N-Scale Metal Wheelsets

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

Hi all

Wondering if anyone out there has good/bad experiences with N-Scale metal wheelsets?

I want to slowly convert my fleet away from the plastic wheelsets. I noticed BLMA, Fox Valley, Atlas and Intermountain all produce metal wheels. Any preference out there?

Thanks for your help.

2

My choice would be either BLMA or Fox Valley since these seem to be the better wheels.

I know my FVM and BLMA cars was the smoothest runners by a landside when compared to my Atlas,ER and IM cars.

3

I agree with Larry on BLMA. I haven’t tried Fox Valley. But I’m sure which ever you decide, it will be an improvement over the plastic wheels.

4

Hi,

My Maclau River car fleet in Nscale is mostly MTL, second Atlas and a Intermountain cars; all from the 1920’s to the 1940’s.

At the time I begun to acquire this fleet, Atlas metal wheels and Northwest Shortline were the biggest provider for 33" wheelset.

I didn’t have no problems whith the majority of these wheels, just a very very few where out of gauge.

Most still roll under my cars and I have replaced none since many years. They roll extremely free on my Nscale code 55 track.

I really charge my hoppers at the mine whith scale coal and the weight has never affected the wheelset and the trucks

I just acquired a few from Fox Valley and they look great.

I beleive it’s not really necessary to have scale appearence an details on the wheels except the flanges, because they are to small to be seen

Tomorrow there is a wide choice for metal wheelset in Nscale whith the correct needle pins for each type of manufacturer trucks.

However the price is not so nice and the Atlas wheels are certainly the best You can obtain for the price.

You can paint them or blackened them which chemicals product.

Anyway metal wheelset keep the track cleaner than the the plastic ones.

When put in place on the trucks, check and rechek the gauge of the wheels.

By the same time, if You use MTL couplers, body mount them and wheight the cars; the improvement is extremely noticiable during operations.

Marc, Belgium

5

Fox Valley wheelsets are very handsome, but don’t readily track well on rough rails. Atlas wheels tread well, but just don’t look as good as Fox Valley wheels.