Slaters wheel sizes

Northsider

Northsider

Modelling the Northern half of the Isle of Man
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Am I the only one who finds the sizing of Slater's wheels impenetrable? They give scale diameters such as 1'3", but not the actual, real life diameter:mad:. So when trying to find a wheel of the size I need, I have to find out what the scale is, find a suitable diameter in that scale and convert feet and inches into its scaled-down metric equivalent. I'm after 35mm diameter disc wheels, and it looks like they do a Gauge 1 (10mm Scale) 3'6" wheel which I believe will give me what I want -but it seems a very roundabout way of working...

Sorry, rant over. I'm off to lie down in a darkened room...:sweating:
 
We could wheely do with a quote from a spokesperson, assuming they are not too tired.

David
 
Looking for options for my San Francesco Streetcar came across the same issue, most G Gauge sites gave the actual size, but as you say Slaters give the 1:1 size and the scale.
 
JimmyB said:
Looking for options for my San Francesco Streetcar came across the same issue, most G Gauge sites gave the actual size, but as you say Slaters give the 1:1 size and the scale.
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I suspect it is very much due to the fact that Slaters probably see their client base as Scale Modeller's looking for a wheel of size and model scale. Probably not too helpful to many of us using not only possibly a different scale to the one that the wheel has been designed for (10mm to the foot?) but also as we are often grappling with rubber rulers when it comes to our scale.
 
Northsider said:
Am I the only one who finds the sizing of Slater's wheels impenetrable? They give scale diameters such as 1'3", but not the actual, real life diameter:mad:. So when trying to find a wheel of the size I need, I have to find out what the scale is, find a suitable diameter in that scale and convert feet and inches into its scaled-down metric equivalent. I'm after 35mm diameter disc wheels, and it looks like they do a Gauge 1 (10mm Scale) 3'6" wheel which I believe will give me what I want -but it seems a very roundabout way of working...

Sorry, rant over. I'm off to lie down in a darkened room...:sweating:
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No, you're right - that is the only way to work out what you want.

I think it's because most of their customers are more likely to approach the lists from the scale that they work in, unlike us freelancers :rolleyes::rolleyes:

Once you've found your wheel, you need to make sure that you can buy an axle of the right diameter for the gauge you want, and then hope you can find a gear set to fit it :worried::worried::worried::worried:

We suffer for our art ;)
 
The puns do seem to have gone up a notch? - A real change of gear.
>:):nerd:
 
Northsider said:
Am I the only one who finds the sizing of Slater's wheels impenetrable? They give scale diameters such as 1'3", but not the actual, real life diameter:mad:. So when trying to find a wheel of the size I need, I have to find out what the scale is, find a suitable diameter in that scale and convert feet and inches into its scaled-down metric equivalent. I'm after 35mm diameter disc wheels, and it looks like they do a Gauge 1 (10mm Scale) 3'6" wheel which I believe will give me what I want -but it seems a very roundabout way of working...

Sorry, rant over. I'm off to lie down in a darkened room...:sweating:
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I suspect most wheels they sell are to specific scales and there fore the dimension as if they were for full sized locos/stock works for most purchasers.
The fact that those of us that model in scales they (manufacturers) don’t necessarily see as a significant market will cause us to have to do the double scale conversion hoop jump you describe.
The consequences of modelling in ‘minority’ interest scales !
 
Flying15 said:
The consequences of modelling in ‘minority’ interest scales !
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I had to dig to find out about the scale for Gauge 3: even the G3 Soc aren't entirely sure, it seems: this is from their website:

Historically, some Gauge ‘3’ models of standard gauge prototypes were built to a scale of ½" to the foot. However, well known prolific locomotive designers like Henry Greenly and “LBSC” worked to the established scale of 17/32” (or 13.5mm) to the foot. The only standards that must be observed are the track gauge of 2½" or 63.5mm and the standards for wheel measurements.

Which looks like the old argument about gauge versus scale. probably best not to go there....
 
As a fine scale modeller coming in to the larger scales (note plural, scales) I can now see the frustration.
The wheel being referenced to a scale is still important to me though. I decided from the outset to build my track to Gauge 1 fine scale standards which means I need to use Gauge 1 fine scale wheels, so I always look for wheels in the Gauge 1 fine scale section, if I use 16mm scale wheels I need to ensure they are the fine scale ones, nothing new for me.

I can see the challenge for non fine scale modellers, which wheels do you need, I would say if you have 45mm gauge track you'd want Gauge 1 or 10mm scale, both are designed for 45mm gauge track they are just made to different scales, yes Gauge 1 should just be Gauge 1 but someone decided at some point to use 10mm scale as the scale for Gauge 1'ish models just to cause confusion.

So to my fine scale modeller point t view slaters method of wheel identification is easy to follow.

