Talking and Testing Metal vs Plastic Wheels in N-scale, Tangent Models 36" metal wheels.
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- Опубліковано 28 лип 2024
- In this video i will discuss my opinion on plastic wheels vs metal wheels for N scale rolling stock.
Ill talk about what got me curious enough to try metal wheels, then we will conduct 2 small tests to see just what wheel performs the best.
Ill follow that up discussing what i think is the pros and cons, and my overall opinion.
Hope this is enjoyable and informable. - Розваги
Just an fyi. There are 2 considerations, rolling ability and dirt/grime. For the rollability testing should make sure all other influences are equal, the most notable being weight. Next, the axle pockets must be termed equally. Finally your are left with two points of friction, the pockets (axle to truck) and wheels to rail. Now, with all else being equal, the coefficient of friction is less on metal to metal. Next metal to plastic and the worst is plastic to plastic. Simple physics. Any other test results simply indicate not everything else is equal, typically the axle pockets. Axle tuning tools really help.
Thank you so much Steve for your feedback! Im buy no means an expert, but i was a huge skeptic on buying metal wheels. I pinned your comment, because its packed full of useful information. Ill be looking into that in the future to fine tune my rolling stock more. Thank you and take care!
@@LRSX Hiya Ian,
Thanks...not trying to be critical by any means just tried to add a little science/physics to an already good vid. :)
Ian.... jus wanna say your Viaduct scene is absolutely , AWESOME 😎Darrell
Thank You Darrell, i really appreciate it. In the beginning stagea it was meant to be the center piece, but a change from my attic to basement changed the plans, its still a center piece, but it will be rivaled by other scenes, once i get my rear in gear! Take care and thanks for watching!
Nice video! Good discussion and analysis.
Thanks Anthony, I appreciate it, i tried to give my view since i was a skeptic. Take care! Thanks fot watching!
👍 Another weekend is here! ☺☺
They go by to quickly though lol!!! Thanks! Hope your having a great weekend! Take care!
All valid point Ian, as you've said yourself most are set one one or the other. Guess you can say that's one thing about not having any grades on the layout like I do, never any issues with the mix of metal and plastic wheels. As with anything its preference for what each individual prefers
Thank you John, i agree all personal preference. I wont be converting all, just the most used cars. The 2% grades are ok, but i didnt have the room to go smaller like 1.5% would have been ideal. Real reason i have changed them is to get a few more cars on a train over the grade. Its been almost a year since i got the 1st pack of metal wheels. So its something ive been slowly, doing. Take care and thanks for watching!
As an HO scale modeler I have nothing meaningful to contribute to you N-scalers Ian, but I applaud your sharing your experience with the community.
Thank you very much Art I appreciate it. Im no expert either, just wanted to say that i was a skeptic, but i believe there is value to changing the wheels. Thanks for watching and take care!
Great job doing the video Ian , thanks for putting it together .
Thank you Jerry, its really all personal preference, but i went from skeptic, to finding value myself in changing some to metal. Take care!
I like the idea of switching over to metal wheels. I first purchased some Intermountain 33" N scale one to go in some micro-trains box cars (I run transition era stock). I didn't get the nice free rolling down the track as the plastic wheels. I wasn't happy with the resutls. I abaonded the upgrade for a few months. I purchased the IM 33" FOR MICRO TRAINS TRUCKS. Those should have a similar axel length as the MT plastic sets. I've installed on a few cars and same results. The don't roll as far and I can't spin them freely like the plastic versions. I don't know if I should add a dab of lubricant, or just abandon Intermountain all together. Micro trains is releasing some more metal wheels so I might give those a go otherwise I might stick with plastic.
Unfortunatly i have never worked with intermountain metal wheels. So i cant make a statement on that. Tangent doesnt make a 33" atm. I sure hope they do, as i just put 36" on some of my older rolling stock even though it should be 33". I do like the way tangents wheels roll in the mt trucks. I also heard good things about Fox Valley Models wheels but they are hard to get sometimes. I do have some fox valley models rolling stock that came with there wheels and those cars roll great as well. I could understanding being unhappy with your results, i sure would be too. I hope you find something that works for you. Any questioms feel free to ask. Take care and Thanks for Watching!
