new Athearn metal wheels

"Oddball" Axle Length?

"Oddball"? Hmmmm, lets see:

BLMA ---------------------------> ~.537" (1,364 cm)
ExactRail -----------------------> ~.538" (1,367 cm)
Micro Trains -------------------> ~.540 (1,372cm)
Athearn -------------------------> ~.5445" (1,383 cm)
Atlas(recent) -------------------> ~.553" (1,405cm) *
Atlas(old) -----------------------> ~.563" (1,430cm) *
Atlas(20,700 gal tank car) -> ~.568" (1,444cm)

* needs to be confirmed

I just hope that Athearn finally gets rid of their plastic wheelsets altogether....

 

I think this whole argument is moot. My modeling goal this year was to convert the fleet to metal wheels.
After countless visits to hobby shops all over the great state of Texas, I've come to the conclusion that metal wheels belong in the same category as the Tooth Fairy, the Easter Bunny, and polar bears that drink Coca Cola.
I dream of the day I can walk into a hobby shop and stare at a wall full of metal wheels for every application possible.

 

There are several main axle lenths that are used by almost all suppliers on the market. Suppliers offer either trucks complete with wheelsets ( and often „complete with car body“), or replacement wheelsets, e.g. metal wheelsets.
The main axle lengths are

• .540“ (13.85mm)
• .553“ (14.2mm)
• .563“ (14.5mm)

Yes...Athearn is an "oddball"...thnxs

http://www.trainboard.com/grapevine/entry.php?2372-More-about-wheels

 

Methinks Athearn has come up with a "compromise" width that would work in both a MTL or Atlas truck. It might be a tighter fit in an MTL truck, but maybe not as tight that the wheel would have such bad resistance.
I guess there's only one way to find out...

 

Post #19 (since you are quoting christoph :mwink :

And a small correction on my part:

BLMA ---------------------------> ~.537" (13.64 mm)
ExactRail -----------------------> ~.538" (13.67 mm)
Micro Trains -------------------> ~.540 (13.72 mm)
Athearn -------------------------> ~.5445" (13.83 mm)
Atlas(recent) -------------------> ~.553" (14.05 mm) *
Atlas(old) -----------------------> ~.563" (14.3 mm) *
Atlas(20,700 gal tank car) -> ~.568" (14.43 mm)

* needs to be confirmed

 

N Scale has a lot of unacceptable practices that needs address by the manufacturers-of course that means we N Scalers need to start speaking out against these problems instead of accepting them with thanks.

 

I don't mind paying more for wheel sets if there straight. I have purchased several hundred FVM wheel sets and sent 30 back the first of the year that were completely unusable. I have yet to receive replacements. This is totally unacceptable IMO. It's hard for me to believe there isn't enough of a market to keep these wheel sets in stock.

 

Thanks for this eye-opener! Definitely a great N-scale model then.

 

TD, your dream should be fast approaching! I got word today that one of my pushers has shipped the long awaited FVM wides - and if he's got 'em most any shop should now be able to. Assuming FVM didn't bring them in just for this very prominent dealer, they should be available shortly to all.

Hallelujah!

 

Uh, no there aren't. How many truck manufacturers can you name that use the same axle length as another manufactuer? In using its own axle length for its own trucks, Athearn is no different from anyone else.