Here’s another one for the forums: What is the standard for finding the proper weight for HO scale passenger cars? I know the standard for freight cars is 1.5 oz + .5 oz for every additional inch. I just have never seen anything similar for passenger cars. Any help would be welcomed.
My understanding was that for all HO cars the recommended weight was one ounce plus .5 ounces per actual inch of length of the car body.
Also recommended to keep the weight low, centered and between the king pins if possible.
Dave
I stand corrected. I was thinking that it only applied to freight cars. I punched up the NMRA chart and it indeed applies for all. My error.
I see no need to keep the weight low: we’re not running trains at rocket-sled speeds nowadays, are we? [:P]
This kitbashed doodlebug has a partially modelled interior and a motor, so most of its weight is on the underside of the roof. It tracks beautifully and pulls fairly well, too. [;)]
The car weighs 17.5oz:
…with the roof making up 11oz. of the total…
Most of my passenger cars were at 15 or 16oz., but I was concerned that the weight would quickly wear out the bearing surfaces of the soft plastic used in the Rivarossi sideframes. The cars did track very nicely, though, and most of that weight was right under the roof. Current weights are around 8 or 9oz.
Depending on the particular cars, I’m not so sure that placing the weight between the bolsters is a good idea, either. If the floor/underframe isn’t strong enough to support it, it will eventually sag, which often adversely affects running qualities. If the weight is a steel plate running from bolster-to-bolster, it should be self-supporting, and may indeed support additional weight. However, those of us for whom steel plate weights won’t work often resort to homemade weights cast from lead. These are best placed directly atop the bolster area to ensure that they’re fully supported, or, like these, attached to the carbody rather than the floor, for even better support:
Car weight is 6.75oz.
Wayne
Wow that’s some really nice work!
I think your concern about the rivarossi side frames is well founded. I’ve worn a number of those out.
Speaking of adding weight. I bought a bulk pack of 1/4oz weights at Harbor Frieght for a fraction of what model train stores/online stores charge for them. They also had a 1/2oz package available.
LION adds as much weight as his motors will pull.
ROAR
I wasn’t aware of that problem either. As my cars use that type of truck, that is good to know.
Wow’ as many times as I’ve been to HF never considered that they would carry the 1/4 oz weights…thx for the heads up.
That is why the real railroads used oil in the journal boxes. How many of us lubricate our cars? Graphite, plastic compatible oil, or Neolube? The last one is my favorite.
Charlie
NMRA standards were once needed but times have changed. The wheels today have less resistance than most of the sets built back when the standards were made. Most of us don’t run trains long enough to make weight to a certain standard needed. If you run 100 car trains, yes it is proubly needed because of side motion on a straight area this is not so.