Hello.
I am a new membar here and in hobby too.
i have two roco models: swiss crocodile and E-32.
they are not old ones but have wheels which can not run on my TILLIG code 83 rails.
What do you suggest to do? I dont know if it is possible to get new sets suitable for these rails.
my opinion is to make changes on a mini lathe.
Thank you in advance
Hello, Misha. A mini-lathe would work if you have it and the skills to use it. Many people use a grinding stone and grind away the long flanges, but care must be taken to not overheat the metal. Is there a European model group on yahoo.groups that might help you out?
-Crandell
[#welcome] Misha
Do they run on code 100 rail? If changing or altering flanges do not work than a track change may be in order.
Pete
Using a lathe for this job is certainly workable, but the trick is coming up with a fixture to hold the wheels or wheel sets in the lathe chuck. For this job, it will take far longer building the fixture than turning the flanges.
Crandell’s suggestion is one that I’ve used several times and would be the one I would use again (and I do have a lathe and know how to use it). You will want to be VERY careful not to get residue from the wheels or the grindstone into the moving parts of the locomotive. Also, besides turning the flange down, you also have to re-shape it properly. It is what I would call a “picky-picky” job with no room for error. But it all turned out OK when I did it (even the first time), so I know it is far from impossible.
Ed
Thank you very much for suggestions.
Today i discovered interesting thing. in my collection couldn’t be run on code83 only two locomotives and both were AC converted into DC. today i visited local hobby shop and was looking at ROCO E-32 (dc version). it was older one then mine but wheels are different and that one will run on 83 without problem. It seems that ROCO AC trains have different wheels with bigger flanges.
So i think maybe i will order spare wheels. the only problem is that in my country is only one shop with few trains and no roco dealer.
Crandell
Many years ago, I did fix the deep flanges on a model using the method you described with a slight variation. I used a Dremel motor with a cutting disk on it running about half speed as a type of lathe while running the model at a medium speed. Yes, the work must be done slowly to prevent heat but with the model running upside down in a holder, the Dremel motor will remove the flanges fairly quickly. It allowed the model to run on tracks it would not run previously.
CZ
Hi, CZ. You must not have been concerned about filings…? Or had you taken steps to prevent their ingress into the ‘works’? I don’t even like scrubbing the dark grey gunk off my metal tires with an inverted item, especially an engine. Applying Bull Frog Snot that way was, of course, the way to go.
-Crandell