Impressive, indeed

I've seen this before, but it's always nice to see those drivers again.  If only I had a lathe and mill with a rotary table, I could make Aluminum jigs for all the drivers I want, and turn the tires for them.

I wonder if a jig could be made which would hold a half axle and tire well enough to allow the wheel to be soldered and work without further machining?  I also wonder if something could be made which would hold a tire and axle (or tube for accepting a solid axle) and allow an injection molded, 3D printed, or resin center to be bonded in place, again without requiring further machining.

My thoughts

Ken,

I played around with the idea of using a tire from another locomotive an trying to resin cast the wheel. Never got there. I would think doing a 3D print for a master to pour resin cast ones could possibly work.

I think you really need to see about a lathe, especially one like the Sherline. They are quite small and could be stored in a box of cabinet grade wood made to look like a piece of furniture.

Bernd