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N scale metal trucks/wheels? Locos and rolling stock
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Prolific poster 4,030 posts Dave K skiloff Prolific poster 4,030 posts
Dave K skiloff

One thing I'm not particularly liking about N scale is the trucks and wheels.  The Intermountain are OK, but they are still plastic which I'm not particularly enamored with.  I know I've seen metal wheels for N scale, but are there metal trucks?  The metal wheels would make a huge difference, but I think metal trucks would be a lot better, too.

Dave
Playing around in HO and N scale since 1976
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D. Regular poster 109 posts
D.

I've never heard of metal

I've never heard of metal trucks in N scale, except for brass models. They probably adds up to the weight of car and they would keep car's gravity center low. Personally I like plastic wheelsets better, they are less noisy and a lot cheaper. Anyway, FVM (Fox Valley Models) sells awesome looking metal wheelset, check it out at http://www.foxvalleymodels.com/wheels.html

 
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ChrisNH Super User 1,277 posts
ChrisNH

Do you know if the fox valley

Do you know if the fox valley wheels will run on code 40 track?

 

Chris

“If you carry your childhood with you, you never become older.”           My modest progress Blog
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Dave K skiloff Prolific poster 4,030 posts
Dave K skiloff

You don't find track cleaning

You don't find track cleaning a bigger problem with the plastic wheelsets?  I find with some of them (Atlas, especially) that they seem to pick up grime more so than my metal wheelsets did in HO.  Do you replace any of your wheelsets with higher end ones, or you just use the stock wheelsets?  I also find (again with the Atlas) that the wheels come loose fairly easy.  I just got a half dozen Intermountain grain hoppers and haven't noticed with them, yet, but I wondered over time how they'd stand up. 

Dave
Playing around in HO and N scale since 1976
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feldman718 Prolific poster 1,359 posts
feldman718

Plastic wheels

I use Micro Trains trucks and wheels exclusively. Why? I have them to be reliable and while they may pick up some dirt they are relarively easy to clean since the dirt is easily removed with tissues.

Irv
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D. Regular poster 109 posts
D.

Yep, Atlas plastic wheelsets

Yep, Atlas plastic wheelsets tend to pick up a little more grime than Micro-Trains. It is not an issue however, since humidity is definitely a worse enemy of reliable electric pick up.

I'm slowly replacing trucks and or wheelset with MT low profile, so it won't be something to worry about in the future.

And yes, Fox Valley Models wheelsets run on code 40 (but the majority of your engines does not, at least on ME track)
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ChrisNH Super User 1,277 posts
ChrisNH

Code 40

Thanks for the feedback.

I just got some stuff to hand lay some code 40. I will run some tests on that and see how my engines do. My locos not liking it is a worry. I read that the hand laid track would not have as much of a problem since there is no spike detail to bump on (using soldered pc ties..).

Chris

“If you carry your childhood with you, you never become older.”           My modest progress Blog
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D. Regular poster 109 posts
D.

Yep, spikeless handlaid code

Yep, spikeless handlaid code 40 shouldn't be much of a concern for your engines

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nolatron Active Member 67 posts
nolatron

I'm in the process of

I'm in the process of converting all my n-scale rolling stock to metal wheels with Fox Valley wheels as well. I find there wheels to be the best looking of the available brands.

I'm also adding a tiny resistor to one wheel per truck for current detection and signaling.

Shaun
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