Smaller than Slater's Hornblocks and Frame Bushes

[Quarryscapes]

Do these exist? Currently working on some chassis designs, but the Slater's bushes are ginormous and the sprung hornblocks are so big they stick out way beyond the frame outlines of the small locomotives I'm building. There must be another option out there? 

[Gordon A]

Would 4mm ones be of any help?

[Quarryscapes]

That's too far the other way. There's not a lot out there for 3/16" axles.

[Lochgorm]

I have mused on this without putting anything into effect.  The 4mm axlebox which looks as though it has some potential is this Brassmasters one http://www.brassmasters.co.uk/Axleboxes.htm.  The diagram shows that there is enough metal to (gently!) ream out the bearing hole to 3/16".  It may be kinder to replace the 3/16" axle with 5/32" axles also available from Slaters.  My musings ground to halt as I could not find a suitable 5/32" gear wheel to drive the axle unless a 1/8" one was reamed out.

 

I would be interested to hear how you get on.

 

Charlie

[Giles]

Why not print some? Could be in resin and bush them in brass tube - PLA  probably wouldn't need bushing.

[Quarryscapes]

7 hours ago, Lochgorm said:

I have mused on this without putting anything into effect.  The 4mm axlebox which looks as though it has some potential is this Brassmasters one http://www.brassmasters.co.uk/Axleboxes.htm.  The diagram shows that there is enough metal to (gently!) ream out the bearing hole to 3/16".  It may be kinder to replace the 3/16" axle with 5/32" axles also available from Slaters.  My musings ground to halt as I could not find a suitable 5/32" gear wheel to drive the axle unless a 1/8" one was reamed out.

 

I would be interested to hear how you get on.

 

Charlie

 

I do have some of these stashed away. Although I'd need to fabricate a jig to hold them for machining rather than trying to ream a load out by hand. They are actually still over size really for Cambrian locos (but they can at least be made to work. 

 

7 hours ago, Giles said:

Why not print some? Could be in resin and bush them in brass tube - PLA  probably wouldn't need bushing.

 

Might have to go down this route. Not sure what the life expectancy would be mind! 

 

This is not perfectly aligned (the scale of the G.A. scan is not constant) but you get the idea on size - inner circle os 3/16, outer is 5/16 which is the normal OD for 3/16 bushes and bearings. A K&S thin wall 3/16 tube would fit inside the scale hornblock, just. 

 

 

Slater's Hornblocks on the other hand....

 

[Lochgorm]

Your drawing seems to indicate to me that Slaters hornblocks would work!  OK there are bits overhanging but they are not intrinsic to the functioning of the blocks themselves and the extra can be trimmed back.  A new method of attaching the keeper would be required but that could simply be a strip of metal soldered across the bottom of the hornguides.

 

Charlie