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You buy a thousand dollar or more engine in the case of the Niagara and although greatly detailed from the Post-War cast steam engine models with many applied parts , you still see the screw heads holding on the wheels. WHY is this detail so hard to escape.

In another thread

https://ogrforum.com/...1#153603997024292861

Pete ("Norton") made some significant modifications to the Lionel Vision Niagara. One of those changes included modifying the screw head that holds the wheels to look more like bearing retainers that are on the actual Niagara (and other engines).

Pete meticulously filed and drilled a screw to simulated the wheel bearing.  See the thread pictures. It is difficult to make these as each one is hand-made.

So in concert with Pete I designed a wheel COVER to fit over the screw that I am printing now. It looks like this.

Note the bottom Right side view that is GHOSTED to show the inner recesses around the star-shaped bolts and the recess at the bottom. The inner diameter of the underside recess is 0.237 inches.



niagra wheel cover

IF THIS PRINT WORKS, and the application also works email me how many you want. Since I will be printing these a about 120 a crack I should have enough.

Now you will still need to paint them from the gray color of the resin and attach them.

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  • niagra wheel cover
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@trnluvr posted:

Those came out real nice!  Alan, don't sell yourself short the printer is only as good as the guy doing the cad. Depending on the thickness maybe a 1/16" magnet could be embedded in them to hold them on.

Doug

Magnets would only work if the fastener is steel,...if they’re stainless, no dice,....I’d just assume use a tiny dab of automotive silicone and let it cure overnight,...that way, it’s rubberized, they can easily be picked off for any service work, peel off any residual silicone, re-apply, and be right back in business,....simple, easy, affordable and reusable,.....😁....I like easy!.

Pat

IF THIS PRINT WORKS, and the application also works email me how many you want. Since I will be printing these a about 120 a crack I should have enough.

Now you will still need to paint them from the gray color of the resin and attach them.

Alan, I’m not sure how many people will take you up on your offer, but to me, just the fact that you took the time to prepare and print this for the benefit for others is remarkable.

Keep up the great work!

Charlie

Yes, they sure look nice. May I suggest that the edit your thread title, as these items are NOT "Wheel covers", but covers for the roller bearing side rod crank pins. The axle ends on modern steam locomotive are hollow (you can actually see through the entire length of the driver axles), so putting any sort of "cover" over the axle ends of the drive wheels, might be a bit difficult.

As additional information, everyone might check out the roller bearing rods and crank pin "covers" on the MTH New York Central L4b Mohawk models equipped with roller bearing side rods. They are the absolute best!!!!

AlanRail, Looks Awesome so for. However, and please understand I am just trying to help here, because it is amazing what you have done, but I have just done some research and I believe that these nuts are not a star shape, but they are are what is called a Slotted Hex Nut. Slotted hex nuts are nuts with portions cut out designed to be used with a cotter pin to create a locking mechanism. I have included the best picture I could find of the Niagara side rods, and a Picture of a Slotted Hex Nut.Wheelshex nut

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  • Slotted hex nut
Last edited by Tom 4
@Tom 4 posted:

Sorry, wasn't thinking about that being an issue. Just trying to share some findings.

Well, if anyone has the book "Know Thy Niagaras" page 19 has the best picture of the Side rods, and you can see the Slotted Hex Nuts.

No worries, glad you pulled it down, ....the cops don’t discriminate, they just up and snatch the entire thread .....they don’t have the time to weed out individual posts/replies,.......it is a very helpful pic, and as Pete mentioned, it’s already in the hands of Alan, ....now the useful thread can carry on,....😉.....

Pat

@Tom 4 posted:

AlanRail, Looks Awesome so for. However, and please understand I am just trying to help here, because it is amazing what you have done, but I have just done some research and I believe that these nuts are not a star shape, but they are are what is called a Slotted Hex Nut. Slotted hex nuts are nuts with portions cut out designed to be used with a cotter pin to create a locking mechanism. I have included the best picture I could find of the Niagara side rods, and a Picture of a Slotted Hex Nut.Wheelshex nut

Commonly referred to in the steam locomotive industry as a "Castle Nut" because it is "castellated" for the cotter keys. .

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OGR Publishing, Inc., 1310 Eastside Centre Ct, Ste 6, Mountain Home, AR 72653
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