PRR R50B Reefer kits: Third run is coming, end of October, 2015!

[peteski]

It would be interesting to know how many people built this kit with the recommended FVM metal wheels and who don't have any problems with shorting while running this car.

[chicken45]

It would be interesting to know how many people built this kit with the recommended FVM metal wheels and who don't have any problems with shorting while running this car.

I'll bring them over to Ed's this weekend and see how things go.

[OldEastRR]

I like the car kit and it's easy to assemble ... but yeah, lots of people here have bought the kit but who's actually built and runs them on their layout beside chicken45?
Quite possible the insulated wheels are touching the frames -- I may glue some thin clear styrene on the inside of one side of the frames. As for Rapido wheels -- well, if you have any Rapido passenger cars you know how good they roll. As for axle length, with easily bendable pewter frames isn't any reasonable axle length accommodated?
Chicken45, how freely do your R50s roll?

[altohorn25]

I built 3 of the recent run kits using the metal FVM wheels as specified in the instructions (diameter and axle length as specified).  I have had no problems with any of the three cars on either code 80 or code 55 track (unless you run through an open turnout and derail the car......then it will short due to operator error.....  )

Nate

[thomasjmdavis]

with easily bendable pewter frames isn't any reasonable axle length accommodated?

Old East,

I don't mean to be argumentative, but bending the frame throws the "bearing" out of alignment- the "cone" at the end of the axle fits into a cone in the sideframe.  Bending the sideframe in will change that alignment.

According to Rapido ( http://rapidotrains.com/n-scale-wheelsets/ ) their axles are 13.72 mm, which converts to inches as .54016- for our purposes, .540 or .541- a common axle length in N scale- but shorter than the one recommended by the manufacturer.  The recommended axle length (the one the truck is designed for) is .553. so to use the shorter Rapido axles, you need to bend the sideframe in by .006 on each side- more then enough to put those cones out of alignment by enough to cause a lot of friction.  Eventually, the steel axle will wear away the pewter, but I suggest that will result in a sloppy bearing, and you won't be happy then either- and it will require frequent adjustment until it fails.  The .006 may also be more than enough to cause a short between the sideframe and insulated wheel (and this will only get worse as the bearing surface wears away.

[OldEastRR]

How about MTL 36" wheels? I'm hesitant to order just 4 axle sets from FVM because of shipping. Is there somewhere that lists the length of all the wheel axles available in N?

[altohorn25]

How about MTL 36" wheels? I'm hesitant to order just 4 axle sets from FVM because of shipping. Is there somewhere that lists the length of all the wheel axles available in N?

Go to the FVM website; it will say which wheels are compatible for MT wheelsets and it will also give you the axle length.

Nate

[thomasjmdavis]

Old East- I assume if you are worried about shipping costs, you don't have an LHS that carries them (I don't either- closest real hobby shop is 100 miles from here). The information I have (which I do not personally guarantee, as my cars are packed away for the moment as are my calipers in some other box) says that Atlas and Intermountain (not sure if this includes Centralia) also use .553 axles.  However, my advice would be to put together an order for FVM wheels with whatever other odds and ends you might need for projects in the next few months, and put in an order with one of the large online retailers, or order them from Walthers and pick through their various sale items- you can usually find enough there to justify the shipping cost.

Tom D