Which Proto:87 Wheels Work Best...

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SALRy

SALRy

Member
Hello, New guy here (:D) with a question that he searched for an answer for but could not find one. Maybe there is an old thread on the subject, but my "research" abilities are somewhat weak. So..... anybody running proto:87 wheels on their rolling stock? Who makes the best and will they work on Atlas
code-83 True-Track?:confused: TIA, SALRy
 
Hello and welcome,

Proto 2000 a trademark of Life Like now owned by Walther's.

Yes they work on Atlas and I have used them on may makes of cars.
 
Hey Chip, Thanks for the reply but are we talking about the same thing: proto:87 as in semi-scale (.088 tread) wheels? Does Proto 2000 make the
narrower (and more realistic) tread wheels? Thanks again, SALRy
 


SALry--

I think you're talking about the Intermountain Proto:87 semi-scale wheels, aren't you? I have heard that the narrower wheel tread can give some problems on HO code 100 turnouts, however they seem to work very well on code 83 and smaller rail--at least from what I've heard. They certainly LOOK good, though. However, since I use mainly code 100, I'm a little leery of installing them, even though my turnouts are Sinohara and have much closer tolerances than the standard Atlas.
Hope this helps,

Tom
 
There's a few problems with these posts. Proto:87 wheels and Code 88 wheels are NOT the same thing. Code 88 are "semi-scale" Proto:87 are scale (around code 75 IIRC).

I use Semi-scale wheels and prefer Branchline, as they come in 100 & 300 packs, however they only make 33" & 36" smooth back wheels. NWSL is my back-up supplier, supplying 28" & 38" wheels, plus wheels for locomotives.

As long as your track work is up to current RP's you'll be fine. If you have any issues, might I suggest buying some of the suspension o-rings from http://www.proto87.com/ they'll help cushion the blows. Also I'd recommend foam roadbed, as its more forgiving with the semi-scale wheels, and solder all track joints possible, or make sure they line up perfect.

Now, if your post is correct, no, Proto:87 will not work well on standard HO track. The clearances in P:87 are much tighter. again, check out all the stuff http://www.proto87.com/ has to offer (track, switch frogs, ect).
 
TWhite & jbaakko, Thanks for the info guys. I thought proto:87 and semi-scale were one and the same.:eek: Semi-scale is more of what I'm looking at.
Branchline, InterMountain, Reboxx (spelling?), proto87.com and I think one
other firm besides NWSL all offer scale or sem-scale 33" wheels. I'm just
trying to find out what will work the best with Atlas code 83 True Track.

SALRy;)
 
I think all semi-scale will. I've had no issues with NWSL & Branchline on code 83 flex. Had an issue with IM, but I've since discovered it was an axle length issue.
 
Thought I'd drum up the page for a little more info.

Codes for HO scale:
Code 110: Standard RP25 tread
Code 88: Fine scale
Code 64: P:87
 
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