![\"\"](\"https:\/\/ngtrains.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Tyres-Bulk.jpg\")
<\/a>For a long while I have wanted to wheels to suit specific narrow gauge models as these are my speciality. They are poorly provided for by the wheel manufacturers although some progress was made when Alan Gibson Ltd was still run by Alan and the turned parts produced by the other two Alan’s in the Alan triumvirate.\u00a0 Tyres weren’t a problem and Mr G produced injection moulded centres for several loco’s.<\/p>\nThe likely sales quantities always made it difficult to justify the tooling for injection moulded centres but Mr G always did his best to help.<\/p>\n
Time moves on inexorably.<\/p>\n
- \n
- Alan G retired and sold the business.<\/li>\n
- The Alans of AHB closed up the shop<\/li>\n
- 3D printing matured and gave us an alternative method for the centres<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
If only I could get the tyres now.\u00a0 Initial optimism was frustrated by deliveries taking over a year and needing nagging to get a burst of activity leaving me with a bunch of kit designs with no wheels and for a long while nowhere to go so they stalled.<\/p>\n
A breakthrough was made back in May when, at a model “do” in Wales, I was introduced to a machine shop probably best described and a CNC machine enthusiast and collector looking to keep them busy. The second spur was Bachmann with their NG7 Hunslet and my need to regauge them. This resulted in my new CNC friend producing axle and bearings to match. The economical quantities means it makes sense to adopt these as a standard.<\/p>\n