I have a few of the Accurail open autoracks, one will be filled with the Walthers 1967 Ford Mustangs (talk about an expensive car, autorack plus 15 autos![:D])
How were (are) real cars secured? Is it with chains or cables underneath and/or wood chocks (blocks)?
How would you suggest that I attach the cars to the autorack, once they are in they will pretty nuch stay there. I was thinking hobby tack but open to other suggestions.
Thanks
Rick
A customer who is here answered that the cars were secured by being tied down, attached to the tie-down rails on the deck down the center. As for attaching the automobiles, knowing you would like to keep them in good condition by not gluing the tires…I’ve not tried this yet, but I wonder if you could wrap a very thin wire around the front and around the rear axles and then drill a hole under each axle and then twisty-tie it or glue the wire under the deck. Seems like this would secure the auto without gluing the tires, but like I say, have not tried this yet. The customer also mentioned that there was an article about modeling auto racks in a competing railroad model magazine awhile back.
Three ways of securing model cars (non permanently) in an autorack…
small wire ties looped from below… extremely difficult, fiddly and hard to make tight.
blue tack or similar… but don’t leave in the sun… you wouldn’t leave your cars in strong sunlight anyway would you?
hide a srip of thin steel down the centre of the car deck(s) and glue tiny magnets under each car… or put tiny magnets in the deck and strips f metal under the cars.
As for the real thing… haven’t a clue… and I’ve stood and watched many go by (in the UK)… so (whatever they use) it doesn’t show up on the real ting so I would think hard about bothering to try to model it. I get the impression that they don’t tie them down at all… just put the brakes on… Am I right?wrong?
Dave the Train
I won’t be securing with the tiny holes drilled in the deck as the autorack is already built (would be VERY tough to do). The magnet idea has merit, but in the end it will probably just be the tack glue. I was wondering if they use chock blocks as those would be very visible (we use them when moving military vehicles). I doubt if they just use the parking gear and emergency brake though, the coupling of the autoracks is still strong enough to cause the cars to shift if not properly constrained I would think. Thanks for the tips guys.
Rick
Currently, there are two types of restraint used, chains, and chocks. Chocks are preferred, because the are easier to use, and there is less chance of damaging the vehicle. For the most part, with the cushion underframe, the chocks and parking brake are enough to hold the vehicles in place.
Nick
Put a small dab of rubber cement on the axle behind the wheel. One dab front, one dab rear and allow to cure thoroughly. It will immobilize the vehicle model and can be removed later.