Keeping model wheels clean is vital but can be tricky. MARK CHIVERS assesses some of the best products on the market in the Hornby Magazine Equipment Guide.
Clean rails and wheels are essential for trouble-free operating sessions. Whilst dirty track is one of the main causes of locomotives stalling, contaminated wheel-sets can also create issues with locomotive reliability such as stutters and jolts as the motor struggles to maintain electrical contact with the rails. Whilst annoying on conventional layouts, these issues can be even more noticeable with Digital Command Control (DCC) layouts as the audio on sound-fitted locomotives may cut out and have to restart the whole ignition process again, which can be frustrating.