Glade to see a younger person so interested in molds trains, alls i see is old retired guys like me lol
Thank you! Seems to be more and more younger people entering the hobby. Which is a good thing! I tried in my early 20s but finances ended that run. But got back into it late 2019. I enjoy it its fun to create something. Thanks for watching and take care.
Well Ian I like the Tangent wheels too. Most clubs won't even let you put plastic wheels on their layouts and NMRA Rules mandate metal wheels. Really liked your little test. Thanks for it, Chris
Thanks so much Chris for your feedback. I did not know that clubs and the nrma where so high on metal wheels. Interesting. Im really liking the tangent wheels, hopefully theyll do 33" wheels at some point. Take care and thanks for watching!
I can't tell you who right now but I had gotten a email showing 33 and 36 metal wheels. If and when I come across them again I'll be sure to let you know
Nice demonstration and analysis! I've often wondered about the comparison but never looked into it much. One thing I was surprised was how different they sound. The plastic wheels were nearly silent while the metal wheels make a more authentic sound. Good points too about how many more cars you can pull with metal wheels and how they pick up less dirt and grime. I hadn't considered those things. Your layout definitely benefits from running trains as long as possible, and it looks much more prototypical that way.
Thank you Jamie, you hit on another pro of the metal wheels. The sound, i do find the sound of the metals wheels more enjoyable and realistic as you stated! They have improved length of train to unit ratio. Also like how they work a little better over the kato #4 switches. Take care and thanks for watching!
My club has 2 1/2 % grade and 3 Atlas SD-50’s pull 61 fox valley coal cars. Two engines in front one in rear
Wow, that seems really impressive! Whats the mininum radius on the curves for the main? I believe my grades may be a littlr more then 2%, as some of the rise is in the curves. Thanks for watching and take care!
Hi ya Ian. All perfectly valid points. Thanks for sharing. Was it just me or was your layout a mirror image due to using a phone? I ask because the viaduct scene looked backwards to me. I know, weird question. But you know…….okay……..see ya.
Thank yoy Norman! I appreciate, and your exactly right, not a weird question. I often film with the forward facing camera, when im in front of the camera, therefore everything you see is mirrored! Thanks for watching and take care!
Metal Wheels! This is the way.
Roy i agree to some extent, although i have some cars that will stay plastic, some of my 6 axle coaches, do not like the metal wheels. But it is prefeerance, it is alot of money to convert, if a person has a larger collection. Take care and thanks for watching!
I use Plastic and mental wheel, but....Keep them clean and they work just fine. Bob
Thanks Bob for your input! I appreciate it, i still use plastic as well. Ive replaced the cars i run the most. I find it easier to keep the metal wheels clean compared to the plastic though. Theyre both great in there on way. Take care!
Great video, Ian! Thanks for the comparison. I, too, have become a big fan of metal wheels, and like you, I'm replacing all my plastic wheels with metal wheels. ...Roy
Thank you very much Roy! Glad you enjoyed. I must say your video on metal wheels started my interest in metal wheels. Im slowely converting, although some will stay plastic. I do like the sounds you gain with the metal wheels! Take care and thanks for watching!
The test of the metal wheels versus plastic wheels on N scale rolling stock, metal is better because it keeps the tracks cleaner, lasts much longer & it more than pays for itself. 8 of my 88 freight cars have metal wheels. I will be changing the trucks on my Bachmann N scale Lehigh Valley plug door box car, P&LE gondola car & Union Pacific caboose to the Bachmann trucks with the knuckle couplers & metal wheels and the metal wheels from the Rapidl couplers will be put on 3 of my freight cars which will give me 9 freight cars with metal wheels. Ian I put down the brand name of the metal wheels that I will be buying for my other freight cars in gradual phases as my freight cars will all have metal wheels.
I agree with you chris, i do like the metal, will i change all of them... no. But i will do the cars that will see the most track time, some 6 axles heavyweight coaches do not like the metal wheels, they hope the rail in the curves. Although more weight could solve that issue. Ive gradually been changing them.... i started about a year ago. Thanks for watching and take care! Good luck with the swapping, i love how the metal sounds!
