Graham Farish - The Return of Plastic Wheels?!? (NO!)

[jmupton2000]

Just read elsewhere that someone has just taken delivery of their newly released Farish 374-996 - the ScotRail twin pack of Mk2a TSO and Mk1 BG and apparently they have come fitted with plastic wheels?

Can anyone confirm this (the 374-712 and 374-713 Mk2's may also have them) as I am not willing to purchase these if I then have to fork out another fifteen plus quid on replacement wheels!!

If this is true (and looking at Rails of Sheffield's site where pictures of the actual models are shown, it seems to be) then it is a huge step backwards.  I know some regard plastic wheels as the devils sputum....

[JBQFC]

yes just had a close look at mine and the wheels are plastic with metal axles this to me is a big down grading of the model spec considering what they cost 

John

[GrahamB]

Why on earth would they go back to plastic wheels?

I'm firmly in the "metal wheels or nothing" camp.

[RapierPower]

The wheels are metal, Bachmann have confirmed this, apparently the new blackening process makes it's hard to tell by eye, try biting one I'm sure you will soon work it out!

[ntpntpntp]

Just scratch the rear face of a wheel with a knife blade, it will be pretty obvious if it is metal or plastic from the feel and sound. 
Personally I don't have a problem with plastic wheels as such, but very few European models still have them nowadays.

[Crepello]

See the reply from Bachmann on RM Web. They're metal!

[Bob G]

See the reply from Bachmann on RM Web. They're metal!

Hi there
A link would help us that are challenged by RM Web!

[Nbodger]

See the reply from Bachmann on RM Web. They're metal!

Hi there
A link would help us that are challenged by RM Web!

Bob

Link to thread

https://www.rmweb.co.uk/topic/171637-plastic-wheels/

[GrahamB]

Thanks for the link. I've pasted the text below;

I am pleased to confirm that the wheels fitted to these, and all Bachmann Branchline/Graham Farish models are made of metal. We have recently introduced a new blackening process for wheels like these coach wheels which provides a uniform black finish to the wheels and axles and the wheels of the models in question are treated with this process. Previously the wheel faces would have been painted black which contrasted with the metal surface of the tyres and wheel backs. Whilst not applicable to these particular models, a further painting process was and still is required to add the white rims should they be required for any particular model and in these instances, our white wheel rims receive multiple coats of white paint to prevent any opacity, such is the level of detail to which Bachmann models are produced.

Now I've not see the model wheels in question but prototype wheels aren't all over black and the tyres rims would be metal/rust depending on use.

[Steven B]

These are the coaches in question:
https://www.kernowmodelrailcentre.com/p/63951/374-996-Graham-Farish-BR-Mk2-TSO-and-Mk1-BG-2-Coach-Pack

Clicking on the thumbnail images brings up very large pictures that show the rather fine profile of the metal tyres.

Yes they probably should be plain steel to be prototypical, but given the massively over scale width of the tyre and height of the flange I'd rather we have what we do than go back to the good old days of Poole produced models with very shiny wheelsets.

Steven B.