Scalefour Forum

Some Bachmann RTR vehicles come with split axles with electrical pick-up through the axle bearings. They run very freely but, unfortunately, some types are too narrow for P4 wheelsets. Here’s how I widened the bogies of a Bachmann/Kernow 4TC.

1. The bogie as supplied:


2. Pop the wheels out and unclip the brake shoe moulding

3. Undo the two tiny screws to release the pick-up/bearing strips

4. Score along the top of the longitudinal part of the frame and snap off the sides

5. Make up new stretchers from 60 thou plasticard for each bogie; the rectangular slots don’t need to be accurate but it’s best if the 2.0mm holes are.

6. Slot the bogie sides into the new stretcher – the posts for the screws go through the holes and the contacts that take power up to the coach go through the slots


7. Refit the pick-up strips to the bogie sides and reinsert the screws – this clamps the new stretcher to the bogie sides

8. Re-assembled bogie from above

9. Glue the longitudinal part of the bogie frame to the new stretcher, butanone works well

10. View from below

11. Cut the brake shoe moulding into five parts as shown

12. Glue the brake shoe parts to the bogie ensuring clearance from the wheels– butanone works here too. These 12mm wheels are sold by Branchlines for conversion of the Bachmann DMU centre cars; they use the plastic centre bush from the original split axles but I have also made replacements from plastic tube so I can sell on the complete OO axles. Other wheel sizes will need an alternative source of split axles.

13. Finished bogie, you could probably get away without the brake shoes

Simon,

Not in the slightest bit of relevance for my Great Eastern Railway, circa 1909 modelling.

But I wanted to say a really big thank you for the clear and comprehensive way that you showed that process. It won't help me, but I'm sure it will be an enormous help to many other members of the Society.

Thank you.
Flymo

Flymo748 wrote:Simon,

But I wanted to say a really big thank you for the clear and comprehensive way that you showed that process. It won't help me, but I'm sure it will be an enormous help to many other members of the Society.

Thank you.
Flymo

Certainly of interest to me.

I have some of the spacers that were produced a while back for widening the Bachmann bogies, but this method will be useful when I run out, especially as it keeps the pickup brass.

Thanks Simon.

Yes very helpful Simon and a bit better than the methods I have used so far,

Terry Bendall

This is such a cracking thread, thank you!

Would this method work for the EPBs Do you think?

Yes, should work for the EPB too but the length and width may need to differ.

bigdaveadams1 wrote:Would this method work for the EPBs Do you think?

We have three EPBs converted by a similar method and they work well.

Terry Bendall

Thank you both for replying, I'll see how I get on with my 108. f that works alright, I'll set about something a bit more involved like my EPBs.