It's been my experience that if you're having a lot of derailments with plastic wheels, then you'll have about 3 times the derailments with metal wheels. Mainly due to the flange profiles... metal wheels(FVM, newer Atlas, etc...) have a true flange profile("U" shape) while plastics(mainly MT) have a tapered flange and are less sensitive to gauge issues. My point... good track work is the key. My preference, plastic (Edit: low profile) wheels and body mounted couplers. Runs near flawless on the club layout, complete with 50-60 cars and helpers.
I agree, as many have pointed out, it's up to the individual, model railroading is rather unique among hobbies in that there are as many ways of going about it as there are participants and none of them are wrong. However, I'll cast another vote for Fox Valley wheels. After using them I don't know why anyone would want to use anything else.
I'm convinced!!! The answer is crystal clear!!! Should it come to pass that I join a club, or meet trainboard members at a show, and someone asks "Marty, metal or plastic wheels?" I will nod knowingly and say "Yes". If they then ask "Why?", I will respond "Because, noone makes them from wood or glass"
Hi, having metal wheels does not reduce derailments. I like metal wheels because of the sound and they run cleaner. There was thread on which metal wheels are compatible for the different trucks, I think is was sometime on the 17th April. You could check this up. I have stopped converting for the present moment because of the cost. Cheers,
I use those wheels that run best in the particular truck. Just as examples: the Bowser H21a hoppers on Crown trucks run perfectly after I put FVM wheels in them. The new Athearn hoppers look and run great on FVM 36" wheels. For most of my MTL cars I use MTL low profile wheels. Even MTL trucks vary, I exchanged from MTL low pro to FVM in one MTL truck, and the FVM were binding, then used the same FVM in exchange to Pizza Cutters in another MTL truck and they were turning freely. It is just a matter of trying and fiddling around. But I think this is also the essence of our hobby, get things work. I also have a stock of FVM wheels (different sizes) and MTL lo-pro's to work with.
FVM convert here. For the looks and sound. (But I don't hurry to change out cars that come to me with MT lo-pros...) In my experience FVM and MT lo-pros perform the same. And I do think that metal wheels keep the rails cleaner... (start the flame wars now! Okay...please don't. )
I prefer the metal wheels in my passenger cars, cabeese, and logging equipment. I've noticed the MT logging cars perform much better with metal wheels. I'm not so pickey with my other freight equipment. I do like the FVM wheel look over the Intermountains, the side profile looks much more realistic. I have noticed that the FVM wheels are much more likely to detrail than either MT plastic or IM metal wheelsets on an "iffy" section of track. I have also noticed that the FVM wheelsets also have a tendancy to skip over the points on my code 55 switches much more frequently than the other manufacturers.
Ok, I cant resist asking the final question everyone is wondering but no one is brave enough to ask. Er, maybe not, but nonetheless.. What are the effects of metal wheels and the slinky train? Is the slinky effect reduced, the same, increased?
That is one thing I didn't address above, the slinky effect appears to magnify with metal wheelsets. I really notice with the cabeese and FVM wheels.
I am a strong supporter of FVM metal wheels. No other wheel out there has the realistic profile of the face of the wheel combined with the shiny silver wheel tread. Compare the look of FVM wheels to the prototype and you will agree.
Weeeeelllllllllll...me not being a 'rivet counter' but being a 'penny counter'...and not being a 'prototypical' modelers but rather a 'typical' modeler....I will stick with the MT wheelsets in MT trucks. The FVM wheelsets are nice...no doubt...but I read of problems with them too plus there is the added cost. So I see no advantage to getting and using them. My eyes are getting so bad that even if I try to look at my cars up close as they go by...its all a blur. I like my trains...but am I going to photograph them for some contest or vanity....nope. Am I going to enjoy watching them go round and around and stay on the track...yup...JMO .
