John Cutler
No-one produces the correct driving wheel in EM for the Adams Radial Tank: 5’7” diameter, 18 spokes, crank In-Line with spokes, and, I think, a 14” crankthrow.
I followed Pete Hill’s recommendation to use the K3wheel; 5’8” dia, 18 spokes, Pin Between spokes and 13” crankthrow. The smaller crankthrow compensates for the larger diameter wheel’s effect on the piston travel. The larger diameter wheel potentially gives problems with splasher clearance. Strangely I had no problem with that on my first conversion but suffered with my second! The slightly reduced crankthrow gives less chance of the crankpin fouling the footplate and I had no problems with that.
In service, these tanks would often run with worn-down wheels to a 1” smaller diameter. If a 5’6” dia wheel is used, it seems to me that visual compromises are required. The obvious alternative is the M7 wheel which has the crank In-Line but suffers from a much-reduced 9” crankthrow. This would look odd in motion, not just at the crank but at the lack of piston travel. The S15/H16 wheel has bevel rather than plain spokes. The Met E wheel should look OK with a crankthrow of 11.5”. But is it available with 3mm axles to suit the Hornby chassis (note the Oxford Radial chassis can use 1/8” axles)? There is no AG conversion set listed for it.
I wish someone would produce splined EM axles to suit Hornby’s wheels!