Jig/tool for aligning W-iron axle assemblies parallel?

[Lacathedrale]

Is there an obvious jig/etc. that I can use to align pairs axles when they are inserted into W-iron assemblies, in order to fix those W-irons parallel to each other? I'm thinking specifically of those kits which have loose irons rather than those which are tab/slot located - i.e. the Woodham Wagon Works kit I'm working through presently. 

 

I have managed this by eye using scribed lines in the past, but it feels like a simple fold down jig with parallel slots of standard axle spacings would make alot of sense? I'm sure i've seen something like this knocking around but I can't think of where. 

 

Cheers!

Edited July 8, 2022 by Lacathedrale

[41516]

The Bill Bedford Jig? Or Brassmasters

Edited July 8, 2022 by 41516

[Lacathedrale]

Thanks, requested an order for the Brassmasters one along with some copper chain for my three-links (it seems the Carpet Monster has craved significant sacrifices)

[Enterprisingwestern]

 

My method with the BB jig, 2mm stubs and twinky clips.

 

Mike.

[MPR]

Take a piece of 40 thou styrene sheet, drill a pair of 2mm holes set at the desired spacing, then cut the sheet down the middle through hole centres? Each half can then sit on the axles, located by the semicircular cutouts.

[cctransuk]

30 minutes ago, MPR said:

Take a piece of 40 thou styrene sheet, drill a pair of 2mm holes set at the desired spacing, then cut the sheet down the middle through hole centres? Each half can then sit on the axles, located by the semicircular cutouts.

 

..... just make sure that the ends of the two pieces of card are in line, perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle. Otherwise, you'll have a parallelogram rather than a rectangle!

 

CJI.

[Gordon A]

Brass Masters do an excellent set of wagon axle jigs.

    

 

http://brassmasters.co.uk/axle_gauges.htm

 

[Lacathedrale]

Brassmasters have said their 00 gauge 'doesn't work' with EM and P4 - I can't figure out why and have asked - but does anyone have any insight why this might be?

[41516]

Because it also acts as a back to back and in wider gauges it won't set both axles tightly and might allow some misalignment.

 

OO/EM/P4 from rear to front

 

 

 

 

[Enterprisingwestern]

It's not that it "doesn't work", more that, IMHO, it's only a tool for getting the axles parallel, the btb should be set before the wheels are offered up to the chassis, or shimming out with plasticard if its an issue.

 

Mike.

[Lacathedrale]

Thanks both, that makes alot of sense. So in theory I could use the 00 gauge if I had the relevant shim material for the wider gauges? 

[Miss Prism]

I suggest do not try to use an axle-setting gauge as a BTB. BB is set between the rear faces of the tyre. Different makes of wheel will have different projections from the rear of the boss at the axle axis, so BB cannot be set consistently at that area.

 

[jamieb]

I just use bare axles with no wheelsets attached.The etched slots are tight enough to prevent slop.That way the gauge becomes irrelevant 

[41516]

34 minutes ago, Miss Prism said:

Different makes of wheel will have different projections from the rear of the boss at the axle axis, so BB cannot be set consistently at that area.

 

Back to back was the wrong description in retrospect, but the jigs are set to minimise movement for each gauge wheelset, with about 0.5mm each side as some allowance for differences in wheels. The jig actually need to be pinched in slightly for any metal wheels with an insulating boss onto the axle (Romfords, etc) as they project out.

 

49 minutes ago, Lacathedrale said:

So in theory I could use the 00 gauge if I had the relevant shim material for the wider gauges? 

 

Are you just wanting to us the same jig for multiple gauges?

 

The jig is there to set things up so both axles are parallel, either have a spare set of axles as mentioned above, or set of 00 wheels just used to set things up, then swap over to your 'actual' EM/P4 wheelset later, providing both are the same length axle (26mm)?  

 

Edited July 13, 2022 by 41516

[Enterprisingwestern]

 

Also, unless you have 5 hands, setting the position of two floating solebars using the Brassmasters jig is "testing" shall we say!

 

Mike.

[Lacathedrale]

Yes, I would like to use the same jig for 00, EM, S, etc.  My reference for shims was incase there was too much slop. I generally don't deal with floating solebars, mostly W-iron units.

[DCB]

2 hours ago, Lacathedrale said:

Thanks both, that makes alot of sense. So in theory I could use the 00 gauge if I had the relevant shim material for the wider gauges? 

You could use a second Brassmasters gauge, cut the sides off and use them as the shims.  It is very important to keep the axles parallel  in all planes, I just wish Hornby Dublo had realised that when they made their wagon chassis. Parallelogram is the kindest possible description for some of those in my collection. 

[41516]

1 hour ago, Lacathedrale said:

I generally don't deal with floating solebars, mostly W-iron units.

 

So the BB jig may be of better use to you, as it fits behind the W-irons, and final gauge won't matter (or have one of each?).

 

 

 

Edited July 13, 2022 by 41516

[Enterprisingwestern]

 

The BB jig won't/shouldn't  fit within the rocking W irons as they are both the same dimension between uprights, at least in my experience.

 

Mike.

[Lochgorm]

11 hours ago, Lacathedrale said:

Brassmasters have said their 00 gauge 'doesn't work' with EM and P4 - I can't figure out why and have asked - but does anyone have any insight why this might be?

It may quite possibly be because Brassmasters also produce gauges for EM/P4:

 

https://www.brassmasters.co.uk/axle_gauges.htm

 

Charlie

[Lacathedrale]

I've got a milling machine, is there any reason why I couldn't use a V-cutter to create grooves rather than semicircular cut-outs? 

[airnimal]

My jigs are simple home produced by clamping 2 pieces of plasticard together and drilling them as one. The back to back of the wheels should surely be set before they are installed in the W-irons. Again a simple home produced jig from turned brass rod. Once installed the W-irons can be located with packing to keep them central without any end float. 

[Lacathedrale]

Lovely - but those are dependent on internal rather than external bearings, which is a good deal more common in 0 than 4mm?