Moose missing a few Micro-Trains RPO car brake wheels. Micro-Trains' website shows Miner brake wheels and Ajax brake wheels. Their images are not clear, so cannot tell for certain which might be a suitable replacement. Can any one help a poor moose figure out which replacement wheel is applicable to the passenger RPO coaches?
I believe they are both freight car brake wheels. Here is an ad showing a minor: https://trainlife.com/products/ho-s...5Tsa22yHrp8BIvFguFXAnHUIowB9HNwhoCtw4QAvD_BwE Here is an ad showing an Ajax: https://eugenetoyandhobby.com/shop/...OVrvr_4g30RjoLvDKVxBq0mZoPJnZ4nxoCZrUQAvD_BwE I do not think either are right for HW cars. You can compare with ones you have on your other cars & decide. That leads to a question. Is there a universal detail part supplier in N scale? In HO that would be Kadee and a couple of others. Where do the kit bashers go in N scale. Do they 3D print them? Hum.....
@ggnlars Thank you for the links. Moose has another RPO with its brake wheels intact (see photo), and the Ajax and Minor brake wheels are not at all similar. Moose had assumed that Micro-Trains would fabricate and therefore separately sell the details that they use on their rolling stock.Unfortunately, their website doesn't appear to have these (nor passenger car coupler pins!)... There are a number of companies that make rolling stock details for kit bashing or super-detailing, Tichy Trains Group and Gold Medal Models come to mind, so Moose checked both. Tichy Trains' offerings are not appropriate, but possibly Gold Medal Models' 160-55, but paying ~ $9.00 + shipping for two wee brake wheels seems insane. ... Groan!
Gold Medal makes etched brake wheels for a dozen or more applications that look really good. Gold Medal Models - Assorted Brake Wheels (goldmm.com) Its a lifetime supply of really nice brake wheels.
I don't know what the round brake wheel with spiral spokes is called, so that is hindering progress a bit. However, you may want to consider the Peacock style wheel. I know some PRR cars had a similar shaped wheel (but larger and with 6 spokes instead of 5), so those could be another option.
It's looking like purchasing the Gold Medal Models is the best route, both for selection (90 count covering 15 styles) and total cost. Just better need the remaining 88 wheels after this RPO gets it two wheels ... Now, to find someone online that still has some for sale at a reasonable price plus low shipping and no taxes...
Micro-trains will often sell parts for current production cars even though the parts are not listed in the catalog. Contact them directly (see contact information on their website). I've even called for parts and had success.
Thank you, good to know! Sent in a request about the brake wheels (and about an elusive plastic pin they use for passenger car coupler boxes) this morning, so perhaps they will have some they can provide me... Hooves crossed!
@nickelplate759 Just talked with a Micro-Trains representative and the RPO brake wheels have been ordered!
Ummm As much as that can and does happen, in this case the wheels were missing from an umassembled MT kit that Moose picked up at a swap meet before Covid...
Good deals come with baggage, eh? I have a set of those GMM brakewheels and have used some, in the 20 + years that I have had the set!
Post human delivered a package from Micro-Trains this morning ... Micro-Trains sent Peacock brake wheels, which do not match what is on Moose's other RPO cars. What Moose requested and what is stated on the MT invoice are RPO brake wheels, so that's what's going on the MT&P RPO car!