ESM — ASF Ride Control Trucks and Low Profile Metal Wheels

[bbussey]

The bulk of the ESM products for 2019 will be released in September, with the formal announcements at the NSE N Scale Convention in Chicago next week. But I’ll jump the gun on RW a little with the announcement of ASF 70-ton Ride Control trucks and low-profile metal wheel sets. The trucks and wheels were tooled due to the Affa dissolution, as we never want to be in a situation where we can’t release product due to the sudden unavailability of an OEM component (and subsequently, all rolling stock moving forward will be equipped with original MTL couplers because they always are available from Oregon).   While the trucks and wheels were tooled specifically for ESM X-series models, they will be available as accessory items through your normal hobby affiliates. The plan is to have them always in stock. We’re also initially offering the trucks in three colors. If the line is successful, we will be adding additional styles, colors and wheel diameters. The product line will debut in September and consist of the following items:


#920100 — Low-Profile Metal Wheels, 33” diameter, .540” axle length. MSRP $15.35/DZ


#921000 — ASF Ride Control trucks, 70-ton, weathered black. MSRP $8.95/PR


#921001 — ASF Ride Control trucks, 70-ton, silver. MSRP $8.95/PR


#921002 — ASF Ride Control trucks, 70-ton, freight car red. MSRP $8.95/PR

The wheel sets are chemically blackened, while the trucks are molded in colors that match current MTL truck colors. Production samples will be on display at the convention.

[garethashenden]

Do you have any plans to offer the wheels in bulk a la FVM?

[bbussey]

If the 12-packs do well, then we are open to that option.

[nkalanaga]

"(and subsequently, all rolling stock moving forward will be equipped with original MTL couplers because they always are available from Oregon)"

One of my hobby nightmares for years has been something happening to the KD/MT factory.  It isn't quite as bad now, but for years, the loss of their trucks and couplers would have been a major disaster for North American N scale.  There really was no other choice for knuckle couplers or good wheelsets.

[Cajonpassfan]

Great news, about both the ASF Ride Control trucks, and the wheelsets! And I second the need for bulk packs.
Two questions: What is the tire width on these, and would it be possible to see a better photo of the truck sideframes?
Thanks, Otto K.

[daniel_leavitt2000]

Do you know what the street price might be for these?

[bbussey]

They will be at the standard discount structure to distributors and dealers, so whatever their normal retail discounts are.

[garethashenden]

They will be at the standard discount structure to distributors and dealers, so whatever their normal retail discounts are.

So $12.25 ish for the wheels and $7.20 ish for the trucks. The “standard” street price seems to be something around 75% - 80% of MSRP.

[MetroRedLine]

Glad to see more metal wheels hit the market (especially since most of the other brands' wheels are still out of stock). But they appear to still have much wider treads than the FVM wheels, which I'll tolerate, since there's really not much else out there currently. But I prefer the narrower, fine-scale treads.

[bbussey]

They don't.  They have the same tread/flange dimensions as the ex-BLMA wheels.

[tehachapifan]

Are these low riding like the BLMA trucks?

[daniel_leavitt2000]

Are these low riding like the BLMA trucks?

Yeah... I think Bryan mentioned they were designed as OEM alternatives to the BLMA trucks which ran into availability issues resulting in delays of X58 runs.

[bbussey]

Every X58 and X65/X72 delay since 2011 – every single one – was due to Affa either missing delivery dates on trucks, wheels, couplers and screws; or incorrect trucks and screws supplied; or by unexpectedly shuttering its doors. Other than the MTL couplers, which are readily available as make-to-order to any quantity/color specs within two weeks, we now control production of all components of the X-series models.

Yes, the wheels are low-profile and fine scale – as clearly stated on the front and back packaging of the wheels and the trucks. It’s also extremely clear in the photos of the production samples above that the wheels match the specs of the BLMA wheels, which have been used on the X-series models since the beginning. The only change we are making in the above products is thickening the clear blister packaging, as the bubble dents on these samples when lightly pressed. We have access to the same blister packaging that MTL currently uses for their small parts, but it was better and more economical for us to make our own rather than buy OEM bulk and ship them to China.

Yes, the trucks are low-riding.

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[Lemosteam]

Even has the Soul Train that TRW co-opted...

[bbussey]

Great news, about both the ASF Ride Control trucks, and the wheelsets! And I second the need for bulk packs.
Two questions: What is the tire width on these, and would it be possible to see a better photo of the truck sideframes?

Otto, here is a close-up pic of the freight car red trucks.

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