I do not machine castings for customers apart from plain wheels for diesel locos.
Different machinists have their own preferred methods of mounting wheels:
Walsall Model Industries can machine my castings and mount them on their square ended, self quartering axles. Insulation where required is inserted across the individual spokes.
Steve Ross uses Tufnol or Delrin hub insulation where required, mounting the wheels on round-ended, telescopic jointed axles quartered and kept in position with a taper pin.
His contact details can be supplied on request.
CASTING MATERIAL:
In future castings for Gauge One and larger will made from mild steel although castings from older stock will be cast iron. This is to reduce the number of rejects from crumbling of the ceramic casings in the thicker castings. 0 Gauge castings will still be made in cast iron. The steel is carbon steel grade En8 = CLA8 or 080M40.
Mild steel seems slightly tougher than cast iron. Using a form tool across the width of a Gauge One wheel casting I have taken a thinner cut (0.03 mm/rev) at 98 rpm. That is partly so that the nut on the end of the small mandrel can hold the work without slipping. It does not cut so well at slower speeds. It will cut dry but cuts much better with lubrication such as an occasional squirt of WD40 during machining.
RECENT ADDITIONS
December 2023
WD/MOS 2-8-0, 2-10-0 Austerity at 7 mm/ft.
LSWR 4-6-0 King Arthur at 7 mm/ft.
Rotterdam Tramway Company Nos 47 - 50, 3'6" gauge at 1:45 for 0n42.
MSWJR 4-4-0, 1-8, 31 at 7 mm/ft.
MR 4-4-0 7'0" Compound at 7 mm/ft.
April 2024
GWR 0-4-2T 14xx/48xx at 7 mm/ft.
GER/LNER 4-6-0 B12/3 at 7 mm/ft.
LNER Thompson 2-6-0 K1 and 2-6-4T L1 at 7 mm/ft.
GC/LNER 2-4-2T F1 at 7 mm/ft.
ECR/GER 2-2-2 Sharp single at 1:32.
NE 0-4-4T Fletcher BPT/LNER G6, 5'3" version at 7 mm/ft.
July 2024
NE 4-4-2 Worsdell V/LNER C6 at 7 mm/ft.
SR 4-6-0 Lord Nelson at 7 mm/ft.
IN THE PIPELINE
GWR 2-6-2T 45 xx Small Prairie for Gauge 3. Waits casting.
GER 4-4-0/LNER D14-16 Claud Hamilton at 7 mm/ft. Waits casting.
GN Gresley 2-6-0 H2, H3/LNER K1, K2 at 7 mm/ft. Waits patterns.
GER 0-6-0 Y14/LNER J15 at 7 mm/ft. Waits patterns.
GER 0-6-0T R24, S56/LNER J67, J69 at 7 mm/ft. Waits patterns.
Revised 6 Sept 2024.