Upgrading Wheels on Model Train Cars
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 10 ก.พ. 2025
- In this video I am upgrading wheels on model train cars for improved performance. For years I have not been able to get Fox Valley Models metal wheelsets. That meant there were several pieces of my rolling stock that I could not upgrade. Well, Scale Trains has purchased Fox Valley Models and their wheelsets are back!
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See more upgrades to improve the performance of your model railroad cars here: tinyurl.com/4hjmbjkr
When I see that you've posted a video, I get myself comfortable and settled. I know I'm going to enjoy this, and I always do. Many thanks.
Thanks so much for those kind words. 👍🏼👍🏼
You are so right about the metal wheels. I belive your track stays cleaner too.
I am slowly changing out my wheels. I like them so much better than plastic ones. Love the sound as the rail car’s travel around my layout. Great info in this video. Thanks
Hi Ron. I completely agree that metal wheels are better but respectfully disagree that they help reduce the slinky effect caused by the couplers. If the cars roll easier, it’s easier for the springs in the couplers to compress and push away causing the slinky problem. That’s why MicroTrains makes those springs to put on the axles. Metal wheels do add weight, which does help reduce the slinky action, but it’s not because they roll more easily. Rolling easier compounds the problem.
Thanks for all you’ve done to promote N scale. I enjoy your videos. Looks like I’ll be ordering some of the Fox Valley wheels. Stay safe!
Ron... Thanks for the shout out!
Certainly! Thanks for the awesome boxcar.
I would like to see resistor wheel sets. I'm going to add signals so it is needed to make it function a little better for detection.
That is a project I have in the works. 👍🏼👍🏼
Hi Ron. I’m late to the video but just wanted to mention that I also paint my metal wheels a rust or RR tie brown. Takes a little more time but removes the shine and adds more realism.
Very cool and interesting video to watch. Enjoyed it and have a wonderful rest of your day.(Steve)
I have been modeling in N Scale for over 20 years and agree with all of your thoughts completely. All of my cars have metal wheel sets. I model T-TRAK modules and get lots of click-clack. Love it! Keep up the great work!
Great video and tips Ron, thank you!
Hey Ron, you look good bro. Thanks for the wheel info, gotta go, don't build slow and make the scenery grow.
👍👍Thanks for the informative video! I model in HO, but I'm sure the same tips & techniques hold true. I 100% agree I love the sound of metal wheels on the track, maybe it's just me I think they roll much nicer than the plastic wheels. 🚂🚂
Hey Ron - awesome video as always and super informative. And thank you so much for showing the car I did for ya!! 🙏
Absolutely. It is a cool custom car and you do both good and very interesting work on your channel...like chopping up the Scale Trains loco. 😯👍🏼
love midwest modelrr.!!
Ron, you're lucky to have great friends and viewers! I too have those ARMN and SRY boxcars, a tip, the Atlas car has rather awful couplers that may look Microtrains 1016 compatible but are NOT. Thankfully these are actually BLMA cars and they made the coupler box to where a real 1016 fits and works perfectly fine. The Exactrail boxcar is the same story, you're better off upgrading the weak Exactrail coupler box screw with a Microtrains 00-90 screw. The ER screw doesn't let the box sit flush and can potentially sag on the inside axle causing slow running. I ordered the 40 ER boxcars from the recent run so I know too well the issues still plaguing Exactrail.
very nice ron
Thank you for the video. I am looking to chnage out some wheel sets also. My layout is done with code 55 track and I have several older peices of rolling stock with larger flanges which I need to address.
The Fox Valley semi scale wheels are great for that. 👍🏼👍🏼
Awesome love your videos I'm enjoying this one great work 👍
I’ve been upgrading my wheel sets to metal!
As a newcomer supporting my grandson’s hobby and fascination I would love to know the inventory of spare wheels axles and couplers. Seems we acquire mismatched couplers especially and tools and techniques for alignment would be greatly appreciated
I had no idea the length mattered. I'll have to keep an eye on that
Contrary to popular belief, size does matter. 😯🤣
Thanks. Good info. Where did you get the orange rerailer?
I have been using intermountain metal wheels, both in microtrains and for atlas, gave up on fox when they stopped making them
Intermountain doesn't make the oddball lengths though..
