mazac usually cast in one piece with 4 variants of the wheel cast say for a 0-6-0.

1 non insulated insulated and insulated unflanged, insulated and non insulated flanged designed to work with the points and curves of the model world

Later one towards the end of triang this design was changed and improved as many locos now had a metal tyre fitted to a metal wheel on the outer driving wheels.

These appeared first blackend finish to the metal tyre but were later bright chrome finished like the loco valve gear aswell.

When 1976 the next major change happend switching the track to system 5 all the new locos had wheels changed to the new standard along with wagons.

Many parts were made which allowed owners to still enjoy older stock running and locos aswell

the locos wheels were a mix of all in cast or 2 or 3 piece assemblies per wheel 3 being for the sspp type -0-6-0 chassis & 9f/8f with a brass taped insert for the coupling rod screw

this design carried on till the super detail come in 2000 with new locos featuring cheaper plastic centres and moving from chrome plate back to darkened metal. This on many models has meant no interchange of wheels were as before a class 5 wheel fitted a britannia of that era. Issues have been common of wheels going loose and some cases the metal part falls off or away.

 

Early Bachmann/Mainline cast in one piece usually the wheels. these can suffer mazac rot either falling apart or expanding size around the spokes stoping the wheels from running properly or wobbly. I am unable to comment on trix/lilliput/ graham farish 00/ Dapol/oxford rail or newer models of Bachmann