I do not machine castings for customers apart from plain wheels for diesel locos.
Different machinists have their own preferred methods of mounting wheels:
Walsall Model Industries can machine my castings and mount them on their square ended, self quartering axles. Insulation where required is inserted across the individual spokes.
Steve Ross uses Tufnol or Delrin hub insulation where required, mounting the wheels on round-ended, telescopic jointed axles quartered and kept in position with a taper pin.
His contact details can be supplied on request - From 27 Feb 2005, due to a vision problem Steve has ceased to accept new orders, for now at least.
CASTING MATERIALS:
In 2024 castings for Gauge One and larger when made in cast iron suffered from a small number of random, unpredictable rejects due to crumbling of the ceramic casings for the thicker castings.
Test castings in 2024 in mild steel grade CLA 8 were generally satisfactory. CLA 8 is harder than cast iron. CLA 8 tyre profiles can be cut with a form tool but with lighter cuts than with cast iron.
For something less hard a batch was cast with CLA 1A. This is softer than CLA 8 but less machinable, making the work difficult to hold on a mandrel against a form tool without stripping the thread. In CLA 1A there were also a number of voids caused by trapped gasses.
For now at least, new castings will be made in grey cast iron Grade 250 as previously. It is self lubricating during machining and does not form burrs. There have been fewer losses recently from crumbling ceramic cases which may be linked to a change of casting wax.
RECENT ADDITIONS
March 2025
GWR 2-8-0 42xx at 7 mm/ft.
GWR 2-8-2 72xx at 7 mm/ft.
July 2025
GER 2-4-0 T26, Intermediates/LNER E4 at 7 mm/ft. .
GER 2-4-0 T19, Standards. at 7 mm/ft.
GER 4-4-0 T19R/LNER D13 at 7 mm/ft.
LBSC, GER and others 2-2-2 Jenny Lind at 1:32.
GWR 4-4-0 Armstrong at 7 mm/ft.
SR 4-4-0 L1 at 7 mm/ft.
GWR 0-6-0 Dean Goods for Gauge 3.
August 2025
GER 0-6-0 F58, G58/LNER J16, J17 at 7 mm/ft.
GWR 4-6-0 Hall, later wheels, at 7 mm/ft.
LMS 2-8-0 Stanier 8F at 1:32.
BR 4-6-2 Britannia for 5″ gauge, bogie and tender wheels.
November 2025
GWR 4-4-2 Star at 1:32.
Brecon & Merthyr 2-4-0T at 7 mm/ft.
Stockton & Darlington 4-4-0 Saltburn at 7 mm/ft.
IN THE PIPELINE
GWR 4-4-2 La France at 7 mm/ft. Waits casting.
NE 4-4-0 Q1/LNER D18 at 7 mm/ft. Waits casting.
NE 4-4-0 R1/LNER D21 at 7 mm/ft. Waits moulds.
GWR 4-6-0 early Hall at 1:32. Waits moulds.
Revised 4 Jan 2026.