BLMA vs. FVM Wheels.

NIevo Dec 17, 2010

  1. NIevo

    NIevo TrainBoard Member

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    I have converted several cars to the FVM metals wheels and am getting ready to order some in bulk to do a bunch more. I am wondering if I shouldn't give the BLMA wheels a shot and was wondering if they are worth the extra money over the FVM ones? I love BLMA products and have nothing but praise for their excellent quality but the only real difference I see is they have a profile cut on the backside of the wheel as well as the front where the FVM only have it cut on the front. Are there any other major differences? Anyone out there use both and have some feedback. I know the FVM wheels roll beautifully.
     
  2. OC Engineer JD

    OC Engineer JD Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    I use both and I am very pleased with both. BLMAs as you stated do have the cut on the back, which makes them the most accurate wheels you can get. So its just comes down to the matter of how important the 'look' of your model is. Both wheels roll excellent. :)
     
  3. txronharris

    txronharris TrainBoard Member

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    So what does an upgrade like that cost? I agree the metal wheels look way better but the thought of dumping all those micro trains wheelsets digs into the frugal bone I have (which is usually quite small).
     
  4. NIevo

    NIevo TrainBoard Member

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    Well the best prices I could find put the FVM wheels at $.55 each and the BLMA wheels at $.71 each. I am trying to decide if the BLMA wheels are worth the extra $.16 per wheel or $.64 a car. I would love to upgrade to the BLMA trucks/wheels but I really can't afford to change 300+ cars at $5 per car!!!
     
  5. Westfalen

    Westfalen TrainBoard Member

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    After trying FVM wheels, and I'm sure the BLMA ones too, you won't even think about it as you throw the MTL wheels in the trash.
     
  6. SteamDonkey74

    SteamDonkey74 TrainBoard Supporter

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    For me, I tend to switch over plastic wheels for metal ones in small batches. It makes it a little easier of a blow. Buying the big pack of FVM wheels doesn't really save one any money.

    I haven't tried the BLMA wheels but I am going to try some of them soon. Craig does a great job on pretty much everything he does.
     
  7. ATSF5078

    ATSF5078 TrainBoard Member

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    I put FVM wheels on a dozen cars and BLMA trucks w/wheels on seven cars for testing and I'm very happy with both brands. I agree that the BLMA look the best esp. in their trucks but the cost to me is prohibitive as I have over 1,000 freight cars. I'm going to reserve the BLMA trucks and wheels to select cars that will better benifit from them. On the others I plan on using FVM as they cost a bit less and also fit Atlas trucks. The Exact Rail metal wheels also seem to be very good although not as fine scale looking as BLMA's. My plan is to convert batches of cars over as they get the body mounted coupler upgrades as I feel that fine scale low profile wheels and body mounted couplers go hand in hand not only for looks but also operating reliability. N scale is finally starting to get out of the dark ages. :thumbs_up:
     
  8. Metro Red Line

    Metro Red Line TrainBoard Member

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    If you're talking about the plastic MTL low-profile wheels, you can always save them as "interim wheels" in case you acquire cars with pizza cutters and want to add some low-profile wheels if it doesn't already include them in the box.

    Either that, or you can sell or give them away to a pizza cutter-user and enlighten them. Perhaps you might get a chance to save them :)

    If you're talking about the pizza cutter MTL wheels then...yeah they're useless junk :)
     
  9. bryan9

    bryan9 TrainBoard Member

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    Best metal wheels for Atlas Code 55?

    I've heard that certain metal wheelsets have trouble with Atlas Code 55 track -- specifically, negotiating the points in the Atlas turnouts. True?

    My working theory is that the turnouts in question might have been from the bad batches of turnouts that came through a couple of years ago. People complained that they had to file the points & frogs, etc. I just purchased and installed quite a few turnouts recently purchased (Oct-Nov, 2010) and every one of them is absolutely perfect, so far as I can see.

    As those who recall my previous posts on Unitrack might surmise, I'm migrating my D&RGW Soldier Summit layout to Atlas Code 55. I was able to sell off my Unitrack on eBay and the N Scale Yard Sale list, and the proceeds were sufficient to pay the replacement costs 100%, including about 50 turnouts. I still think Unitrack is a great choice for many modelers. I made the change partly for aesthetic reasons, but also because I felt too constrained by the limitations inherent in Unitrack's geometry (in particular, being forced out of the 33mm double-track spacing by using No. 6 turnouts in a crossover and having to use R718s on either end of curves to minimize the "toy train" lateral displacement of 85' passenger cars entering curves). The availability of curved turnouts in Atlas Code 55 is a plus, too, and helped me solve several major problems.

