PROTO 2000 stirups breaking on boxcars

[Nieuweboer]

It would be helpfull if LL packed an extra set of stirrups and other extremely delicate parts in the box. I guess it wouldn't cost them no more than a few pennies extra.

[ericsp]

How does Proto 2000 package its boxcars?

[Anonymous]

Your only solution is to replace them with metal (try A line) or acetal plastic (Grandt Line). I would suggest that you handle the cars as little as possible to avoid breakage. The process of putting them on the layout and removing them is probably thre biggest risk of breakage. I like to leave my cars on the layout all the time and handle them only to re-rail or to fix them.

While under construction it can be hard to leave cars on the layout. I have a long repair list at this point from shuffling cars to and from storage to test stuff under construction. I finally built a little shed to store a 10 car train to test the helix. When the saws are running and heavy construction is happening the train is safley on the track in the shed. When I need to test, out it comes....

Guy

[mikebonellisr]

On older cars.I shave them off and apply metal stirrups while I also apply running board grabs,KD wheelsets & couplers and add the correct weight.On those beautiful,delicate new cars from Kadee,Proto.,etc.I wait untill one breaks then do all four.

[twhite]

That's a tricky one. With the newer super-detailed freight cars (not only from Proto), EVERYTHING is as close to scale as possible. I've had them break on a lot of my newer cars, since they're so delicate. Actually, I wi***he manufacturers would offer them as separate metal parts instead of plastic, that might help alleviate the problem. Until then, it's tweezers and AC and a lot of cursing, trying to keep them whole.
Tom

[rambo1]

Is there anyway to prevent the stirrups from breaking on proto 2000 boxcars? Even when they are stored in the boxes they seem to get broken any ideas? thanks rambo1...... Happy Newyear to all!