Athearn releases metal wheel sets

[mcjaco]

Let the pontificating, and/or complaining begin.

http://www.athearn.com/newsletter/112211/11_N_wheelsets_112211.pdf

[MichaelWinicki]

I think this is the link you want... http://www.athearn.com/newsletter/112211/11_N_wheelsets_112211.pdf

[wm3798]

Can we just add $2 to the cost of the car and dispense with the plastic wheels, for cripes sake?  It's like they've figured out that we'd rather have metal wheels, and we're dumb enough to keep buying aftermarket.  Probably time for plastic wheels to go the way of the Rapido coupler.

Lee

[seusscaboose]

Can we just add $2 to the cost of the car and dispense with the plastic wheels, for cripes sake?  It's like they've figured out that we'd rather have metal wheels, and we're dumb enough to keep buying aftermarket.  Probably time for plastic wheels to go the way of the Rapido coupler.

Lee

+1

[bbussey]

I would say that's the direction the N scale market is moving in.  Half the manufacturers are doing it now.  It's only a matter of time before the wave is complete.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

But won't everyone then complain when the $9 trainman car is now $11?

[lock4244]

When is BLMA gonna release a plastic wheels and a Rapido conversion kit for their freight cars?

[Denver Road Doug]

When is BLMA gonna release a plastic wheels and a Rapido conversion kit for their freight cars?

+1

Plastic/Rapido Conversions, 9 3/4" radius lift kits, and DCC Extraction Tools...the future of N-Scale Aftermarket Items.   

[TiVoPrince]

Sweet!  
These metal wheels and some pickups and my C50-* fleet gets lit markers and transponding...

[Puddington]

All metal wheels are not created equal. Until I see them they are not of any interest....I mean, Atlas's metal wheel sets with the donut of death in the middle are worse than any plastic wheel I've used.

[wazzou]

I find it ironic how we've come full circle on this metal wheel thing. 
In the old days, other than Micro-trains, everyone else used to have metal wheels on their plastic, Rapido coupler equipped trucks.

[GaryHinshaw]

I'm mezzo-mezzo about these.  Ever since the BLMA trucks came out, with their lower bolster, I've been slowly converting to get the lower ride height and nice wheels*.  I've yet to encounter a car that doesn't benefit from that treatment, but it renders the stock trucks & wheels superfluous.  Now, if I have to pay extra for an Athearn car that has nice metal wheels, and I still think it's worth swapping BLMA trucks, I'm just out some cash.   

*Of course the down side of this is cost and my well-documented coupler paralysis.

-gfh

P.S. Slightly OT, but some things I would like to see standardized:
- axle length
- bolster height
- bolster pin diameter

[SkipGear]

Can we just add $2 to the cost of the car and dispense with the plastic wheels, for cripes sake?  It's like they've figured out that we'd rather have metal wheels, and we're dumb enough to keep buying aftermarket.  Probably time for plastic wheels to go the way of the Rapido coupler.

Lee

All new Athearn cars are coming with metal wheels. This is for those that want to retrofit the old cars.

[wm3798]

I guess I've got a bunch of older Athearn cars... all of them have the plump plastic Accumate wheels.

Lee

[NscaleMatt]

I am glad to see more manufactures are jumping on the ban wagon.  I have been hooked on the metal wheels ever since Fox Vally did theirs and still feel they are the best, but I am willing to try others.  I like the BLMA's, but as an ntrak guy operation on less than perfect track, I find them to be almost too fine scale.  I have no problems at home with BLMAs, but I have problems at shows.  I hope more options keep coming on the market, because I still haven't found that perfect metal wheel in N scale yet!