Now I want to see what puns you clever folk get from that spiel :)
 
Not sure if this will help, it's from the DJB coach instructions, comes with Tenmille gauge 1 wagon wheels (yep, I like em too, own pun included :D) double spoke 32mm part number AG158.
 
Northsider said:
I had to dig to find out about the scale for Gauge 3: even the G3 Soc aren't entirely sure, it seems: this is from their website:

Historically, some Gauge ‘3’ models of standard gauge prototypes were built to a scale of ½" to the foot. However, well known prolific locomotive designers like Henry Greenly and “LBSC” worked to the established scale of 17/32” (or 13.5mm) to the foot. The only standards that must be observed are the track gauge of 2½" or 63.5mm and the standards for wheel measurements.

Which looks like the old argument about gauge versus scale. probably best not to go there....
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Gauge 3 is a bit of a mess, one would have thought that there could be some symmetry but no. As you say the Track Gauge is pretty well defined, but their crib sheet gives things like height, buffer and width specs but no scale! Wonder if they learnt from G scale? After all the size pretty well matches its just that they are standard gauge. I have been messing a little with Gauge 3 and scaled up a Y6 Steam Tram which I have scratched to body onto an LGB Chassis with the wheels bodged out to 63.5 gauge. I convinced myself that somewhere I had gone wrong as it looked too big, but then I remembered that the Wagon I was comparing it with was an old LnY Cattle Truck that may have been of a smaller build in them days. Who knows, I wont till I plonk it on one of the G3 layouts to see how it scales up.
 
dunnyrail said:
Gauge 3 is a bit of a mess, one would have thought that there could be some symmetry but no. As you say the Track Gauge is pretty well defined, but their crib sheet gives things like height, buffer and width specs but no scale! Wonder if they learnt from G scale? After all the size pretty well matches its just that they are standard gauge. I have been messing a little with Gauge 3 and scaled up a Y6 Steam Tram which I have scratched to body onto an LGB Chassis with the wheels bodged out to 63.5 gauge. I convinced myself that somewhere I had gone wrong as it looked too big, but then I remembered that the Wagon I was comparing it with was an old LnY Cattle Truck that may have been of a smaller build in them days. Who knows, I wont till I plonk it on one of the G3 layouts to see how it scales up.
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Gauge 1 isn't much better, with two defined scales of 1:32 and 10mm : 1ft - Slaters cater for both :devil: but as scratchbuilders, we have to search both lists :whew::whew:
 
Ugh I encountered the same problem. I'm going to take this opportunity to point out again that millimetres to the foot as a way to describe scale is the most utterly arcane and nonsensical thing ever. Just... whyyy. A ratio works with whatever measurements you like, you don't need to mix and match metric and imperial in some ungodly union that requires years of study to understand. I suspect it is because the imperial measurement system is so wildly impractical that just using the same unit (like millimetres) for both full scale and modelling is impractical, so they came up with.. that. If anyone is wondering what we can do to make modelling a more accessible hobby an excellent step would be to get rid of this sort of impenetrable jargon.

At least slaters has now graduated to a website with pictures, and the pictures of their products include a metric ruler so you can see approximately how big they are. Just putting the actual measurements in the product description would make life a lot easier though.
 
Paul M said:
Because we can! And why not?
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I think mr Melbourne does have a valid point, but we grew up with it in the UK and when you have been used to and using it for near 70 years in the UK (and possibly usa as well) changing is a bit tricky. Ok for the young wippersnappers in the forum to do other things.
 
Northsider said:
Henry Greenly and “LBSC” worked to the established scale of 17/32” (or 13.5mm) to the foot.
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Now that is an awkward size!
dunnyrail said:
I think mr Melbourne does have a valid point, but we grew up with it in the UK and when you have been used to and using it for near 70 years in the UK (and possibly usa as well) changing is a bit tricky. Ok for the young wippersnappers in the forum to do other things.
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Actually, I do agree with Mr Sparks, it just that its always been so, and for no good reason, so it must be done that way, because it's the way it's always bin done
 
dunnyrail said:
I think mr Melbourne does have a valid point, but we grew up with it in the UK and when you have been used to and using it for near 70 years in the UK (and possibly usa as well) changing is a bit tricky. Ok for the young wippersnappers in the forum to do other things.
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This 59 year old wippersnapper grew up with millimeters and has done nothing but struggle in life with feet, inches, chains and a whole raft of other forms of measurement.
I recall when I started on the railway here, the overhead line is all in metric whereas everything else was and is imperial, it still confuses me, we produce track designs in meters and order rail in feet.

Totally agree it would be helpful if slaters noted the actual wheel diameter in millimeters, the reference to the relevant scale the wheels are made for though is required to ensure someone wanting wheels for 7mm scale didn't buy wheels for say Gauge 3 because they would be incompatible with their track.

Viva la revolution, let's adopt the metric system in britain :)
 
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