Richard Spoors
Western Thunderer
Marklin have produced G1 for many years, but only recently have they moved up market to compete with the likes of Kiss and KM1. That said, some of their early models, whilst lacking detail, are a good bet if you can pick a model up at a good price on Ebay then set about improvements.
A good first step might be to change the wheel with the traction tyre. As I am fortunate to have a suitable lathe I'm half way through this project. The majority of the work is designing and producing the mandrels required to push the old tyre off and then put the new one on. Sadly Marklin, who have an excellent service department that supplies spare parts, doesn't have many parts left for its older models. I was lucky and managed to buy a spare set of trailing driving wheels for my class 91 Prussian tank engine to give me two new tyres.
My next step is to improve the coarse profile of the flanges. For this I am making an arbor which I hope will hold the wheel and allow me to make some fine cuts with a flange profile tool obtained from a supplier in Germany.
Are there any readers who have attempted anything like this? It would be good to hear of your experiences as I'm sort of working in the dark!
The photograph shows the wheel on the arbor. Next task is to cut a 6M thread for the nut that will hold the wheel tight.
Cheers
Richard
A good first step might be to change the wheel with the traction tyre. As I am fortunate to have a suitable lathe I'm half way through this project. The majority of the work is designing and producing the mandrels required to push the old tyre off and then put the new one on. Sadly Marklin, who have an excellent service department that supplies spare parts, doesn't have many parts left for its older models. I was lucky and managed to buy a spare set of trailing driving wheels for my class 91 Prussian tank engine to give me two new tyres.
My next step is to improve the coarse profile of the flanges. For this I am making an arbor which I hope will hold the wheel and allow me to make some fine cuts with a flange profile tool obtained from a supplier in Germany.
Are there any readers who have attempted anything like this? It would be good to hear of your experiences as I'm sort of working in the dark!
The photograph shows the wheel on the arbor. Next task is to cut a 6M thread for the nut that will hold the wheel tight.
Cheers
Richard
