Correct Sized Finescale Wheelsets For Your New Accurascale 50? No Problem!

Warbonnet · 2025-06-06T11:38:39Z

Creating an accurate OO gauge diesel locomotive to run on HO track is a challenge for any manufacturer—and one we relish.

Producing a model of an English Electric class machine is even tougher.

Why?

Well, aside from the beautiful and complex shapes and curves that our 1960s classics from the Vulcan Foundry present (which we capture precisely using our laser scanning techniques), there's one other styling cue that makes life even more difficult for manufacturers: the way the tops of the wheelsets are tucked under the body sides on locomotives like the Deltics, Class 37s, and Class 50s.

This presents an engineering challenge, as the industry-accepted minimum radius for OO is radius 2. The bodyside hinders the rotation of the bogies due to the wheelsets making contact with the underside of the bodyside, thus restricting movement.

So, what do we do?

For the Class 37, we were able to engineer the model with scale-sized wheelsets in OO, as the bodyshell does not taper as dramatically as that of a Deltic or Class 50—no problems there! However, to maintain a prototypically accurate body shape for both our Class 55 and Class 50, we had to fit them with slightly smaller radius wheels as a compromise in OO gauge.

This typically doesn't present an issue, as the tops of the wheels are usually hidden beneath the bodyside—except when viewed very closely.

Taking feedback from our Deltic model, we understand that finescale modellers working in EM and P4 gauges generally use layouts with more generous curvature than in OO. As a result, we’ve developed a clever ride height solution that allows finescale modellers to fit scale-sized wheels while maintaining the correct ride height for the Class 50.

Check out our videos below to learn how to change the wheelsets and adjust the ride height! While not a "drop-in" solution, EM and P4 modellers should have the requisite skill sets to handle the conversion without too much difficulty using our step-by-step guide.

Ride Height Conversion

Finescale Wheelset Conversion

Thankfully, our other locomotives—such as Brush products like the Class 31, 60, 89, and 92, or indeed our EMD Class 66—do not present the same engineering challenges as English Electric's finest machines. However, we have always aimed to tackle the most difficult locomotives to produce in OO gauge and to engineer effective solutions for them. After all, we do love a challenge!

Our finescale conversion kits are now available for pre-order and are due in stock in late July. Each kit includes wheels, lowering plates, and brake rigging for the adjustment. OO gauge fans can also get involved — we've included a kit compatible with OO gauge wheels!

Please note that the required radius is quite large. We recommend these kits primarily for display purposes or for end-to-end layouts without curves — or with very, very generous curvature. However, it will give scale wheels and the correct relationship between the bogies and lower body that is impossible when trying to cater to R2 curves.

Pre-order yours below and don't miss out on the last of the Class 50s, which are 98% sold out directly from Accurascale. Run 2 will be announced very shortly!