@@RonsTrainsNThings they only make atlas and microtrains, I have used them successfullly, and I just ordered some .563 and .540 and .553or 7 from scale trains, fox vally, so thanks for that. I have been using metal wheels and body mount couplers only for a while, and things have improved on running.
hello ron's its is randy and i like yours video is cool thanks and wheels cool thanks friends randy
I've been doing this with G scale mostly with New Bright and Eztec Christmas rolling stock, plastic wheels are fine but only from USA Trains.
Yup, Ron this has driven me nuts for years, measuring the axle length, and wheel circumference with a caliper, always some variation, also couplers not quite matching up. But have done all you do now for a few years, although getting expensive now. Have you gone to MT couplers also??
I generally use microtrains couplers, but cars that don't come with microtrains couplers I test on the layout. If they seem to function okay I leave them, but if they give me problems I upgrade them to micro trains.
Great video I like metal wheels
The way we have been treated by Scale Trains , I will NEVER buy anything they make. But thanks for the informative video Ron.
Mike
??????
I understand Mike's point. Scale Trains does not play nice with hobby shops. He is not the only one I've heard this from.
@@RonsTrainsNThings That is a fact. They want to use the Hobby Shop for exposer etc. but do not want to give the hobby shop the benefits of selling their product.
@@AbelG8781 or just do not order from scale trains at all, I’m also not fan of their business policies. 50% percent of the items I purchased from scale trains had problems or broken parts. Scale trains has major quality issues so much so they had to talk about it in a video. At this point in time scale trains is the Bud Light of model train manufacturers. Granted fan boys like you will defend them tell the end. if you want to be a foamer or a fan boy for scale trains, good for you. You be you and enjoy your bud light.
@@AbelG8781 You are obviously not a retaler or you would understand. Start a Hobby Shop !!
Good video
Are all the axle lengths available in FVM fine/scale wheels, as well as the standard tread?
PUT METAL WHEEL ON ALL HO STOCK
THANK YOU FOR VIDEO
Ive noticed alot of older models being bought by scale models. Nice to see these metal wheels, others are outrageous in price .
I noticed you use MTL replacement trucks, which I also use. Do you know off hand what axle length is appropriate for them, and/or the wheelset product model number to use?
MTL always uses the "standard" .540 axles.
When you do your wheel sets do you check for car weights?
Yes I do.
Just getting into this so quick question: Is it feasible to change out N-scale gauge 55 wheels to to 80? Obviously it might look a bit strange, but the thought occured to me as I browsed the used marketplace of N-scale trains wondering if they'd be able to go on any N-scale track, or only ones matching their wheel gauge. Thanks!
You don't need to change out gauge 55 wheels. If they will run on code 55 track they will run on any track.
Thanks Ron,
I am a fan of Scale trains and did not notice they are selling the Fox valley wheels.
I started converting my cars to metal wheels only to have Fox stop selling them. Now I can get back to it.
I have a question you may be able to answer. How do I know what wheel diameter is used on a particular type car? So I know I am choosing the right wheel. I did not know what I was doing and all my wheels are I think 36 inch.
A simplified answer is 100 ton truck have 3 side springs and us 36" wheels. 70 ton trucks have 2 side springs and use 33" wheels. 28" wheels are only used on auto racks due to excess height.
@@RonsTrainsNThings t
Thanks, that is helpful
At N scale, does 33" vs 30 or even 28" become noticeable.? Even at HO scale. Just getting to run a train stage so haven't been an issue...yet.
@@andycrawford9870 When side by side 33" and 36" are noticable but barely. 28"are definitely noticable...they nearly hide behind the truck side frames. As a modern day modeler, i put 36" on nearly everything...except my auto racks.
How do you know when to use a 28", 33", or a 36" wheel for my cars.
Great question. A simplified answer is 100 ton trucks have 3 side springs and take 36" wheels. 70 ton trucks have 2 side springs and take 33" wheels. 28" wheels are only for excess height cars, aka auto racks.
I also prefer metal wheels on my rolling stock as wheel. Where can I order some scale trains metal wheel sets?
Scaletrains.com
@@RonsTrainsNThings Thank you so much yeah I like the metal wheels on my rolling stock as well because it also makes the cars look realistic and they tend to stay on the track better.
Start replacing the plastic wheel’s early on