MTH Scale wheels

I have two fairly big MTH scale wheels models(a CN ES44DC and a CNW Dash-9); I left the scale wheels on and operate them, carefully, not goung too fast, on Lionel FasTrack, with O 72 curves.

Scale wheels units, with hi-rail wheel sets, might still track okay on tighter curves; but, they might not look that good, in the curves, if they are big models?

Rick

I was looking at an MTH Premier SD70ACe from NS my LHS offer a good deal except that he only has Scale wheel version. On my current layout my largest curve is O52 so it probably wont look right. Even though I do run a MTH GE Evo hi rail wheel on it and doesnt look that bad.

MTH's premier SD70ACe's are just a little bit longer than their GEVO's; so, if the big GE's work for you... then so should the ACe.

I personally like the big rigs, I have a MTH premier 3.0 UP SD70ACe ordered. Currently, I only operate point-to-point, A to B train movements; due to only having a partial layout set up.

Motive power is my main attraction, so I get what I like. You can eventually aquire larger curves.

BTW, those Premier NS ACe's look great!

Rick

I haven

't tried any motive power with scale wheels but did play with rolling stock.  I inadvertently bought some rolling stock - a couple of boxcars and a flatcar, etc. -  with scale wheels last year. Just didn't notice in the overly bright lights.   I played with them for a while to see how they behaved.  They would run nicely on O-72 (both Fastrack and Atlas), but only if in very short consists or at the end of long consists of high-rail wheeled rolling stock.  When expected to pull any significant number of cars behind them, they stringlined - just pulled right off the curves. 

Borderman01,

  All my diesels are MTH with scale wheels running on min O-72.

Functionally, the hi-rail wheels will work fine and should run down to O-42, however, the problem you will have is not with the wheels, but with the scale Kadee couplers.  As you may know, fixed pilot diesels do not come with couplers, and you need to install your own Kadee couplers on both ends.  These scale couplers can not swing far enough to handle the overhang on the smaller curves like your O-52.  In fact, it marginally works for O-72 curves and that is with the longer Kadee #805 coupler.  So your wheels will make the turn but your couplers will not have enough swing and pull your cars over the rails on the turns.  So fixed pilot diesels with hi-rail wheels will still need min O-72 curves.  Sorry for the bad news, because I actually think the fixed pilot will look better not having the swinging pilot in the front on the tighter curves.

Rich

I've pulled hi-rail rolling stock behind MTH scale wheels units, both have Kadee couplers installed; the Dash-9 runs with Kadee's new 743 metal couplers and the CN Gevo's got Kadee's older style couplers, I can't remember the number.

Some guys do the transition car thing - using a hi-rail car with Kadee's installed on one end and regular hi-rail couplers, on the other end. The Kadee's, on the car, match up with the couplers, on the locomotive.

Again, my experience is with O72 curves; you'd have to test tighter curves, for compatibility. You could try finding a hi-rail model, at another dealer, too.

Rick

Thanks for the info. I knew the Scale version didn't come with couplers but didn't know about the issue with them on tighter curves. Definitely will be getting a hi rail version. Will check with another dealer. My LHS gave me a good deal on them. But when I spoke with another dealer he asked for MSRP. 

There's also the MTH Railking Imperial version, which is shorter...

Rick

But, do those come with fixed pilots AND scale wheels?

Borderman, please let me know who has that NS SD70ACe in 2-rail as I would like to get that one- my email is in my profile- thanks!!

Hot,

Reading this threads opening post, I didn't get the impression border was necessarily after those admirable features. He appears to be interested in a hi-rail MTH Premier NS SD70ACe; and, the only unit his local dealer had, was a scale wheels model.

Either way, scale wheels or hi-rail, very nice O gauge motive power.

Rick

Yes Rick. I am only interested in the Premier version.