Yes Nick, but I think the coalhoppers wheel are all rusted because they are in the bottom of the pacific.
Will these metal wheels be made to fit into MT trucks? Would be cool if all my wheel treads were metal.
i dont think it will fit MTL trucks, because the MTL trucks are too small, but AZL are making their wheels in prototyphical sice
The AZL Coalporters are vaporware. An oft promised release that never comes to fruition. BUT, assuming the coalporters do eventually arrive, the metal wheelsets are not compatible with MTL trucks. The AZL axles are center bearing, like Marklin, while MTL axles are end bearing. Perhaps with modification they will work, but not right out of the box. We messed with a few of the wheelsets over the summer, and were a bit disappointed by this development.
The CoalPorters won't arrive until we completely give up and forget about them. Then when we have spent all of our money on other things, they will appear out of nowhere. ;-) If you are looking for metal wheel sets for MTL trucks, Ed Scullin was trying to get an order together for a custom run of wheel sets from a company he met at NTS in Philly. I don't have any recent updates but will inquire with Ed. Robert, I know you had talked with Ed about this as well. Do you recall anything additional? Randy
I don't remember anything about the wheel sets, but it it was this summer, so much has happened between now and then that I would have forgotten anyways. Yes I am up for metal wheels sets. I just got 10 sets of metal Nn3 finescale wheels from Republic Locomotive Works, that fit MTL Nn3 Archbar Trucks. I plan to use them for electrical pickup in tenders, as I convert the Nn3 trucks into Z Scale Swing Motion tender trucks. It's hard to see from this picture, but you should be able to see what those converted trucks look like here:
A bit pricey, but you get $10 off if you buy 5: http://www.republiclocomotiveworks.com/show_item.php?ItemID=1 Looks like you have to put them together, but that shouldn't be a problem. I don't think I will pay $10 per car to do my whole (small) fleet though.
Now $10 a car is high, but for tender pickup and a few lighted cabooses, it's the only game in town... unless you count using Marklin big-ol-biggy-biggy trucks for electrical pickup projects.
Coal Porter update. AZL has heard from Bowser that the cars are in the painting process. This is a good news. If true, we may see them in the next month. I am keeping my fingers crossed. Rob
Hurray! I hope to have a set in my favorite pacific northwest scheme in time for the March show! Hopefully I can have my SD60's painted up too!
