Bernard's craftsmanship is, to me, both inspirational and awe-inspiring. The search function in that forum works quite well, and he has several other threads there showcasing his considerable abilities. I believe that there's also a link there to his website.
Wayne
hon30critter doctorwayne For anybody who has some time to kill and appreciates good modelling, there are a number of turnbuckles/turn barrels/screw shackles to be found HERE, Wayne: Bernhard's gondolas defy description! At first I couldn't believe they were HO scale. To tell the truth, they kind of took the wind out of my sails because my work is so crude by comparison. OH well, time to haul on the boot straps again! Thanks for the link! Dave
doctorwayne For anybody who has some time to kill and appreciates good modelling, there are a number of turnbuckles/turn barrels/screw shackles to be found HERE,
Wayne:
Bernhard's gondolas defy description! At first I couldn't believe they were HO scale. To tell the truth, they kind of took the wind out of my sails because my work is so crude by comparison. OH well, time to haul on the boot straps again!
Thanks for the link!
Dave
I second that motion. This is craftsmanship of a sort more commonly associated with the builders of the most exquisite and delicate ship models - which of course aren't expected to actually sail anywhere or be handled on a regular basis!
Dave Nelson
doctorwayne.....and thought that perhaps it was simply a case of the "correct" word not coming to mind
Cheers, the Bear.
"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."
doctorwayneFor anybody who has some time to kill and appreciates good modelling, there are a number of turnbuckles/turn barrels/screw shackles to be found HERE,
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
Truss rods were used on cars with wood frames (and on some very early steel frame cars with shallow sills) to provide the necessary strength to resist vertical deflection. The prototype truss rod ran from the end sill, over the truck bolster, under the queen or king posts (which were usually iron castings) and over the other truck bolster to the far end sill. Queen post designs would have a single turnbuckle between the queen posts, while king post designs would have two turnbuckles per rod, one on each side of the king post. King post cars were usually of short length and/or high capacity, like ore cars or four-truck flatcars.
In modeling a car with truss rods, there should be big nut/bolt/washer detail castings in each end sill, in line with the truss rods.
Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)
Gary
Bear, I'd not heard the term "turn barrel" before and thought that perhaps it was simply a case of the "correct" word not coming to mind. I did look it up in my dictionary, and while it wasn't there, I found that it's also known as a screw shackle. So I've learned two new terms for those thingies under older freight cars, and I stand corrected on my correction.
For anybody who has some time to kill and appreciates good modelling, there are a number of turnbuckles/turn barrels/screw shackles to be found HERE, along with scratchbuilt HO scale working nut/bolt/washer details.
I definitely agree with Dr. Wayne about the use of monofilament fishing line. Most of my equipment represents the post truss rod era, so I've only done a few truss rod projects. On those I have done, I've found that wire is too unforgiving and easily bent or kinked to create an unprototypical look for truss rods, which should always be straight because they are in tension.
Not only does monofilament provide a more predictably correct appearance, it's easier to work with. The Doctor's SR boxcar is all the evidence you need.
Tom
regarding the purpose of the turn barrels buckles, (which were to adjust the truss rods to the required tension)
Dang, it's late. I should have said purpose of the truss rod, not turn thingy.
maxmanIt probably would be a good idea if someone explained to the OP what the purpose of the Turn Barrel Buckle was.
OK so this is a flat car but... Cheers, the Bear.
OK so this is a flat car but...
It probably would be a good idea if someone explained to the OP what the purpose of the Turn Barrel Buckle was.
doctorwayneBear, I think that you've misspelled "turnbuckle"
Bear, I think that you've misspelled "turnbuckle".
I use monofilament fishing line for truss rods, and turnbuckles from either Tichy or Grandt Line.For this modified MDC boxcar, I tied-off the end of the fishing line around a piece of scrap styrene atop the car's floor, securing it with some ca. The line was then fed down through the first hole and across the bottom of the floor, slipping a turnbuckle onto it somewhere around mid-car, and then up into the hole near the opposite end of the car. The line was pulled tight against the floor's underside, then fed into and down the adjacent hole, continuing in this manner until all four truss rods were complete. The end of the line was tied-off in the same manner as was done at the start.Next, working with the floor upside down, the line was carefully lifted and placed into the slot in each queenpost, making sure that the turnbuckles are located between their respective queenposts. While this operation tightens the truss rods considerably, I usually slip some scrap plastic between the top of the floor and the place where the line crosses to the next hole, as shown here...
There's no need to apply ca at these intermediate points, as you may, if the line becomes somewhat slack over time, wish to insert more material to re-tighten them.The turnbuckles can now be moved to about the mid-point of the truss rods, and secured with a tiny amount of ca. If you mask the turnbuckles before painting, the clear fishing line will make the centre of the turnbuckle appear open, as it would be on a real car. You can later touch-up the turnbuckle using a brush.
Ok thank you
On a boxcar what is a truss rod?