Micro Trains August 2017 Releases

[mmagliaro]

Another vote for being very curious about those MTL metal wheels with the plastic axles.
I'd like to see some close-up photos of them compared to FVM and other metal wheelsets.

What is the benefit of using a plastic axle as opposed to a metal one that is insulated on one side? 
Ability to make both sides look identical (with no little insulator in there)?   Cheaper to make?

Or... hmmm... maybe the plastic (Delrin) axle point would spin more freely in the MTL sideframes?
I use FVM wheelsets and like them, but I have always found that there is a bit more drag in any car that uses them and spinning the wheelsets in the trucks by hand, they clearly do not spin as freely as the stock MTL wheelsets.

I'd also like to see how the flange contour looks close-up.

[peteski]

Another vote for being very curious about those MTL metal wheels with the plastic axles.
I'd like to see some close-up photos of them compared to FVM and other metal wheelsets.

What is the benefit of using a plastic axle as opposed to a metal one that is insulated on one side? 
Ability to make both sides look identical (with no little insulator in there)?   Cheaper to make?

Or... hmmm... maybe the plastic (Delrin) axle point would spin more freely in the MTL sideframes?
I use FVM wheelsets and like them, but I have always found that there is a bit more drag in any car that uses them and spinning the wheelsets in the trucks by hand, they clearly do not spin as freely as the stock MTL wheelsets.

I'd also like to see how the flange contour looks close-up.

The explanation is given in the announcement (MTL copy from BLW site).



I'm planning on buying a small package, so eventually  I'll post some closeup photos.
I also find it amusing that these are like the original Kadee Micro Trains wheels where the wheels were metal (diecast) with plastic axles. MTL has gone back to their roots. 

[Missaberoad]

I imagine being RP25's they will fall somewhere between the FVM fine wheels and the FVM wides...

I will be picking some up and I hope they are a success. Perhaps a semi scale version or a ribbed back (for added pleasure  ) are in the future  @Shipsure hint hint 

Also Joe is there a timeline for any new TSC developments? I've been holding off buying more, waiting to see what is coming... 

[mmagliaro]

That explanation doesn't say anything about the friction properties of the axle points in the sideframes, which is what I'm most curious about.   However, now that you made me reread the MTL announcement, I do see another benefit.
The FVM axles are thick.  And while more weight and sturdiness is always nice, sometimes this causes a problem with the axle rubbing against a body mounted coupler when things are tight.  So thinner axles would be helpful.

[Mark5]

Gotta have the N&W Pullman! (of course)!

https://www.micro-trains.com/index.php?_route_=n-scale/new-releases/norfolk-amp-western-cuttyhunk-rel-8-17-14200180

I have a pic of this car in one of my books in Orlando Florida circa 1955 so I guess it got around.

Also looking forward to checking the steel wheels.

Mark

[peteski]

That explanation doesn't say anything about the friction properties of the axle points in the sideframes, which is what I'm most curious about.   

I imagine that the friction of those axles will be  similar to their standard plastic (Celcon aka. Delrin) axles.  I wonder who they used for field testing of these wheels as I would hope  they they did some testing before mass producing them.

[Point353]

Gotta have the N&W Pullman! (of course)!
https://www.micro-trains.com/index.php?_route_=n-scale/new-releases/norfolk-amp-western-cuttyhunk-rel-8-17-14200180
I have a pic of this car in one of my books in Orlando Florida circa 1955 so I guess it got around.

https://books.google.com/books/content?id=GhEwO0dn__AC&pg=PA92&img=1&zoom=3&hl=en&ots=rmGW7sYTaB&sig=ACfU3U02dtFMGakiUnxCPvhOlZ1kQQ_WiA&w=1280

[Bill H]

I thought the answer to that when they first did the car in 2015 was that the scheme was mistakenly taken from a picture of a 3 door baggage car.
Jason

Jason: Actually there was ONE baggage car in this scheme and that, unfortunately, is the one that MT used as a guide.

Kind regards,
Bill

[Chris333]

Some HO metal wheel sets have plastic axles, no experience with them (HO) though

I guess the good thing is sooner or later they will be standard on their rolling stock and we won't need to replace them.

[wcfn100]

Jason: Actually there was ONE baggage car in this scheme and that, unfortunately, is the one that MT used as a guide.

Kind regards,
Bill

The picture that was said to be the reference had three doors iirc.  The link from Trainboard no longer works unfotunately.

Jason

[Missaberoad]

The picture that was said to be the reference had three doors iirc.  The link from Trainboard no longer works unfotunately.

Jason

Was it a mail express car like this one?

http://abpr.railfan.net/abprphoto.cgi?february00/02-28-00/bXo-baggage-atKentOh-Dec80.jpg

[Point353]

Actually there was ONE baggage car in this scheme and that, unfortunately, is the one that MT used as a guide.

In that case, to re-run that car with a new/different roadnumber would not be accurate?

[nkalanaga]

One advantage of metal wheels on a plastic axle would be that they would have to be in gauge, as long as the axle was cast correctly.  I wonder if they have metal axle points, and plastic axles between the wheels, just the opposite of the old ribbed-back plastic wheels, or if the axle goes all the way through.

Max:  I had also noticed that FVM wheels don't roll as well as the MT, or most of the old PM wheels for that matter, but thought it must be my old, dirty sideframes.

[Philip H]

so with plastic axles I am wondering how the resistor wheel for detection crowd will function.

[C855B]

so with plastic axles I am wondering how the resistor wheel for detection crowd will function.

Ha ha, but there is a method: the old-fashioned way. You stick a leaded 1/10W resistor to the axle, gluing the leads to the back of the wheels with conductive epoxy. That's what we did back in the '70s in HO.

Probably also doable with an SMD resistor and conductive (usually silver-bearing) paint normally used for fixing printed circuit boards.

The non-DIY method is one FVM resistor axle per car. From what I can see in the MTL pictures, difference shouldn't be that noticeable.