Hey all --
I have a Branchline Blueprint NYC coach I bought from a show a year or so ago, and the core is badly warped.
I ordered a replacement core from Bethlehem Car Works, along with two Pullmans (on sale for $15) -- and the replacement is warped as well! The cores for the sleepers also have a little bend to them.
Now, assuming they aren't supposed to be warped... anyone have any experience with this? It looks like the sides might keep the core in shape, but I don't want the model under tension forever. (And I'm assuming the cores may warp again over time.)
I was thinking I could try softening it with a pan of heated water and try to straighten it. Not sure if I can glue the sides on to the warm core straight away.
The good news is that now I have an extra core to experiment with. :)
Thanks
Aaron
I think that I put the sides on the car to straighten out the warp. I dont recall ever doing anything to straighten them other than that. Also they have a center sill that goes underneath the car body, which helps keep it straight as well. Someone who has built these and run them may wish to chime into this conversation. I rarely run mine because they dont like 24" radius curves or the humps between modules on the club layout (some track work is not the best).
I don’t have that model but I have tried to straighten out other models with hot water before. Sometimes it works but sometimes it makes it worse because you can’t control what part bends. Instead I like using a hair dryer because I have more control on where the heat is applied. Either way be careful not to over do it and cause more warping.
Uh oh, you'd better get Scotty to eject that warped core before the Enterprise explodes!
Putting it all together should get it straightened out. I've gotten freight cars and models with warped parts before, and as long as things are held strongly in place, the tension from the parts isn't enough to fall apart over time.
If you want to try straightening it, take a piece of scrap plastic and see how hot it can get before it starts to melt. Then you can carefully heat the core to a temperature below melting and use something to hold it straight while it cools. I don't know if that'll fix it completely, but it might help.
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Autonerd Hey all -- I have a Branchline Blueprint NYC coach I bought from a show a year or so ago, and the core is badly warped. I ordered a replacement core from Bethlehem Car Works, along with two Pullmans (on sale for $15) -- and the replacement is warped as well! The cores for the sleepers also have a little bend to them. Now, assuming they aren't supposed to be warped... anyone have any experience with this? It looks like the sides might keep the core in shape, but I don't want the model under tension forever. (And I'm assuming the cores may warp again over time.) I was thinking I could try softening it with a pan of heated water and try to straighten it. Not sure if I can glue the sides on to the warm core straight away. The good news is that now I have an extra core to experiment with. :) Thanks Aaron
Aaron,
I have assembled 10 (by my last count) of the branchline heavyweight cars, from pullmans to single window and paired window coaches. In all cases, the cores had a down curving bow - like a frown. Not to worry, though - the core is straightened by the act of putting the sides on.
Joel
Modeling the C&O New River Subdivision circa 1949 for the fun of it!
To echo what Joel said, I have built a dozen or more of these Branchline car kits, both the sleepers and the coaches. They came out like 10 years ago, IIRC. In every single case, the car core is bent down at the ends. The act of putting on the car sides straightens out the car core perfectly. In the course of the 10 years or more that I've been running my kits, not once has the bent core caused any trouble.
What you do have to watch out for are warped bolsters on the car core. The plastic can shrink in this area and cause the truck not to sit flat. Otherwise, I wouldn't be concerned about warped Branchline cores.
Darth Santa FeUh oh, you'd better get Scotty to eject that warped core before the Enterprise explodes!
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I think the proper application of some dilithium crystal will fix that warp core sir! Just don't mix matter with anti-matter.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
SeeYou190 Darth Santa Fe Uh oh, you'd better get Scotty to eject that warped core before the Enterprise explodes! . I think the proper application of some dilithium crystal will fix that warp core sir! Just don't mix matter with anti-matter. . -Kevin .
Darth Santa Fe Uh oh, you'd better get Scotty to eject that warped core before the Enterprise explodes!
SeeYou190Darth Santa Fe Uh oh, you'd better get Scotty to eject that warped core before the Enterprise explodes! . I think the proper application of some dilithium crystal will fix that warp core sir! Just don't mix matter with anti-matter.
Scotty! Scotty! I need warped cores NOW, or we're all DEAD!
Anyway -- THANKS ALL for your responses.
Turns out the instructions for the sleeper say that some arch in the core is perfectly normal. No such instructions with the coach IIRC!
Oy.
Thanks again everyone. Assembly will commence soon...