New Fox Valley Metal Wheel Set?

[BN1970]

I just received a Chuck pack with my new Fox Valley Milw 50 foot boxcars.  Before I put new cars into service on my layout I always check them out.  While doing that I noticed that the metal wheels that came with my boxcars looked different?  So I visually compared them and that got me more interested, such that I got out my digital vernier caliper.  These FV wheel sets have wheels that are thinner in width verses my other FV wide wheels.

They measured at about the same wheel width as the new Micro Trains Standard wheels (mid flange as I call them) about 0.067" verses the FV wide wheels at 0.074".  While the FV proto wheels width is about 0.059".

The flange height of these new FV wheels is a bit higher than the MT Standard wheels by 0.002"  FV flange height about = 0.0253" verses MT Standard about = 0.0251

I have read that BLMA was going to come out with a different metal wheel set but not Fox Valley.  Maybe someone else will be able to add to this? --Brian

[peteski]

I seem to recall someone mention that FVM uses their "wide thread" (not their "fine thread") wheels on their ready-to-run models.
http://www.foxvalleymodels.com/metalwheels.html

[BN1970]

Peteski, your correct the recent Fox Valley freight cars have come with the FV metal wide wheel.

I used a set off of a FV B&O wagontop boxcar to compare to my just received Milw 50 rib sided boxcars wheels.  You can see the difference, measuring them just confirmed my old eyes were not playing tricks.  I actually think that this is a smart move by Fox Valley to come out with a semi scale wheel, which is what Micro Trains new Standard wheel can also be thought of.

On the same thought I have had the opportunity to operate on a number of local HO Scale layouts that pretty much never experience a derailment.  Being HO, all the rolling stock have body mounted couplers.  Plus they all use metal semi scale wheels.  Semi Scale wheels have wider treads than a scale wheel would and I think thats another idea that may make its way to N-Scale. --Brian

[sdodge]

This is interesting, and, good news. For the purpose of derailment free operation I switched to FVM wide tread wheels a few months ago with good success. The only complaint I have is that they look...well...wide. If they now have a "semi scale" wheel that will provide the same performance I will slowly switch to them.

I have also tried the BLMA wheel that is slightly wider and deeper than the original with good success.

Surprised FVM has not mentioned this (to my knowledge).

Steve Dodge

[sirenwerks]

Ah crackers, I hadn't noticed that, which means I still need to swap them out.  But which axle size is it?  I'm not sure what truck or coupler manufacturers are being used on anything anymore.

[peteski]

Ah crackers, I hadn't noticed that, which means I still need to swap them out.  But which axle size is it?  I'm not sure what truck or coupler manufacturers are being used on anything anymore.

Which brand of truck are you asking about?  FVM?

[BN1970]

The axel length of the Fox Valley wheel sets in my Milw 50' rib sided boxcar is about 0.537" and therefore the truck and axel is the same as Micro Trains.

Fox Valley sells wheel sets that are labelled as having a length of 0.540", but they are actually slightly shorter and will fit this truck. --Brian

[sirenwerks]

Which brand of truck are you asking about?  FVM?

Yea.  I just found out what Bluford's rolling, so I can swap those out.  Of course, I gotta make sure I've got the right trucks first.  Anyone know if the Milw 40' and 50' cars are sporting the right trucks as the prototype?  The B&O cars?