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Affixing weights to rolling stock

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  • Member since
    November 2003
  • From: Gastonia, NC
  • 89 posts
Posted by Icefoot on Friday, January 29, 2010 10:56 AM

dknelson
Some were bent and not usable

 A hammer, vise, or channel-lock pliers will flatten those bent discs to where they are usable.   I'll have to remember to keep those the next time I'm installing metal electrical boxes.  Good suggestion!

 

Mark Wilson www.modelrr.info
  • Member since
    July 2007
  • From: New Lenox Il.
  • 163 posts
Posted by LenS on Friday, January 29, 2010 12:54 PM

tstage

Anyhow, I'm just curious what some of the rest of you use for affixing weights to boxcars and/or hoppers.  Thanks for your answers...

 I use adhesive caulk and 1/2", 5/16" or 3/8" washers from Menards. The caulk sets up quickly, can be removed pretty easily and cleans up with water. The washers come in a bulk pack of 18 for $1.58 and vary in weight from .15 oz., .20 oz., .25 oz. to .30 oz. (some are even heavier). They fit in boxcars perfectly. For hoppers, I use the commercial stick on weights and always put a coal or gravel load in the car. For empties, you can paint the weights the same color as the car and make them somewhat invisble (to more tolerant eyes). I really don't have many flats, but stick on weights or slices of stick on weights seem to work well.

As to the recommended weights, I used the formula found on the NMRS site and put it into an Excel spreadsheet and calculated the weight for car lengths from 29' cars to 85' (rounded to the nearest .05 oz).

Len S

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