Hi I am working on a few Branchline Pullman Heavyweights. When installing the trucks, there are 2 options when screwing the truck in: Attaching the screw through the center hole on the truck and through the hole farther from the ends of the car chassis, or attaching the screw through the hole off center of the truck and through the hole closer to the ends of the car chassis.
I run on tight radius curves.
Is one more realistic than the other?
What are the pros and cons of each option, or are they the same?
Charles
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Modeling the PRR & NYC in HO
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Since you run on tight curves I will recommend trying both options to see which is better suited for those sharp curves.
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
The further out from center, will give You more inside overhang on Your tight curves.
Take Care!
Frank
Closer to the ends of the car willkeep the ends closer together in the curves. The penalty for this is greater middle overhand through the curve.
The position of the trucks on subway equipment is critical since if you do not get it right you are going to scrape the wayside, or else dump passengers to the tracks as you move through the switches.
Fortunately, you can build what looks good to you , and then conform the wayside to allow safe passage of the trains.
ROAR
The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.
Here there be cats. LIONS with CAMERAS
One possible problem I forgot to mention in my earlier replay based on my recommendation. If the trucks is to far forward they may hit on the steps,frame or other detail due to the sharp curves..
BRAKIE One possible problem I forgot to mention in my earlier replay based on my recommendation. If the trucks is to far forward they may hit on the steps,frame or other detail due to the sharp curves..
Yup. For this problem the LION has an exacto knife. poor steps.
Another issue is body mounted or truck mounted couplers. For body mounted couplers you will nee the trucks as close to the end of the cars as possible, or else 60+" radius curves,.
Branchline coach instruction sheet, page 5
"Use the off center screw hole on the bolster and the innermost mounting hole on the underframe."
The con of not following the directions is that it probably wont work. The centerhole of the truck is essentially unusable due to the wheels being permanently installed in the truck sideframes (center wheel axle blocks center mounting hole on truck).
This results in a car that may run on 24" radius curves. My curves fall betweem 23-26in radius, and I have reliability problems on the tighter curves. Branchline cars like 28" or better (with some work they can be made to work on 24-26"). Walthers will work on exactly 24" radius (with 6 wheel trucks), slightly less than 24" with 4 wheel.
American model builders makes a conversion for using Walther's trucks. I plan to modify the current car I am working on along those lines so that I can use 4 wheel trucks instead of 6 wheel (the car I am modeling is a commuter coach that is close enough to the 80' single window coach kit that most people wont be able to tell the difference).
One of the ''when all else fails'' ''read the instructions'', ploys.....LOL! Classic....
BMMECNYC The con of not following the directions is that it probably wont work. The centerhole of the truck is essentially unusable due to the wheels being permanently installed in the truck sideframes (center wheel axle blocks center mounting hole on truck).
Actually, the center axle (and ONLY the center axel) can be removed after assembly of the truck. I just did it. You gotta be carefull. I am adding lights, and other details to my cars right now!
Because the center hole is usable, I was curious to which hole I should use.
BMMECNYC This results in a car that may run on 24" radius curves. My curves fall betweem 23-26in radius, and I have reliability problems on the tighter curves. Branchline cars like 28" or better (with some work they can be made to work on 24-26"). Walthers will work on exactly 24" radius (with 6 wheel trucks), slightly less than 24" with 4 wheel.
Trainman440BMMECNYC The con of not following the directions is that it probably wont work. The centerhole of the truck is essentially unusable due to the wheels being permanently installed in the truck sideframes (center wheel axle blocks center mounting hole on truck). Actually, the center axle (and ONLY the center axel) can be removed after assembly of the truck. I just did it. You gotta be carefull. I am adding lights, and other details to my cars right now! Because the center hole is usable, I was curious to which hole I should use.
You learn something every day. I was not really interested in risking ripping the truck apart to use that screw hole, but I'll give it a shot anyway.
Trainman440BMMECNYC This results in a car that may run on 24" radius curves. My curves fall betweem 23-26in radius, and I have reliability problems on the tighter curves. Branchline cars like 28" or better (with some work they can be made to work on 24-26"). Walthers will work on exactly 24" radius (with 6 wheel trucks), slightly less than 24" with 4 wheel. My Branchline cars can run on 20" Radius curves which are on my layout. They run better than my Walthers cars! Even though obviously they look horrible on such tight curves :/
I assume that is using the center hole? I will have to try that.
BMMECNYC Trainman440 BMMECNYC This results in a car that may run on 24" radius curves. My curves fall betweem 23-26in radius, and I have reliability problems on the tighter curves. Branchline cars like 28" or better (with some work they can be made to work on 24-26"). Walthers will work on exactly 24" radius (with 6 wheel trucks), slightly less than 24" with 4 wheel. My Branchline cars can run on 20" Radius curves which are on my layout. They run better than my Walthers cars! Even though obviously they look horrible on such tight curves :/ I assume that is using the center hole? I will have to try that.
Trainman440 BMMECNYC This results in a car that may run on 24" radius curves. My curves fall betweem 23-26in radius, and I have reliability problems on the tighter curves. Branchline cars like 28" or better (with some work they can be made to work on 24-26"). Walthers will work on exactly 24" radius (with 6 wheel trucks), slightly less than 24" with 4 wheel. My Branchline cars can run on 20" Radius curves which are on my layout. They run better than my Walthers cars! Even though obviously they look horrible on such tight curves :/
Actually, no. I used the holes from the instructions, and it can run on 20" radius curves. You do have to do a lot of mods though to achieve such tight radius curves.
1. you have to all the details that stop the truck from swiveling a larger radius.
2. you have to trim the truck mount on the car chassis. I think I will post a How-to forum on that soon...
Trainman4401. you have to all the details that stop the truck from swiveling a larger radius. 2. you have to trim the truck mount on the car chassis. I think I will post a How-to forum on that soon...
Not willing to do that. Im planning on modifying mine with the AMB adapters for Walthers trucks and putting 4 wheel trucks on mine. Should get them to work on a 24" radius okay.