Bachmann 0n30 Wheel Standards

[Jeff Smith]

As a P4 modeller I am fairly familiar with 4mm wheel standards and requirements. I am now building a RTR 0n30 layout with ME track and Bachmann stock. The wheels look 00 sized to me but of course are 0 scale and narrow gauge. The stock runs pretty well through the points but I can't help thinking that the wheels look a bit chunky. So my question is, is it just my unfamiliarity with 0 scale that gives me this impression or should I be looking for finer scale wheels? Do any modellers in 0n30 swap out wheels, add compensation/springing or any of the other chassis improvements that I am familiar with? Are there even any finer wheels available?

[M Graff]

The wheel standard for On30 is the same as for HO; RP25.

http://www.nmra.org/standards/sandrp/S-4_2ScaleWheels.html

Which would make them more true to scale in O scale than HO, as the size is doubled.

If you want scale wheels on the cars see this:

http://on30insider.com/blog/2009/06/20/finally-a-true-fine-scale-wheel-from-foothill-model-works/

Then you have NWSL with all the goodies:

http://www.nwsl.com/NWSL_Online_Catalog.html

A .88 width tire would look okay I guess? And those are available in a lot of sizes.

Good luck.

[baldopeter]

F & WHR tyres are 4" - 4.5" in width ( ex SAR being the wider). Some lightweight wheelsets have narrower treads.

 

In practice that would mean 2.33mm - 2.62mm,  treads 2.62 (RP25 0.11) do seem to be a little chunky, 0.088 are too narrow. Some Gibson wheels do look a little thin.

 

I find Romford wheels at 2.5mm seem to be a good compromise, and run well.

 

Regards

 

Peter

[Jeff Smith]

The wheel standard for On30 is the same as for HO; RP25.

http://www.nmra.org/standards/sandrp/S-4_2ScaleWheels.html

Which would make them more true to scale in O scale than HO, as the size is doubled.

If you want scale wheels on the cars see this:

http://on30insider.com/blog/2009/06/20/finally-a-true-fine-scale-wheel-from-foothill-model-works/

Then you have NWSL with all the goodies:

http://www.nwsl.com/NWSL_Online_Catalog.html

A .88 width tire would look okay I guess? And those are available in a lot of sizes.

Good luck.

Thanks, some good links.  Interesting that the accepted 0N30 profile is finer than the 0n3!

 

Having just got my layout track (ME code 83) wired and running I find that the passenger cars (of unknown vintage bought as a set from ebay)  seem to have very free running wheels that seem to be attracted to the under-rail uncoupling magnets.  The freight vehicles are less free running and do not seem to be attracted.  Bachmann offers replacement die-cast passenger car trucks (the existing ones are plastic framed).  I'm wondering if these have non-magnetic wheels.

 

The passenger cars tend to uncouple just by running over the magnets, I believe because of the free-running wheels allowing coupling tension to be lost.  I will initially try applying some axle resistance with a strip of springy material resting on the axle (an old 00 trick).  I am just using the Bachmann couplers but intend to evaluate other product as time goes by - all advice welcome!

[M Graff]

Install lighting in the coaches, then you get the resistance from the electric wipers. :-)

[Jeff Smith]

They already have lighting.