FVM Wheelsets are back ordered AGAIN !!!!!!!!!!!

[Puddington]

My guys at Credit Valley Railway in Mississauga, Ontario tell me that FVW sets are on back order status at Walthers again..........does anyone know why this seems to be a perpetual sitiuation..?

[SirTainly]

No idea why, but maybe it's a good excuse to try out the BLMA ones?

[altohorn25]

From what I've been told by a "reliable source", they just have been going through that many that the supply isn't keeping up with the demand.  Since the factory is in China, it takes a while to get stock from overseas.  Patience is a virtue (of course, one that I don't have, but it is one none the less). 

Nate

[MichaelWinicki]

I've found the Atlas metal wheelsets to be excellent.

[Puddington]

I've found the Atlas metal wheelsets to be excellent.

I've used the Atlas metal ones but the commentary from the "local gentry" is somewhat harsh around here on them... The FVM are better looking, if not any better running.

[flight2000]

M.B. Kleins just got a new shipment in (all lengths) so not sure what's up with Walthers.  I know Kleins is a Distributor as well, so maybe it's another Waltherism against the Normal scale...

Brian

[Dave V]

I've used the Atlas metal ones but the commentary from the "local gentry" is somewhat harsh around here on them... The FVM are better looking, if not any better running.

I've had serious gauge problems with them.

[lock4244]

Going back about 10 years, I found the Atlas metal wheels were reliable... at derailing.

[wazzou]

Not to mention they look like dung.  The Atlas ones that is.

[SkipGear]

M.B. Kleins just got a new shipment in (all lengths) so not sure what's up with Walthers.  I know Kleins is a Distributor as well, so maybe it's another Waltherism against the Normal scale...

Brian

Walthers has only been an FVM distributor for a relatively short time. I bet that M.B. Kleins ordered there's before Walthers was even a dealer and is just now getting them. We have had them on backorder, direct from FVM for over a year now if I am remembering correctly. Walthers hasn't been a distributor that long.

[m301]

  Has anyone found any real benefit to changing to all metal wheel sets with the only possibility being the added weight?

  And which one's would someone prefer to use?

[altohorn25]

Besides looking better, metal wheels tend to keep your track much cleaner.  One problem with the plastic wheels is that as they roll on the metal track, the pick up a static charge which tends to make any dirt on the track cling to them and then they spread that dirt all over the layout.  When I ran the majority of plastic wheels, I had to clean my track at least once a week on the home layout.  Since switching to metal wheels, I can go for months without having to clean track.  Most of the guys in our modular group have metal wheels and at the RPM show this past week, I think we only cleaned the track 2 times over the four days we were running (one day we were running from 9:00 until after midnight).

Another small added benifit is that the metal wheels make a nice sound when going over the trackwork that you don't get with the plastic ones.  The small bit of added weight does help as well, especially on the MT hoppers and tank cars.

I do prefer the FVM wheels over the intermountain ones; they look more prototypical and I'm a little biased because Matt (the manufacturer) is a friend of mine.  That said, I've heard good things about the BLMA ones and would like to pick up a few packs of their trucks to try them out.

Nate

[DKS]

In addition to all of the benefits cited by Nate, metal wheelsets have better rolling characteristics, and you can pull more rolling stock with the same locomotive(s)--I've seen some claims anywhere from 50% to 100% more cars. The reason is there's less friction between a steel needle point and a Delrin bearing than between a Delrin point and Delrin bearing.

Also, in addition to the static attraction plastic wheels create, they also pick up more dirt because of the slighly slick surface, as a function of outgassing that acetal plastics do; the combination of plain dirt, dust, grime, metal oxides and stray traces of lubricants all turn into classic "wheel crud."

[sirenwerks]

Pudd,

Check your PM inbox.

[esa123]

Here's my two cents! Everyone is absolutely correct about the look and cleanliness, additionally if you use fast tracks turnouts metal wheelsets work much better with the tighter tolerances. I have virtually 0 derailments with my metal wheels but would have constant issues with my plastic sets. Get the metal wheels, it'll cost you a bit now but you'll never regret it later! My preference is fox valley and Blma for look, price, and performance.

Erik