Like a number of others I've decided to go with Atlas Code 55, knowing full well that my stock of MTL-equipped rolling stock will have to have their wheelsets replaced. Yes, the FVM metal wheels are pricier than the Atlas plastic scale wheels, but metal is supposed to be better from what I read. And if I want someday to do block occupancy detection there there is no other choice, right? What I'm wondering about, though, is whether the additional weight added to each car has any significant effect on the total load any given engine would be able to pull? Has anyone done any experiments to see the effect? With some of our engines already not having the greatest "umpf" in the world, would an engine that is known to currently handle let's say 9 cars suddenly be cut down to 7 or 6?
Tony I have replaced alot of plastic wheels with Atlas Metal wheels and the cars that I have done roll alot better now. Because they roll better, I have been able to pull longer trains. I have not tried to make the plastic wheels roll better in the trucks they came in to see how they would compare in lenght of trains. My results are just from swapping out the wheels. Craig
In addition to FVM, both Atlas and Intermountain offer metal wheelsets to fit MT trucks. I have no extensive experience with them though, as currently I've used the Atlas plastic wheelsets designed for MT trucks (I plan to evaluate the metal wheelsets once I get a fair amount of track laid). I do not care for MT's current version of low-pro wheelsets. Mark
Tony: Read my article on metal wheel sets on my website below. I've used first Atlas metal wheel sets and now FVM metal wheel sets on over 700 cars. The metal wheel sets improve the performance of the rolling stock and the locomotives pulling the rolling stock. In regards to block occupancy detection, you not only need metal wheel sets on cars but you also need resistors placed on the axles of some of the cars along with resistorized paint from the metal wheel sets to the axle.
Are you guys talking about the metal wheels that came on Atlas cars or is this a different matel wheel? I changed all my rolling stock over to MT trucks which have plastic wheels, but I still have a box full of those old trucks, can I just swap out the wheel sets?
We're talking about the Atlas metal wheel sets released in 2004 and the FVM metal wheel sets released last year. I wouldn't remount those old Atlas metal wheels.
I would have to agree with Power steam guy, the FVM wheelsets, are probably the best wheels in N scale period. They look great! operate very well, and put the weight down below the frame where it needs to be. Plus when weathered they look fantastic! Rob
I'm beginning to hate metal wheels because if you have grades and long trains like we run during sessions, they tend to jump the track due to short flanges on the wheels. At least the MT's have the deeper flanges that hold the cars on the track better. They run great on straight track with little grades. Scott
Hmm, I wonder if this will be a problem for me. I will have a logging branch that will be at the end of an approximate 4% grade helix. Short trains to be sure, but this track jumping comment has me a little worried.
I don't think that you will have an issue with small trains on a 4% grade. I have run many 50 car trains on a curved 2% grade and have no issues at all. I too switched first to Atlas metal wheels and then to FVM. FVM has been top quality although sometimes hard to get. Brian
Don't sweat the small stuff. You're not running long trains. I ran 30 car trains on the long 2% grades of the JJJ&E (one giant nolix), and the cars never jumped the track because of the smaller metal wheel set flanges.
Fox Valley Models Brass Wheelset OK So I did a quick search of the web and found: Fox Valley Models Brass Wheelset, Just in case any one was wondering, and I see Wig-Wag sells them. Quite pricy for those of us that are not working full time, so I guess for now I'll stick with what I got, but I have then bookmarked for when I can afford to switch.
I've made up some homemade resistorized paint by mixing a bit graphite from a pencil with acrylic paint, I had to experiment with the quantities but eventually got it working with the Atlas signal dectectors. I find FVM wheels roll better, just put a car on track you think is level and watch it roll away. I've run 50-70 car trains with rear end helpers over some pretty questionable track and all types of turnouts on Ntrak modules without problems. The myth keeps getting perpetuated that you need large flanges to run long trains or that any flange you can't see with the naked eye from the other side of the room will jump the rails as soon as it moves. If pizza cutter wheels were necessary in N scale MTL wouldn't be the only manufacturer still using them.
Am I the only person here to have had terrible luck with metal wheel sets? Jumping the rails, picking certain turnouts, LOWERING the number of cars any given locomotive could pull. I converted about 25 cars over to metal and about three months later changed them all back to plastic.
A problem I have found with some metal axles is if they are not perfectly smooth with no burs, they will eventually eat right through the top of plastic side frames after a lot of running. More so on the old Rivarossi trucks which are not made of Delrin engineering plastic. In my experience I find no difference in the amount of crud picked up for either plastic or metal wheels. I have a passenger train with all IM metal wheels and it gets just as dirty as ones with IM or MT plastic wheels. I have not tried the FV wheels yet.
Back when I was still building in H0, I had the same problem of metal axles eating in the plastic. That's why I am still hesitant to use metal wheels under heavy cars (e.g. those weighted to NMRA specifications). Actually I have several bags full of FVM wheels, but use them very selectively. There are certain MTL trucks that "don't like" the FVM wheels, especially the Archbar trucks. They just don't run freely there. Same with the Coil Elliptic trucks #1137.
