Garden Railway Forum

Does anyone know if there is a business who supplies little brass handwheels, like the ones found on locomotives and in ships? I mean the kind upon which one of the spokes sticks out farther than the others.

I think one of those would look nice on a Roundhouse loco in lieu of the solid brass knob on the gas regulator. I don't even know what these are called to do an online search.

Anyone seen one, particularly on a Roundhouse gas regulator? I have attached a photo of the kind I mean, and I've drawn red circles around it and a red arrow pointing at it, so yo7'll know which one I mean.

Keith S wrote: ↑Tue May 23, 2023 8:19 pm Does anyone know if there is a business who supplies little brass handwheels, like the ones found on locomotives and in ships? I mean the kind upon which one of the spokes sticks out farther than the others.

I'm not aware of any hand wheels that are available to directly fit RH gas valves, or other brands for that matter. There are hand wheel castings of the type you describe that are available from Model Engineering suppliers, but they need some work to fit.

Polly Model Engineering/Bruce Engineering list various types and sizes down to 1/2" in their catalog on p22. https://www.pollymodelengineering.co.uk

Roger Melton at Just the Ticket Engineering Supplies also lists some hand wheel castings, but no details in the price list. Might be worth contacting him, as he specialises in G1, where there is even less space to fit things than we have on ng models. https://www.justtheticketsupplies.co.uk

On recent models I've made and fitted gas valves disguised as a brake standard, but the photos show a modified RH gas valve knob that I've used on a couple of RH based models and a couple of sizes of scratchbuilt hand wheels used on other models.

If you've got a mate with a lathe they are easy to knock up. Even a Unimat would manage to turn them in brass.

The first pic shows the modified RH gas knob (which is 1/2" dia.) on my SR&RL #24 and the Hunslet saddle tank has one as well. The RH knob now has a decorative groove and some holes in the front face and the knurled section has been shortened a bit. The side handle is just a piece of 1/8" brass rod threaded M3 at one end that is screwed into the grub screw hole after the grub screw is fitted. The handle provides more leverage to adjust the gas and if you set it up right it acts as a pointer indicating the gas setting......


The next pic is a small 3/8" wheel fitted to the Argyle Philadelphia. A scratchbuilt brass turning, similar in appearance to the modified RH knob, but smaller, as space is restricted on this model.


The last pic is the large 1/2" version of the scratchbuilt hand wheel that is fitted to the Accucraft Shay in lieu of the r/c crank that the factory fitted. I need to make another one of these for the Accucraft Climax when I start modifying it.


Regards,
Graeme

I always try Cornwall Model Boats, for this type of thing..

Phil.P

Thanks guys. Will look into these options.

I am not a live-steam man but I have had items from this company.....

https://www.walsallmodelindustries.co.u ... php/?k=:73::

When living in the West Midlands I even managed a visit to their workshop, and that was quite some experience! They are truly a 'long established' business and know their stuff.