comparing 33" and 36" code 88 HO wagon wheels

Hi

I do not know much about HO rolling stock wheels and wondering if there's a resource that compares the wheels of various manufacturers? I'm thinking of .088"semi finescale metal wheels, mainly.

I know 33" wheels in HO should be 9.6mm (.3785") and 36" wheels 10.5mm (0.413").

Despite this, I assume that there will be variations - it is ever thus - and I'd just like to know how the various makers' wheels stack up.

I'm actually looking for something about halfway between, ie, a project that needs 10mm (.394") wheels, so I'm hoping to be the beneficiary of some maker's inaccuracy.

I'm told Proto 36" wheels are actually 35" over the tread, so that might be handy.

Regards


Ben

 

Not going into fractions of an inch, 33 inch wheels would normally ne used on freight equipment and 36 inch wheel would be used of passenger equipment.

 

When I started my layout over 25 years ago, I started my freight car fleet at the same time. A lot of what I had back then were old Athern blue box kits, many which I custom decorated for my free lance rail and some were decorated with dry transfers for railroads that interested me and I couldn't find pre painted. At the time, Kadee metal wheels were all that was available. All freight cars got the 33 inch wheels, and passenger cars got the 36 inch wheels.

Since than other manufacturers have come out with metal wheels. I have also used Intermountain wheels. All have the RP-25 contour and will run on track as small as code 55 which Ironhorseman stated. My layout is all code 70 and I have no problems at all. Every piece of rolling stock I have has has their wheel sets replaced with metal wheels.

 

The differences between wheel sizes has more to do w/ weight of the car & the load carried than the type of car. In other words the more weight the larger the wheel size. 28" wheels are used on some spine cars because they & their loads are relatively light. Any freight car rated around 70 tons can have 33" wheels. 100 ton cars have 36" or even38" wheels. Intermodal well cars can have 33" on the ends & 36" on the middle trucks.

 

Guys, I know the difference between the various prototype wheel diameters and what they are used for.

I created this thread because I am interested in finding code 88 HO scale model wheels that vary from the size they are supposed to be.

For example, Spikre mentioned that Walthers/Proto 36" wheels are actually 35" and I'm wondering for example, whether there might be a 33" wheel that's a little oversize.

Regards,

Ben