Who knows a good brand of metal wheelsets for N-scale that they are happy with? I need to add some weight to my rolling stock and thought that this would be a good way to improve performance and keep the additional weight low-centered and against the track. I plan on doing this to every car that needs it (especially my coal cars and covered grain hoppers). I’ve never held a set in my hand to know how much more each axle will weigh vs. the acetal axles provided with these cars.
Atlas and Intermountain both make metal wheel sets for N scale. I’ve used Intermountain’s product on my rolling stock with good results.
You need to be aware that there are two axle lengths available, one unversal(60050) and the other specifically for MicroTrains trucks(60052). They also are available in 33" and 36" wheel diameters. The wheels are finished in a tarnished appearance.
Though they run good and look great, I don’t think they’ll add much weight to your rolling stock, they’re just too small to have very much mass.
A side effect of going to metal wheel sets (smaller flanges) is they’re ability to find problems in your track work.
I’ve only used Atlas wheel sets to convert my rolling stock. I have no complaints. I don’t know if the intermountain sets have this but the atlas wheel sets have a rubber washer that connects the wheel to the axel. This allows you to gauge them any way you want. The washer fits tight so the wheels stay where you put them, and they come gauged correctly in the package.
Are you using c55 or c80 track? This will determine what wheel sets you buy. Atlas makes smaller flanged sets that will run on c55 or c80 track, but like mls1621 said, they will pick out problems in you track work. Atlas also makes wheel sets with larger “pizza cutter” flanges. These will only run on c80 track but they’re more forgiving when in comes to rough track work. I hope this helps!
I actually prefer plastic wheels over metal ones for N reason being metal adds considerable drag (more than halves the pulling power of your loco), makes the train more noisy and tend to short out frogs from time to time. If you notice, metal wheels only comes with cheap wuality rolling stock and high quality stuff like Micro-Trains and Intermountain uses plastic ones. My suggestion to you is if you have weight problem which not sure why you are, I would add weights inside the rolling stock rather than change to metal wheels. I replaced everything with plastic except the Kato passenger trains which I need the original metal sets because I lighted some of them and BTW, Kato’s metal wheelsets are by far the best in my experience.
I have to agree with iceman. I changed all of my rolling stock to metal 33" for MT and thought the noise was way more significant and the track stayed NO cleaner. I changed back to all MT Low Pros on my Peco cd55 and I use MT restraining springs on one axle of each car for switching purposes. This works for me.
As far as drag goes, I have found just the opposite. Everything that I have converted to Atlas metal wheelsets ( both regular Atlas and for MT wheels ) rolls far better than the plastic wheels they replaced. I am even pulling longer trains ( at least 30% longer) up my hills.
I do agree with the train being more noisey and the slinky effect has become more noticable when running downhill.
The only shorting out issues I have has been when adding new cars to the layout, I run them through the switches by hand to get the wheels on the rails.
BTW, I am also using Atlas code 55 flextrack and # 7 switches.
I would suggest that you find someone local that has metal wheelsets or go to a train show and listen to the cars with metal wheels to see if the added noise is something that will bother you.
As far as adding weight to the cars, you could try using modeling clay. Just roll it up like a worm and push it into the bottom of your cars. Maybe even push some BB’s into it for more weight. For open hoppers you can cover the clay with a piece of chair cushion type foam with ballast glued to the top to represent a full load. You can paint the foam first with craft paints in the color of the load before you glue on the ballast.
Thanks to everybody for the advice. It sems like there is a split between liking and disliking. I guess I will just try a few cars out and see how it goes. I am using code 55 Atlas track and switches as well.
My experience has been the same as Craig’s as far as drag. I did some tests about a year and a half ago with a 1.9% grade, 24" radius helix. I don’t have the numbers anymore, but the locos fared better dragging cuts of cars with metal wheels up the thing than they did with plastic. I’d gladly redo the test to give you exact numbers, but the helix is on its side waiting for me to construct a new layout after our move.
I don’t think anybody is shipping freight cars with metal wheelsets from the factory anymore. The reason is simple - cost.
There have been a number of threads on the metal vs. plastic wheel debate. Most using metal report their track gets less dirty. There is actually a valid reason for that, but I’m not scientific enough to explain it very well. As far as weight, I guess they add a small amount but probably not enough to consider if you are trying to add weight.
I’m using gradually switching over to Atlas metal wheels in my fleet (might be faster than gradual if I ever get a layout up again). My choice was based almost solely on cost. Be aware that there are two flavors of wheelsets, one for MicroTrains trucks and one for almost everything else.
My recommendation is to try them on a few cars and see if you notice/like the differences. Everybody has their own tastes.
I haven’t seen a difference in the track, as far as staying cleaner longer. However, Metal wheels don’t get the build-up on grundge that the plastic wheels do.
The plastic wheels will build-up static electricity, attracting lint and who knows what else. The metal wheels don’t have that problem.
I used to have to go through my rolling stock every so often, one consist at a time, to clean the wheels, but not at all since I changed over to metal wheels.
Its my two sense that plastic wheels will add more friction than metal ones. I would think that you could pull more cars. In Ho, I converted to all intermountain wheelsets and the cars roll forever. I just started recently in N scale and love it. Crappy thing is that MT wheels that are on most of they cars now dont work on Code 55 track. I was reading some posts by that guy we all know Dave Vollmer, and said that if he had to do it again, he would use code 55 track, so I ditched all the code 80 and bought code 55. All I can say is wow, what a difference.
I have just ordered a package of MicroTrains compatible metal wheelsets (Intermountain) and will convert as many cars as I can with it and try it out to see how everything handles. Thanks for the advice… my helix exists only on paper- so you’re one step ahead of me!
Well my package of metal wheels arrived today. I had enough to switch out three cars to metal. I set up a circle of Kato Unitrack for the test.
I found that the cars with metal wheels rolled a lot further than with the plastic wheels. The clickety-clack noise over the rail joints was virtually identical to the plastic wheels in intensity. The main noise difference was just the rolling noise (like rolling a marble along a sheet of plywood). This was louder than with the plastic wheels, but I found this only significant at a more unprototypical speed.
The one drawback I found (albeit temporary) is looks. The wheels are from Intermountain and come tarnished (very slightly) and are too shiny vs. the black plastic trucks. Once I get to the weathering point I think this will be a moot point, but for now looks weird. (I’m referring to the face of the wheels, not the treads.)