My favorite Pacific Electric 1000-series wood interurban coaches (aka "Tens") ran on 34 inch diameter wheelsets. My Suydam HO brass PE "Ten" models that repesent the real-life versions needs replacement metal wheelsets. But I cannot find anyone who sells 34" metal wheelsets in HO scale. Someone told me that there isn't a demand for 34" wheelsets, therefore 33" metal wheelsets are the next best thing because an inch difference is hard to notice. Is this true? Is there anyone out there who sells 34" wheelsets for HO scale models? I cannot tell if my Suydam HO "Tens" have factory 34" or 33" wheelsets.
Can you actually see the difference beween 33 and 34 inch wheels in HO?
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
It's only a 11.5 mil (0.0115") difference so only a VERY discerning eye would probably notice.
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
It may not seem like much, but it may still affect the coupler height. I am also trying to find out the exact (factory) diameter wheelset used for the Suydam HO scale PE 1000-series coaches. Perhaps I need to obtain an HO scale rule/ruler.
Perhaps you're right, Tom.
Tom is always right................even when he is wrong.
Rich
Alton Junction
TractionNut Perhaps I need to obtain an HO scale rule/ruler.
Perhaps I need to obtain an HO scale rule/ruler.
For a difference this small a dial caliper would be helpful.
By the way I checked the drawings of the P.E. 1000s in the April 1971 Model Railroader. Allen Brewster's drawing notes that the wheels are 34" but "33" in later years." So even P.E. found 33" wheels easier to find evidently! It should be interesting to learn which size Suydam chose.
Dave Nelson
richhotrain Tom is always right................even when he is wrong. Rich
Rich, I thought I was wrong one time...but I was mistaken.
The difference between a 33" HO wheel and a 34" Ho wheel is .0115 on dia. The effect on coupler height would be only .0057". You are not going to see the difference between .379 dia and .390 dia without measuring with a caliper or micrometer, unless the 2 wheels were butted up against each other. Is a .005"/.006" shift in coupler height significant? No - it is not.
tstage
Okay, got it. Makes sense. Now, I am assuming that if 34 inch wheelsets were never produced in HO scale before, then Ed and Doug Suydam must have had the brass HO Pacific Electric wood interurban 1000-series coaches (aka "Tens") produced using 33" metal wheelsets back in the 1960's. I'll start looking at 33" wheelsets as replacement for my PE "Ten" coaches (and their combine and business-commodore counterparts, too).
Thanks for your help everyone.
Actually, the difference isn't a scale inch. It's a scale half inch. The distance between the rail and the center of the axle is 16-1/2" on a 33" wheel; 17" on a 34" wheel. That's how much the coupler height will be affected. Many steam loco models have been produced with slightly undersized drivers to allow for flange clearance, and nobody was the wiser. On the prototype, a nominally 34" wheel can be used long after it has worn to a smaller diameter, so I'll bet the wheels on your prototype were often 33" diameter or so in actual practice. Are you equally concerned about tread width? If so, you're wandering into the realm of P87, and only the very brave venture there. There are far more important things to be concerned about.
Many years ago I built a craftsman kit for a PRR class Nd 4-wheel cabin car (caboose). The instructions called for the use of 33" wheels, but I knew the prototype used 36", so I made the substitution. I may be the only person who ever did that, and I am probably the only person who notices or cares.
Hey Dave, thanks so much for that piece of information! I am always looking for schematic drawings of my favorite interurban! You've made my day! I will order a few back issues of the April 1971 Model Railroader magazine. Thanks again!
Tom, I am not concerned about tread width at all, so I am not going to go there.
I would've done the very same thing with my "Tens" as you've done with your PRR class Nd 4-wheel cabin car years ago. Yes, even with the scale inch or half scale inch difference if a 34" wheelset existed, because I care. But, I don't have a choice since 34" wheelsets don't exist anyway. I've been convinced by you guys and I'm okay with 33" wheelsets after reading this forum.