Nice progress. Are you familiar w/formula for weighting rolling stock (HO is initial weight plus 1/2 ounce per inch of length)? Almost all garages now use stick on wheel weights to balance wheel/tire assemblies. They'll have a bucketful of takeoffs they can't reuse. You can cut these up to fit wherever you have space on the car or in the load on/in it to achieve the proper weight. Once done to your fleet you'll be amazed at the difference. Just remember the center of gravity counts, so keep the weight as low to the rails as possible. BTW there is a model of that loading ramp available in HO. Check your local importer. HTH. PaulE
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Tony,
nice up date, all coming together, agree with Chris re Paul's advice.Comment
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As Paul suggested adding weight in a low C/G area will held keep your cars from derailing but will also reduce the unsightly wobble effect noticed during operation of cars that are under weight. If you still experience derailment after adding weight check your trucks for proper guage or if nothing else sometimes swapping them out for an aftermarket set helps solve the problem as well. Rick H.Comment
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Thanks Rick, I'd forgotten as I had added metal wheel sets to most of my rolling stock long ago. Also sometimes moving couplers to the body will help the wobbles if they are truck mounted originally. PaulEComment
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Hi Paul, I wasn't a wear of that putting weights down onto the axles , where can you get the weights from , can't find much info on the next, can now understand why wagons wobble , see that on video clips. I bought those cheap from China passenger cars to do with that Hornby layout you buy a part each week, I be keen to put the weights on those wheels .
But will try the weights on the bogies first, have Con-Cor passenger cars that derail , cost me a lot of money $500 for 9 Union Pacific cars ., I love this forum .
Many thanks Paul for you advice, looks like I have some work ahead.
Take care TonyComment
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HI Rick, yeah going to test it out on a couple of passenger cars putting the weights o top of the bogies , I have 8 passenger cars that have those plastic wheels , stuck with the m for a while be costly indeed, rather spend my money on timber for the layout so I can start running trains.
That Lima auto wagon is all plastic < need to build heaver wagons , to buy the wagons $180 for two ouch and out of stock.
Many thanks Rick, take care TonyComment
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Flat cars w/o loads are toughest, but cutting the weights to fit on/in the underframe works well. Passenger cars are easiest as you can just pop off the body and glue the weights to the floor over the trucks. Plastic wheels are not all bad, sometimes they need tuning by dressing the ends of the axles to fit less tightly in the truck. The trucks may require tuning as well. I've found by keeping one truck 'snugbutfree' and the other somewhat loose can reduce wobble and derailing as well. PaulEComment
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I was just going to suggest the snug truck fix.......great minds do think alike! :thumb2:Comment
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Thanks Paul , here is two pics of the wagon in question, one is the model RTR model I will use brass strips in the middle that should solve the problem weight wise , will scratch build three wagons .
Only have issues with the Lima car carrier because it is too light and can't have it at the front of my Indian Pacific, it isn't right for the IP I have 18 passenger cars nice long train want to add on 10 more . peak times the GSR run 28 passenger cars, have to split train to fit in at Sydney central .
The Ghan has 34 passenger cars two locos and depends has a couple of the the motor rail wagons peak times wow be awesome see indeed..
Take care TonyComment
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Last Saturday the construction of the layout has began , I modified the first station module for the new way they be joined up, especially the track on the module joins, for the rails to line up every time.
The first pic of the side of my house, I have decided to move the whole layout, the end of the concrete pathway , working out perfectly, also is closer to the power point in the garage, there is no power points in the, plus better protection from the sun, only problem is yet a new layout track plan which is coming along nicely.
No work on the layout this weekend, it is our turn for it to be raining, is a pain , not heavy rain enough to stop doing anything outside, where the paves are ill be gravel right the the end of the pathway .
The next pic of the ply strips that will lock the module in place, be much easier when moving the block strips closer together and moving them closer to end of the module, wont have than DC wire madness, have to be wired for DCC as well Christmas time switching to DCC.
Next two pic of the module pulled apart and joined together .
Lucky last pic of the top of the two modules and me taking the pic, has worked out well, I will be using the pathway for working on the track doing the soldering, can'tt wait to start.
Tony from wet and cold down underComment
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HI TONY yea be great to see this get goin an hows the bridge comin on ?
chrisComment
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Hi Chris yeah can't wait, no work today too windy and cold, warming up midweek , the concrete walkway the station modules be going on is 20 feet in length , the first module I modified will have to be the first from the other end not going to change it, be great once the gravel goes down too, will find out today what is happening itching to make a start now while it is cooler.
Haven't done any work on the bridge, I might get stuck into it now I have an area to work on that is flat.
More work on the ship tonight, only four more bulkheads to cut out , then I will glue the hull side panels in place.
Tony from windy down underComment
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