I agree with atlas trucks having more inherent resistance.
The atlas trainman trucks and wheels, are the worst. The master series cars with metal wheels from factory roll quite nice. I have a 5 car reading northern passenger set from atlas(trainman) and theyre quite terrible at rolling along. Part of the reason i try to stick to micro trains rolling stock anymore. Thanks for watching and take care.
Another plus to the metal wheels is the weight. If you are trying to add weight to a car metal wheels will help, also the magnetism factor I have made magnetic uncouplers and with the metal wheels, the magnets hold the cars in place after uncoupling. Thank you for sharing, David.
Thank you david! Thats some great info as well, i never thought about using a magnet to hold them in place. But i slightly recall you showing that in on of your videos! Thats a great idea. Because the metal wheels do like to free roll! Thanks for watching and take care!
I found metal wheels are more reliable than the plastic. I live the wall hole action in the beginning. Great testing!
Thanks plumber, and i agree! They look great, they sound great and the roll great! Wall hole, im guessing you mean the trains running on the lower loop. That is a fun little addition to that scene. Take care and glad you enjoyed!
I would like to add to this conversation. I will
Be not the popular majority.
Micro trains plastic wheels and wheelsets are made out of delrin which is a slippery plastic.
Atlas, athearn etc plastic wheelsets are not.
There isn’t just metal wheels and plastic wheels for slip and low resistance
There is
Metal wheels
MTL wheels delrin
Atlas wheels
Atlas used to provide metal wheels they do not they switched back to plastic.
If you have a lot of extra money convert to metal I guess.
If you factor in the wheels and couplers added costs to a atlas car it doesn’t make financial sense.
I realize a lot of manufacturers not MTL have better detail than MTL. Or a body style MTL didn’t make.
But when I run MTL wheels and couplers on my trains I have no issues.
When I run other accumates or other couplers I have issues
When I run plastic other brand wheels like atlas I have issues
I cannot justify on a large collection converting further than MTL to metal at this time. I don’t have track cleaning issues with MTL wheels.
There is a issue with track cleaning when you don’t understand what’s causing oxidization.
I run kato unitrack
With MTL wheels and couplers whenever possible
On the 96x atlas ore cars I have that are not yet converted to MTL wheels and couplers the train derails like crazy. But atlas makes ore cars and MTL doesn’t.
When I see a really nice body style trainworx or athearn car. I buy them.
When I get some extra cash I convert to MTL wheels and couplers. If I don’t it will derail. It has lots of rolling resistance on the wheels and drag.
Converting entirely to metal wheels is a huge cost. Vs the size of layout I have. There are folks who don’t have cork under track to save money, there are folks who are dc to save money, there are folks who don’t have sound to save money. Less overhead lighting, alternatives to plywood benchwork, what dcc system if you are dcc.
Metal Wheels cleaning your track for you better than MTL. Maybe. But that’s the metal Wheel salesman talking. Different things are important to different people. Code 40 handlaid vs unitrack. Sunroof and ac vs bus pass.
It depends if you have heavy investment in other layout features and what’s important to you on your layout. Metal
Wheels I’d rather take the more rolling stock. I have 88 locos with dcc. Talk about variety. Get lots of compliments. Never got any compliments on the wheels yet.
Run a conversion coupler car
Run a dc engine
Run plastic wheels
As long as you have a train running you’re doing the right thing.
80% of rolling stock purchased pre owned. Locos 60% purchased preowned. Consider preowned he never you can to save money.
Thanks for your input Montona and Wyoming, i agree about the mtl plastic wheels being superior to atlas or any other manufacturor. It really is a personal prefernce, as is much in this hobby. I dont have an extreme amount of rolling stock to convert. Alot of my cars and engines are second hand too. If i get rid of anything, id pull the metal wheels and put the plastic back on to sell. I still have plenty of plastic wheeled cars i still run, and probably wont get metal, but for my main stuff i didnt mind it. I say to do what makes one happy, as you say as long as trains are running thats all that matters. Take care and thanks for watching!
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