    --Bryan
     
  10. MichaelWinicki

    MichaelWinicki TrainBoard Member

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    I'm glad you brought that up.

    I've had issues with FVH metal wheelsets on my Atlas code 55 switches. I've had several that were a smidgen too narrow. Hold'em up to the NMRA gauge and you can see they're slightly narrow, which is a problem on Atlas code 55 switches– especially the number 5's.

    There have been some complaints about the Atlas metal wheelsets, but I've not had any problems– All have been in gauge and roll very nicely.
     
  11. SteamDonkey74

    SteamDonkey74 TrainBoard Supporter

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    Is it the wheelset or the switch that is too narrow? If it's the switch, then no amount of fiddling with the wheels is going to fix the fact that the switch is out of gauge.

    If it's the wheels, this isn't a metal vs. plastic wheelset issue.
     
  12. MichaelWinicki

    MichaelWinicki TrainBoard Member

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    It's the wheelset.

    Like I said in my post, one can put the NMRA gauge alongside and see the slight narrowness of the wheelset.

    Atlas makes their code 55 switches right to spec, and if a wheel is out of gauge, then bad things happen.

    Funny thing is that many Atlas locos come through too-narrow, which of course I have to widen them a small amount. But I've thrown out a bunch of MT plastic lo-pros that were too narrow also.

    I give my NMRA gauge a pretty good workout. :)
     
  13. SteamDonkey74

    SteamDonkey74 TrainBoard Supporter

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    Me, too. I think it's good practice. I have to practically tackle people sometimes who respond to any derailment of their precious string of cars with a pair of pliers and an insidious grin at the piece of track in question. We have an NMRA gauge at my club and I request it be used first.
     
  14. oldcook43

    oldcook43 TrainBoard Supporter

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    I think it's great that we finally have 2 companies putting out great wheel sets! I'm glad we have to choose between the two. Pizza cutters were great when there was nothin' else, but now I have to choose which is best for me:munhappy: (woe is me). Hopefully the Rapido is soon gone also!!
     
  15. TetsuUma

    TetsuUma TrainBoard Member

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    ExactRail Wheels vs FVM Wheels

    Has anyone tried the ExactRail wheels? I got some and have been testing them along with some FVM metal wheels on the East Caravan Lines loop around the Christmas Tree in my office. So far, they've been great. I wasn't able to test the gauge but they have been running hours a day with no problems. I do think the FVM wheels look a little bit better, though. The tread on the FVM wheel seems to be a little thinner which makes them look better. When I get back to the office after Christmas, I'll try to take a picture but it could just be me.

    My BLMA wheels are still on order.

    Andy
    Tetsu Uma
     
  16. Flash Blackman

    Flash Blackman TrainBoard Member

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    They're fine. I had no problems.
     
  17. DCESharkman

    DCESharkman TrainBoard Member

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    You can alwyas used the plastic lo-pros as a scenic element. Simply spray them with a thin shell of rust paint. Now stack in a gondola or on a small section of track.

    I have tried the Atlas, IM, and FVM metal wheels and like the FVM the best. I have not tried the BLMA because I like the 100 packs of the FVM. Helps me feel more like I am making progress. Buying BLMA24 at a time is just not time efficient enough for me, and, so far, no one has had enough in stock for a 20-30 car conversion.
     
  18. Metro Red Line

    Metro Red Line TrainBoard Member

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    I also have some NWSL 28" wheels. It's great to have choices, the more the merrier, and the more choices we have the better off for the scale. N scale is no longer a specialty scale but part of the model railroad mainstream. I haven't tried the BLMA wheels/trucks although I wanna put the trucks on my Walthers Thrall well cars to lower them. The FVM wheels look the best but there are some instances where they won't work, for instance the DI doublestack cars - the 3302/3602 wheels are a hair or two too loose in the axles and they're extremely prone to derailments (the next size is too large though). But the non-MTL sized Intermountain wheels fit them just perfectly.
     
  19. Turbineman

    Turbineman TrainBoard Member

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    I recently bought some InterMountain metel wheels at the Del Mar train show. I haven't had a chance to install any...but just wondered how they compare with BLMA and FVH??? Anyone tried all 3 brands?
     
  20. christoph

    christoph TrainBoard Member

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    I have bought a set of Exactrail wheels and are very happy with them, put them in an Exactrail gondola and an Athearn flatcar. They are, however, more expensive than FVM wheels, and for now only available in 12-packs.
    I have lots of FVM wheels in use and am happy with them, but that nice small thread sometimes gives trouble on large radius Peco code 55 turnouts. My next order for FVM wheels will be a set of wide-thread wheels just to see whether this solves the problem.
    BLMA wheels are here, but I have not yet used them. Not sure where this extra detailing of the backside will show.
     

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