Spare metal wheels are generally "unobtainium" unless you get lucky. So it's kind of "take what you can get." Before I do that, though, I'm wondering if anyone has any opinion of Intermountain's metal wheels? I'm thinking specifically of their part number 60052. This is one brand I have not yet tried. I do have examples of most others. Searching for a link just now, I'm only seeing listings from "woo woo woo"* shops. (I added the "woo woo woo" myself.) *translation: shops that we don't mention here
A sore spot for me. I have been waiting for several years, for some of a certain brand to be restocked. Projects stymied, but for being able to scrape up a very few here from TrainBoard folks. If IM are more readily available, good quality and in a size I can use....
I picked some up just because. They are very similar to the BLMA. I'd really rather have a slightly wider tread, but can't trace any problems to the IMs.
The Intermountain 60072 wheelsets are of a higher detail and have .537 axles. They are very prototypical in appearance but not currently available from Intermountain. I prefer the 60072 to the 60052. Fox Valley makes very nice wheelsets but also not available. The original BLMA wheelsets were well done, but long out of stock. I have never purchased the Atlas wheelsets. The Micro Trains metal wheels have plastic axles. Metal wheels give cars more weight and lower the center of gravity, they seem to track better as well. The big side benefit to metal wheels is the track is much cleaner. All my freight and passenger cars have metals wheel and I have not in the 5 years of running my layout had to clean any track. All my track is Kato Unitrack.
I have a set of the #60052 here on the work bench waiting to be installed. They definitely are a little different from the MT metal wheels. Will post how they work once installed and tested.
I found five packages of FVM wheels in a drawer -- jackpot! But I know I would have bought them at least five or six years ago. That unavailability is what prompted my question about the Intermountain version. I have experience with the other brands that have been mentioned so far.
Although they are not yet offered in bulk packages, Eastern Seaboard Models metal wheels are in stock options. With axle lengths of .540", ESM stock number 920100 33" diameter and ESM stock number 920200 36" diameter metal wheel-sets are viable alternatives.
Didn't know FVM was out of production. Bummer. IM for me then, I have been happy with their performance and appearance.
Five or six years back, I installed #60052 wheels on a bunch of very light gons to increase their weight a little, and they've given me no troubles at all.
Good to know #60052 work well - side note would be nice to see metal wheelsets in bulk rather than in packs of 12
It could. However, last time I had mentioned this, I was then lectured by several people who were 'in the know' about the situation, who actually didn't know what they were talking about! Due to some things which had transpired, in which I was directly involved, I actually already knew what was really happening! And it wasn't what they were telling the world.
You need to scroll down past "those other scales" but here is some information direct from Intermountain. Including a little shot at their Oregon-based rivals... https://www.intermountain-railway.com/wheels.htm The labels on the Fox Valley Models wheelset packages listed which brands worked with which wheels. For example, catalog number FVM 3601 was listed as "Fits MT, ATH" (Micro-Trains, Athearn).
Most, if not all wheelset manufacturers state the length of the axles on their wheelsets. I use a cheap electronic micrometer to measure the length of unknown wheelsets, and replace them with wheelsets of the same length.
I talked online with Matt the other day, They are not out of production, the factory was shut down and is due to reopen. Plans on more runs of wheelsets etc. Just taking time off now to be with his family until this COVID mess is all over.
