Hi! Intermountain now makes metal wheels for MicroTrains trucks. Has anyone tried these? http://www.4nscale.com/details.asp?p=14490
Not yet, but I tempted to try them since I hear they look better than the atlas metal wheel set for MT trucks.
Actually they look like the same exact wheels (IM & Atlas) and could possibly be made in the same place. No proof, just my guess. http://www.railimages.com/albums/chrisschmuck/adg.jpg IM metal on the left MT low pro on the right.
I have been slowly replacing all my MT Low-Pro's with the new Intermountian wheel sets, as well as getting the 33" and 36" wheel sets for some of my Atlas/Athearn trucks over to metal wheels. I personally like them, they are a perfect fit. I did notice the MT replacements aren't blackened, while the 33 and 36" sets are. Well worth the money. I wish they sold them in bulk packs though.
Chris, They are definately different. The Atlas sit on a plastic inner hub, were as the IM's are all metal. I had bought some of the Atlas (unless they sell different wheel sets at Atlas) and I was very disappointed in Atlas's wheels. They were out of gauge, looked like they had slightly lager flanges, and once you tried to regauge them, they would start to wobble. The IM's are sort of like the MT wheels as they are set in their gauge, you can't change the gauge if they are out of gauge, but having bought and installed about 100 cars so far with new IM's I have yet to have even one be bad. Unless I am misunderstanding your post about IM and Atlas being the same. Sorry if I am misreading your comment. Thanks!
I have just rewheeled about 30 cars with the new IM metal wheels for MT trucks and they are great. Not one problem with any of them being out of gauge. They are hard to find however. A lot of retailers are saying they will be out of stock for a few more weeks. As far as Atlas wheels go, I have not found one set that is in gauge, and as David said above, if you try to regauge them they wobble and derail all over the place. You can get them to run, but I don't think they are worth the time and effort since the IM's work right out of the package. The IM's were 100%, the Atlas were 0%, simple as that. Does anyone know what trucks IM's 33" metal wheels are for? Wil they fit Atlas trucks??
Hmmmm I just went and looked at both close up. It seems I was wrong they are different (Atlas /IM) I think the IM are much better, but still have that wide lip around the wheel. Yes I can't stand that either! The Atlas wheels have a larger plastic center on both side where the IM only have a small plastic bushing on only one side. The flanges seem to be wider on the Atlas wheels, but this might just be the way they taper off. Either way I think the IM flange looks better. About that wide rim edge...it's a shame you replace plastic wheels with metal only to have the car look worse! But then again the NWSL wheels cost about $7.50 per car. I'm hoping that PMC will come out with nicer metal wheelsets when that new N&W hopper is released. By nicer I mean better looking than IM/Atlas and cheaper than NWSL.
I'm with you, jagged ben! Am I the only one who's bugged by how unprototypical the wide rim on the IM wheels looks?
I bought some NWSL passenger car wheels, and I had to chuck them all overboard because they were as crooked as a dog's hind leg. The poor passenger cars wobbled so bad the coffee spilled out of the cup, while it was on my desk!
The only NWSL wheels I have bought were a set of 28" to put the "2's" in my 2-6-2 and a set for the LL SW. The 28 inchers were fine, but the SW wheels did have a slight wobble. The SW wheels has a very thin 1mm axle though. Maybe they just aren't used to working with such small parts.
I couldn't justify $7.50 for one car, when IM will do 3 at the same price. Are you saying that Precision Master (have I got the name right) going to be releasing metal wheels? I had heard a long time ago that MT was going to release metal wheelsets, though my LHS said he never saw or heard any such blatent gossip Until someone can come out with an economical and better looking wheelset, I think I will be spending all the kids college money on IM's....
Sorry I got it wrong (again) Meant PCM Precision Craft Models http://www.precisioncraftmodels.com/ They are coming out with N&W hoppers soon and Charlie was asking for axle sizes for various MFG's trucks. Just wishful thinking on my part...
Okay, I'm chomping on the bait. What does the rim have to do with the wobble? And what does the rim look like on the NWSL wheels? Have never seen a photo...
This is a NWSL wheel in a LL SW: http://www.railimages.com/albums/chrisschmuck/adk.jpg Only pic I have, but they look pretty much just like MT low-pros, but only metal.
I like bait, all nice and wiggly and it goes down easy! Hmmm, Wheels with thin profiles wobble, and the one that doesn't has a thicker profile near the tread. Could there be a heat problem in the wheel turning machine? Shhh, didn't hear it here!
Thanks Chris, I will have to keep an eye out for them, be nice to see bigger selections/choices/competition/lower prices?
