Comments on: HO Car Weight

By: Richard Walter

Richard Walter — Thu, 09 May 2013 17:58:34 +0000

In reply to Frank. Weight cars thusly: 1oz. plus 1/2 oz. per inch of length. Some tank cars (Athearn) are held together by a long screw. This may allow you to take the car apart if the parts have not been glued together. Self stick automotive wheel weights are lead and easily bent to fit the tank bottom. You may be able to remove the dome lid, pour in wood glue (not plastic glue!) and pour in BBs or buck shot. Also, metal wheels will add a bit of weight. Auto weights can be trimmed and stuck under ftat cars, sometimes lateral crossmembers can be removed (they won't be seen anyway).

By: Bill

Bill — Thu, 09 May 2013 13:57:53 +0000

NMRA has all the info you’ll need for this and other standards related questions

http://www.nmra.org/standards/sandrp/consist.html

By: Frank

Frank — Thu, 09 May 2013 09:57:31 +0000

In reply to Keith Brock.

Weight is added to prevent railroad cars from jumping about unrealistically. A heavier car sways more slowly, so appears more realistic.

It’s best to measure out the weight of lead shot (sometimes called “Liquid Lead”) you want first, and to apply the glue _before_ adding the shot.

There are recommended weights per length of car. Can anyone give a link for this ?

By: Keith Brock

Keith Brock — Thu, 09 May 2013 04:33:39 +0000

You can add weight to flat and tank cars by…. buying lead shot… # 8’s usually sold in 1 to 3# bags…and turn the car over and fill the slots/cavities with shot…when you get the weight where you want add white glue to secure…

By: Toni Olivar

Toni Olivar — Sun, 05 May 2013 09:43:14 +0000

Away to add weight to flat cars and tank cars is to use heavy solder wire. You wrap a strand of the solder around the axes of the car’s trucks. Make sure that the solder does not come in contact with metal wheels by using a dollop of hot glue on the ends, and make sure that nothing hangs down, so as not get caught on anything that lays between the rails.

Another way to add weight to a tank car is to carefully remove one end of the tank, so that it can be re-attached later. Secure your favorite type of weight material to the bottom of the inside. Then re-attach the end of the tank that you removed earlier. Be sure to allow plenty of time for the cement to dry completely before using the tank car.

By: Ken Rimmel

Ken Rimmel — Thu, 02 May 2013 03:28:57 +0000

Flat cars are difficult to add weight to other than what the manufacture makes which is a flat bar placed between the frame and the bottom of the deck. Any additional weight can actually be the load. Special weights are made for tank cars and are easy to install. I have found that if you stay a little below the recommended weights from the NMRA and use free-rolling trucks on EVERY car, you will not have any problems with cars being pulled off the tracks and be able to run long trains in any scale.