Got the wheels (phew) seems like everyones out of stock! great looking, great profile, outstanding finish, roll great! (especially through the "majic turnouts" wheels exactly in guage "nice". I like the bowl face, and the finer scale appearance. these guys got the wheels nailed, now if only Micro trains can follow suite? Woodland Scenics harrisons plumbing, not bad, not great, for the price. all the signs where like a brick level off, (but in N its hardly noticable unless your using digital photography) Some window signs not exactly in center, and some details are something thick for the scale. Aka hand trucks in front of building etc. Good quick fill structure however, and taking into usual viewing distances its fine. Rob
I can't agree with you more on the appearance of the Fox Valley Models metal wheels. There's just no comparison with any other wheel on the market. The fine-scale profile (especially the face of the wheel) makes these wheel a must-have upgrade, in my opinion.
Never thought about it, but why doesn't FVM sell their boxcars with their own wheels? I'll probably fire off an email to them with that question. Not a burning question, just one of those silly questions. I know they are using MTL as the OEM trucks and wheels, but it seems like an easy way to draw in more folks to their wheel sets. I haven't bought any yet, but the time is drawing near where I will think about converting the 500+ cars I have. Brian
That is an excellent question, and I imagine that since they probably can't get just the truck frame, that they just let the wheels ride. But it is good point! Rob
Or they could do like MicroTrains did for a while with their Low Profile wheels and include them in the box just loose. Steven
It's a market decision. Street price ~$12 for their boxcars vs. ~$14.50. Over 20% difference in street price would limit sales for those that didn't want the metal wheels. This was discussed on the Atlas forum, and that is what Matt said, in not so many words. I certainly would be happy to have them included, but I understand the business perspective.
What few M-T cars I have are now equipped with low-pro wheels. The pizza-cutters are now in the Grayson County landfill. Most of my cars are from IM, Red Caboose, Atlas, Athearn/MDC. I haven't purchased any FVM wheelsets to compare with, say, the Atlas lo-pros I've been using. However, since I'm using code 55 and 40 track, I may check them out.
Tell ya what! if I had the resources, I change every bloody Mt car wheels out with the FVM wheels they are that good. However, I plan on keeping the old pizza cutters that are metal, and turning them down myself. Rob
I am currently in the process of converting all of my rollingstock to FVM. It is taking a little longer than planned due to the popularity of the wheel sets. I was not sure about it until I converted a couple of cars and dropped them on the layout. Boy what a difference.
What bugs me is if Micro trains would of kept up with progress, (as the Cadillac of N scale) they would of had equivelent wheel sets, instead of some other outfit. Rob
If you search the forums you will find an answer from the horses mouth concerning pizza cutters and their decision to keep them.
One might agree with you on this issue Sizemore, but the fact that FVM wheels are almost always sold out tells another story, Doesn't it? Rob Leave the pizza cutters to the pizzeria thank you!
IMHO the WS prebuilt buildings are overpriced $50-60 for DPM $10 kits. A lot depends on the prices of detail parts & other bits added to the kits. At least the MP buildings add some lighting & other options. I might mind so much if the gas station also offered some service trucks & other items to make a complete scene. There may be some Walthers kits floating around where they sold some trucks to go with the building. Where someone could clean up is a model of a modern fire station with an EMS unit, ladder truck, pumper, etc with all the blinking lights installed. Similar could be a police station with some blue light Chevy/Ford cars. Going back in time, bring back the Dick Tracy 30's police cars.
No, it doesn't. Hey, I'm the biggest FVM fan in the world, but I would never pretend to believe that the volume of wheels they are selling is even a percentage point of what MTL sells on a monthly basis. The fact that they are almost always sold out probably has more to do with Matt's previous experience at another company where they publicly admit to "guessing wrong" on a fairly regular basis. So, I'm guessing he simply learned something from that. Just my theory though. Probably has a little to do with unexpected demand, at least initially. Now, if the story you are proposing is that FVM is KILLING the sales of most aftermarket low-pro wheels, then yes I would probably buy that. They are priced such that getting the benefits of more prototypical, metal, wheels is less of a decision. Especially if you are already having to convert wheels using plastic low-pros. But that by no means indicates that MTL made a bad business decision. (I am developing the opinion that MTL's low-pros are TOO low-pro so where I was initially a little torqued off about MTL's decision, I could mostly care less now. My vote is whatever is cheaper.)
I don't see any of them sold out: http://www.blwnscale.com/Fox%20Valley%20Models%20Brass%20Wheelsets.htm They did sell out once and followed up with more. Pretty sure they have been in stock since then.
A little off topic but what I love about FVM is the selection and packaging of the box cars. They are by far the easiest to remove and replace the car. Works big time for me.
Rob, First, it is not a reflection of the market, only the places where you shop. And it's not an indication of demand. It's an indication of supply. Which, in the places you are looking to find them you haven't found any because your shop fails to keep enough in stock. It is not reflective of the whole modelling market, only a portion. It's not a reflection of the availability of supply on behalf of FVM because there are other shops with product in their stores. Second, you're requesting Micro-trains to produce a wheel of FVM quality and to eliminate the Pizza Cutters. What you fail to realize, is that Joe D'Amato has already given MT's perspective on low profile wheelsets and pizza cutters. If you'd search the forum you'd find the post by Joe D'Amato and MT's stand. Third, I made no reference to my personal opinion on the matter just providing you with answers to your inquiry or comment. S
Yes and I think Joe stated something to the effect that they intend to look into revising the wheel to be NMRA compatable. Now if Joe is here (lurking but staying out of the fray) (and believe me I don't blame you for not getting into the storm) please quip in with Microtrains current intentions. Rob
