Ixion Hudswell in S7?

[Rob R]

Anyone here converted their Hudswell to S7?
I've not had a chance to pull mine apart yet (still hiding it from the boss) and I was wondering if the wheels have separate tyres on plastic centres like the the Fowler?
As I am latheless the possibility of re-gauging the Hudswell in the same manner as Overseers inspired Fowler conversion is an attractive proposition.

Cheers

Rob

 

[Eastsidepilot]

Hi Rob,
Here's an Ixion that I converted a little while back, http://www.westernthunder.co.uk/index.php?threads/rtr-loco-conversion-to-s7.2616/#post-69084 and I can do similar conversions, I have'nt yet advertised on my web-site .

ATB, Col.

 

[John D]

The wheels are plated die castings with an insulating bush on the axles on one side . I guess it would definitely be a lathe job to either re-profile them or fit the centres to steel tyres .

 

[Dog Star]

The Chairman of the S7 Group intends to demonstrate conversion of this engine to S7 at the forthcoming Aylesbury Show. As the time for the conversion is not great I understand that two engines are to be done, one on Saturday and one on Sunday.

 

[Rob Pulham]

Sat"rud"ay.

Shouldn't this be in the Pollarded Willows thread

 

[John D]

Not the Pollarded Willows thread......nobody expected the Pollarded Willows thread

 

[S7BcSR]

The S7 Chairman has converted about half a dozen Ixion locos to S7 so far, including one Fowler, and as Graham pointed out there will be two more done at RailEx, one each day. There will be an article in the next S7 Newsletter about converting both Ixion locos and then possibly one in one of the News-stand magazines later this year.

One of the converted locos at RailEx may be available for Sale, so if you want one make an orderly queue and it goes to the highest bidder - LOL. Seriously one will be for sale after it has been converted but the price won't be revealed until RailEx.

Rob

 

[S7BcSR]

Just read the thread properly.

John D, Slater's do the correct wheel and axle for the Fowler and use the Slater's 3' 1" Wantage Tramway wheel for the HC and then it is just a matter of re-profiling the wheels to S7 standards as you say.

Rob

 

[Rob R]

Thanks guys.

I shall pull it apart and have a think.

Any idea of the sharpest "corner" it will go round in S7?
I was thinking in terms of a proper Wissington 90 deg corner of about 2 or 3 chains, say 3' to 4' 6"?

Rob
(not remotely related to SClub7 except by birth)

 

[Overseer]

Rob,
One thing to be aware of if considering Slater's wheels as replacements is the axle diameter. The Fowler has 3mm nominal axles (but probably 2.9mm if you measure them), not sure about the Hudswell. The bearings would be easy enough to drill out but the plastic gear will be a problem. If the prototype Hudswell you are modelling has the same number of spokes as supplied by Ixion I would turn the wheels down and put on Alan Gibson S7 wagon wheel tyres - simple turning and you end up with steel tyres - not much help without access to a lathe though. But it should be possible to find someone to do it for you. In my opinion I don't think the Ixion wheels can be turned down to produce a satisfactory S7 wheel without replacing the tyres. The main problem is you will lose the bright plating from parts of the tread which will lead to pick up issues as the 'brass' tarnishes over time. The other problem is the distance from the flange to the outside face of the wheel, facing off the wheel will lose the appearance and detail, and if you leave them wide they will look wrong and the coupling rods will be too far out. One point I haven't seen commented on is that the Ixion wheels appear to be to one of the RP25 profiles so they have quite wide flanges like US O gauge instead of UK O finescale. Does this cause issues with either of the narrowed O gauges? Or is there still enough slop in the tolerances?

 

[Wagonman]

The S7 Chairman has converted about half a dozen Ixion locos to S7 so far, including one Fowler, and as Graham pointed out there will be two more done at RailEx, one each day. There will be an article in the next S7 Newsletter about converting both Ixion locos and then possibly one in one of the News-stand magazines later this year.

Rob

I hope that when you say "next S7 Newsletter" you are in fact referring to the August issue...


Richard

 

[Rob R]

Rob,
I would turn the wheels down and put on Alan Gibson S7 wagon wheel tyres - simple turning and you end up with steel tyres

Would seem to be the logical way to go.
Next step is to see if Colin at Alan Gibson will supply tyres separately, shame to chop up perfectly good wheels just for the tyres.

Rob

 

[S7BcSR]

Richard

No I was thinking it would be in the May Newsletter but I have seen your email elsewhere. Pity as with doing the conversions at RailEx it would have been timely for it to be in the May issue.

Rob