FVM PRR H30 hoppers... Any update?

[unittrain]

Not to drift away from the topic at hand but just noticed on the Traincat site that it says the PRR signals will be coming with the new cast targets and leds! Looking forward to these.

[towl1996]

Just got an update email that the first sheets of decals are on their way for inspection.

I'll post more info as soon as they arrive.

So does mean the Gra's will be available soon, like before the end of the year?

[TrainCat2]

So does mean the Gra's will be available soon, like before the end of the year?

Close, but no. Jan 3rd they will be on sale. I wanted to wait until I new the decals were successful before I released them.

I leave this Saturday to spend some time with Jamie in AZ returning on the 2nd.

[Pennsy]

Bob
Does this mean the decals will be on the web site after the first of the year?

Jim

[TrainCat2]

They are actually there now, but the actual pricing will be put up before I leave for vacay. Those that pre-ordered them will get updated orders and PayPal Invoices for the actual amount. Shipping will be manually added as 1st class postage with tracking.

[Cajonpassfan]

Bump!
So I finally got my hands on a FVM Pennsy H30 covered hopper today, and WOW, it's truly a beautifully done model. Wow wow wow! I wish I had a good excuse to run more of them on the West coast, but even one is pushing the credibility limits for my 1950 California setting. Tell me I'm wrong please...
The detail is crisp and scale-like, the laddders and especially the bracing on the B-end is exquisite. The finish and lettering is pure joy, too. Next to it, my bashed H30 from the previous century looks like a beached whale
I also didn't realize how low slung these cars were...

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But, one disappointment, three of the four axles have a bit of a wobble, and the metal wheels don't look like the FVM replacement wheels I've been buying; they have a relatively deep flange (.025) and a wider thread; the wheel scales to .068, a bit wider and with flanges significantly deeper than the FVM wheels I have. The car also doesn't roll freely, it has trouble rolling on a 3% grade.... since I only have one, is that an aberration or just the way they come?
Regards, Otto K.

[peteski]

I seem to recall that FVM switched to the "wide thread" (and deeper flanges) wheels on their recent models.

[bbussey]

FVM uses the wide-tread wheels, which also have deeper flanges than the standard wheels, on their RTR models.

[VonRyan]

 
And that's the way I like it.

[Cajonpassfan]

.....but what about the wobbler and rollability problem; is that unusual? Because that's not the way I like it...
Otto K.

[Snark45]

FVM uses the wide-tread wheels, which also have deeper flanges than the standard wheels, on their RTR models.

Bryan - Do you happen to know the std. axle length used on their R-T-R models? I plan to replace mine...

BTW - thanks so much for your recent ESM projects/releases.   Harry

[Chris333]

None of my FVM cars wobble and out of about 250 wheelsets only like 2-3 wobbled.

[bbussey]

Bryan - Do you happen to know the std. axle length used on their R-T-R models? I plan to replace mine...

BTW - thanks so much for your recent ESM projects/releases.   Harry

All Affa-designed trucks use the .540" axle length.  That covers all FVM trucks; all BLMA trucks; all TWX trucks; all WOT freight trucks; all EXR trucks; ESM trucks on X58 boxcar, GSC well car and post-2013 XIH boxcar releases; ATL, ATH and IMRC trucks on new-tooling models with body-mounted couplers and metal wheels.

[Snark45]

Very comprehensive answer - thanks a lot!   H

[Cajonpassfan]

Thanks Bryan, that is helpful. I replaced the wheels with FVM 3301-100's and life is good. I can tolerate the wide wheels under box cars and such, but not under tank cars and hoppers where the thread is so obvious. All I need to do now is to blacken the wheels and weather the car, although it's almost too pretty to dirty up

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Anyone have color proto photos in the early scheme to use as a guide? Googling the car yields a lot of models, but not much in the way of prototype.
Regards, Otto K.