Any News on Fox Valley Models N scale wheelset availability?

[JeffB]

Hello All,

  Sorry if this topic has been covered exhaustively elsewhere...

  I'm not on Facebook (nor do I want to be) so I have no way of accessing Fox Valley Models updates.

  Has there been any news on the availability of Fox Valley's N scale metal wheelsets?  They are out of stock just about everywhere.  I found info indicating that their supplier in China closed abruptly in 2018, but has there been any news on finding a new supplier and getting these back in stock?

Thanks for any info...

Edit:  Sorry guys.  No need to reply I see there's already a thread in Product Discussion.

Jeff

[ednadolski]

there's already a thread in Product Discussion.

This one? https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=51016.msg690232#msg690232

(Cross-linking here primarily for my own selfish convenience)

[BCR 570]

These have been unavailable for several years now, and all rumours of them being re-issued have come to nought.  The manufacturer has not returned any emails I have sent.  I consider them to be discontinued.

The next best wheels were BLMA but those have also been unavailable for some time, despite the trucks being currently in stock at Atlas.

In recent years ESM and Rapido Trains have both offered low profile metal wheel sets which run well, so you might give those a try.


Tim

[Missaberoad]

...The next best wheels were BLMA...
...In recent years ESM... ...offered low profile metal wheel sets which run well, so you might give those a try.
Tim

The ESM wheels are for all intents and purposes identical to the BLMA wheels.

Going forward (and barring anything closer to the prototype being released) they will be my standard. Hopefully between ESM and Atlas availability will be there...

[bbussey]

Our intent is to have the ESM wheels (and trucks) in stock year-round, and expand the line as demand warrants.  That said, hopefully the FVM wheels will return to market at some point in the near future.

[peteski]

The ESM wheels are for all intents and purposes identical to the BLMA wheels.

Going forward (and barring anything closer to the prototype being released) they will be my standard. Hopefully between ESM and Atlas availability will be there...

Are those available in the wide range of diameters and axle lengths, like FVM wheels?

What I really wish is for FVM (Matt?) to come out and publicly state the production status of those wheels.  Hey, even if we were told that those will never be made again would be better than not knowing and waiting for the ever-moving production date.

[sundowner]

Tangent sell BLMA like  36” wheels in N scale, i have them on all my cars that require 36” after my BLMa ran out.

https://www.tangentscalemodels.com/product-category/n-scale/n-wheelsets/

[samusi01]

Are those available in the wide range of diameters and axle lengths, like FVM wheels?

Not yet... see @bbussey response above. MTL length, and all my recent purchases - about 150 axles / month - have been ESM wheelsets. Quite impressed.

[reinhardtjh]

In recent years ESM and Rapido Trains have both offered low profile metal wheel sets which run well, so you might give those a try.

Are those available in the wide range of diameters and axle lengths, like FVM wheels?

There's the rub. While the .540" length is becoming the more standard, I have a pile of Keystone Designs PRR trucks that need a 36" .563" and an even bigger pile of Bowser Crown trucks that could use a 33" .553" length wheel set.  And a number of older Atlas trucks that still use the .553" length too.  Should have bought them long ago, but...  Hindsight is amazing. 

[learmoia]

Ya know... there was a comment on the Scale Trains video... "This week,, We just finalized another large commitment that I can't announce yet"

The first thought in my head was they purchased Fox Valley.

~Ian

[ednadolski]

Our intent is to have the ESM wheels (and trucks) in stock year-round, and expand the line as demand warrants. 

Thanks @bbussey!    I'd never had the chance to check them out before but definitely I will!   

Ed

[peteski]

Not yet... see @bbussey response above. MTL length, and all my recent purchases - about 150 axles / month - have been ESM wheelsets. Quite impressed.

Well, "as demand warrants" is not a very firm commitment. FVM had a good selection of axle lengths available from the get go.

[Missaberoad]

Well, "as demand warrants" is not a very firm commitment. FVM had a good selection of axle lengths available from the get go.

Not being avaliable for purchase isn't a very firm commitment either... In a perfect word I would love extra fine tred wheels in a variety of axle lengths, but at the moment the Atlas/ESM profile is the best wheelset that is and will be avaliable... .540 seems to be the developing standard, obviously I would like other axle lengths to be avaliable, but my first priority is can I get it!

[Englewood]

Ya know... there was a comment on the Scale Trains video... "This week,, We just finalized another large commitment that I can't announce yet"

The first thought in my head was they purchased Fox Valley.

~Ian

FVM has some really great models that I'd hate to see go away. If ScaleTrains bought them that would be a good thing, although I'd much prefer FVM to continue as a business.

[CBQ Fan]

Are they not producing anything at all, or just not N scale?