tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4202935500252010166.post2470479929146376335..comments2022-05-21T17:18:05.062+01:00Comments on No Two Alike: Freight Car FettlingUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4202935500252010166.post-37656839503245456912012-02-26T14:24:25.111+00:002012-02-26T14:24:25.111+00:00Barry, these are good points that you make. i did ...Barry, these are good points that you make. i did check the gauge and it is within tolerance. However, I suspect that the rails have twisted and that it this that causes one wheel to ride up.<br /><br />Keeping in mission statement, this layout is supposed to be my easy RTR project that requires little or no major craftsmanship. Yep, that is something that is hard to keep to, too. I therefore am trying to avoid building track, otherwise I know I will just want to hand build all the track, and then I'll be modelling Proto87, cats and dogs will be sleeping together, and several years of my life will fly by with nothing to show for all the hard work I've done.<br /><br />No sirree, not on this watch...<br /><br />However, the piece of track in question is Code-55, and is due for replacement with Code-70 rail when I pick up my order of rail from LSWR Models in March at the Alley Palley show. I'm also having a metal 14 inch track former laser cut for me, to ensure better conformity to the curve on the re-laying.<br /><br />As they say, watch this space!A R Pollardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01249333780351410369noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4202935500252010166.post-76918426722576962162012-02-23T11:31:06.163+00:002012-02-23T11:31:06.163+00:00One of the problems is track gauge, possibly the m...One of the problems is track gauge, possibly the major problem. Track gauge even on the prototype is nominal, and is varied to suit circumstances. In the US the turnout rail in the switch point is often effectively straight, not curved, on tight radius curves. The problen is that although the track radius is variable the wheel base of the truck is not, so the wheel flanges start to graunch on the edge of the rail head - wheel squeal - hear those class 142 Rocking Horses from a mile away. On tight model radii then it magnifies out of proportion so your 14 inch radius could do with the gauge opening out to 17.5 or even 18mm rad. You are using fat wheels so should get away with 18mm easily. This problem magnifies with flexi track as you are forcing it below it's tolerance for bending, ie stretching the flat bottom on one side, compressing it on the other, so the rail tends to twist and compromise the radius. Best to use set track in that case, BUT the wheelbase problem does not go away. The best way out is to bend only the inner rail as flextrack and hand lay the outer rail to a larger radius to get rid of the binding.<br /><br />PS to your NB. The proportionate difference between the weight of an empty or loaded car on the prototype is much smaller than on the models we run, and their rolling resistance is much smaller too.<br /><br />Barry Bennettsswbarrynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4202935500252010166.post-45347378943750471472012-02-16T13:48:55.793+00:002012-02-16T13:48:55.793+00:00I agree. For me the attraction of the North Sore i...I agree. For me the attraction of the North Sore is that it ran freight too, so not only passengers. The principle of reliable running are the same whatever though. Trucks that swivel freely, wheels that roll nicely. Making sure that everything is square so that when the truck turns it doesn't go off at an angle. All these things and more are required regardless of what you run.A R Pollardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01249333780351410369noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4202935500252010166.post-7244108827259235652012-02-15T16:14:54.169+00:002012-02-15T16:14:54.169+00:00It's great to see explainations like this. Eve...It's great to see explainations like this. Even though it is in HO scale, much the same applies to O scale as well! As trolley modelers we are concerned about the operaton of the trolley car or loco - the powered car. We need to be just as concerned over any model operating on the layout.Edward George Halsteadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13378241022674661933noreply@blogger.com