I guess it has to be each thread on its own merits. There will always be situations where it's worth reactivating an old thread....more photos come to light for a prototype thread on a freight car, for example - makes far more sense to keep it all together.
Regarding Slaters driving wheels, I want to make a general comment that they have such a wide variety of wheels available that it is usually possible to find something quite close to what is needed for 1:48-scale US-prototype locos, and I am surprised that they are not used more in this market. The current project on my workbench is installing a drive in an AHM/Riv IHB 0-8-0. There are numerous reasons for ditching the chunky wheels that it came with, and I found Slaters' #7851K wheels are a reasonable match; overall diameter is only slightly under-size, it has the correct number of spokes, and the piston stroke is okay, 28.7" as compared to 32" for the prototype, but the screw-together, self-quartering assembly more than makes up for any discrepancies....so easy to use! I have successfully machined brass wheel castings in the past, made my own split axles an'all, and now that I have given Slaters wheels a proper look, I swear they will always be my first choice.
