Paging Joe Foehrkolb

try this...

CofG

As far as I know, my website is still functioning! Contact off list at the email address in the above posting and I will try to send you the information you are requesting.

Joe Foehrkolb

 Joe, if you see this I too need your help. Sending email on another project. Joe

Cof G

PP Presentation sent this morning.

Joe

Thanks Joe. I got the info.

CofG

"The Right Way"

Joe, one more question, on steam locos, how thick are the tires in terms of the side wall?? Is there an NMRA standard for sidewall thickness??

CofG

"The Right Way"

I know it is for Joe, but the answer is no, and it is the same answer for real locomotives.  They vary all over the map.  Driver diameter defines the thickness, and strength of the casting defines how much metal is outside of the spokes.

Cof G,

What Bob said.  Tire thickness is based on outside diameter of the center casting vs the outside diameter of the wheel tread you are trying to model.  It varies from model to model.  Just make them all the same on any model!

Joe

O.K. let me see if i get this. If the prototype that I'm modeling has say 57" drivers ( I assume they mean 57" on outside tire diameter ) then I mic my centers and then make my side wall tires the correct thickness to equal a scale 57". Would that be correct?

CofG

"The Right Way"

CofG,

That is correct but in modeling you also have to determine if the frame spacing of the drivers will accept the correct full driver diameter allowing for the flange diameter depth you decide to use.  Many O scale locomotives have drivers that are a couple of scale inches smaller than the prototype to allow for flange clearance .  For example, many PRR K-4s Pacific models have 78" drivers measured at the root of the flange to allow the drivers to be installed in a frame with correct driver spacing.  The real K-4s locomotives have 80" drivers but are so closely spaced that they would interfere with each other on a model with typical O scale flanges that are 0.045" to 0.62" deep.  All of this has to be considered when machining drivers for a model.  Of course if you leave the flanges off of some drivers, then you can space the drivers correctly and also make the tread diameter exact.

The radius of curvature that the model will be expected to negotiate may also determine whether some flanges are eliminated on the model's tires.  This was true on some real locomotives also.

Also lateral motion in the driver axles needs to be considered when fitting the drivers to the frame.  I adjust lateral motion with custom machined spacer washers for each model that I rework.

These are decison you have to make before you start machining the drives for a model.

I just received a Lionel UP 4-12-2 to convert to 2 rail.  This should be interesting.

Joe Foehrkolb

Thanks Joe for all your advice. I plan doing my first 2 railing and it will be with a cheap semi scale model. That way if I mess up it wont be on an expensive model. Thanks again for your help. If I mess up and can't seem to do it, I may send my good models to you for conversion.

CofG

"The Right Way"