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fitting wheels to the airfix /Dapol 35t wagon kit


rka

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I've bought a couple of these already made up and they have Hornby wheels fitted in brass bearings, but they push the axleboxes out so both are splayed.

 

a Google search has proved inconclusive so I'm not sure where to go

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I drill mine out with a pin vice 2mm (the axleguard can be gently flexed enough to do this square) and then countersink with an 1/8" drill so that the bush sits flush (the moulded boss on the back needs to be filed flat and I thin the edges of the W-irons slightly).

 

Alternatively shorter axles might be a solution.

 

Be careful if you choose the soldering iron solution, as it is easy to shift the bearing slightly sideways, resulting in crabwise motion and/or rocking of the underframe. Neither of which is desirable, of course.

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A 'Truck Tuner' is a useful tool in these circumstances as well:- http://www.micromark.com/ho-truck-tuner,8241.htmlThey're very useful for cleaning out paint from bearings as well, if you didn't mask  properly. When I've got the wheel-set running satisfactorily, I sometimes use some graphite from a soft pencil to dry-lubricate the bearings as well.

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You'll need to make sure the axles are parallel. If you measure the distance between the centres of the axleboxes, you will probably find that they are different. You can make these the same by a cut and file (to reduce one side) or a cut and insert a sliver of plastic (to make one side longer)

 

Otherwise you'll get a built-in tendency for the wagon to curve one way, which isn't brilliant for running.

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I've not had this problem with Airfix kits others (especially whitemetal) yes. They are often moulded/cast slightly asymmetrical, which, with two identical parts, end up running crabwise. It can be bodged mitigated by scraping the bearing hole oval with a knife blade and then mounting the  bearing off centre.

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Romford bearings are deeper than other makes.  The standard is 1mm from the outer face of the flange (for 26mm pinpoint axles to fit a 24mm etched W-iron pair).

 

Cross-section of Romford here (page 28)

 

http://www.markits.com/MARKITS_Price_Guide_2013_09.pdf                                                         

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