You guys have always came through for me in the past, and now I need you again! I just found some of the HO scale John Deere tractors that Athearn is producing at Walmart, and I got a couple of them. I thought they would make a nice flat car load. My question is, how ( and with what ) would you guys recommend I make “tie-down” straps to hold these tractors on the flat car that would look prototypical. Thanks in advance for any help! [:D]
The July 2002 Model Railroader has a short article on tractors as a flatcar load. It details the blocking required and a tie-down method. The author used medium brown thread for tie-downs. The pictures show the proper blocking and tie-down procedures, and this results in an attractive and interesting load.
Wayne
There was also an article this year on flat car loads in the MR. It showed how to block and chain tractors, military vehicles, etc. Can’t remember which month it was, check the index. Should fix you right up… It’s the June '05 issue of MR…
I built up one of the new P2K AAR 50 ton flatcars that come with loads. It was the one that came with the black pipe load (D&RGW Part# 920-31447, in this case.) For tie downs, some dark copper-colored stuff that is stretchy is provided. All you do is tack one end with ACC, stretch it over the load down the other side of the car, and tack the other end with ACC. It remains taut and looks good.
Does anyone have any idea what this stuff is or a source for it? I think it may be something you could get in a fabric store, but I’d not have the first idea what to ask for, if so, other than to say it’s a woven, stretchy thread-like thing. I suppose it may come in different colors, also.
Mike Lehman
Urbana, IL
You can also buy scale chaines,I used them on my log loads.
JIM
try asking for elastic thread, also you can take the thread that comes on those cheap airfresheners.
I use the chain from my wife’s broken necklace jewelry, sewing thread, and very small strips of thin styrene which makes good metal banding …chuck
i also had 2 posts on this subject, you might want to try an advanced search for tie down material. i just tried to look for them using my user name.
tom
Hello Kevin,
While making steel ingot loads,I use 1/32 chart tape from my local art store. Chart tape come in many sizes and is easy to work with. If you don’t have an art store close by,try the net. You can use chart tape to tie down any load.
Patrick
This sounds to me to be E Z LINE, a product available from Berkshire Junction. According to the literature that they send with the product, it’s an elastic polymer with 700% stretch. It comes in several colours and two different thicknesses. A bit on the pricey side, but a useful product.
Check it out at www.berkshirejunction.com
Wayne
try these links for some ideas these were started by me
http://www.trains.com/community/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=41241
http://www.trains.com/community/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=41238
hope these help you out
tom
Wayne,
Thanks for the tip on EZ Line. I suspect that what’s in the P2K kit is something different, because it is somewhat too thick as described on the website to be the exact same thing. I remember the review about it in MR that is cited on the EZ Line website. However, the EZ Line may actually be closer to scale size for some types of tie downs than the P2K material. The price for one roll is reasonable and would do the strapping of a bunch of loads, although it might take a lot more to string some powerlines.
The P2K stuff seems to be a sort of hollow, woven tube.
Tom,
Thanks for the links, as they also provide some more food for thought.
Mike Lehman
Urbana, IL
Intermountain makes tie down chains with the winch blocks. Those can accurately use hem for the Athearn 86 foot flat cars, Walthers 89 and 75 foot flatcars, Accurail flatcars and of course thier flat cars. I have done many tie down loads military and civilian. Roco did make chain and binder tie downs that came with chock blocks. I can send pictures if need be and drawings for referance with blocking and bracing diagrams.
SSG David Knight
I use elastic thread (for making jewelry) by Stretch Magic (.5mm, 10 meter roll) that I bought at Michael’s (craft store chain here in NJ). It cost only a few bucks for the roll. ACC one end, then stretch over the load, or for vehicles around the axles. Then ACC the other end, and you’re all set. Looks great, and holds its’ tension. For vehicles you’ll want to block the wheels as well.
Regards! Bruce
Hi Gang, Newbie N Scaler here and not familiar with all the abbreviations and acronyms. What is ACC?
Thanks, Lyle
ACC - Very fast glue that cures in seconds.
The real words are too big for me to handle mentally. But it WILL glue skin to skin almost instantly; have debonder ready in case you do glue yourself to something.
I got some HO scale 4x4’s and made my own blocks to choke the wheels and bought some chain at the last train show I was at. I used a bunch of Cat equipment for my loads and I must say they turned out very nice, better then I expected. I got the idea from a past issue of Scale Rails.
mlehman no problem i had to ask twice cause i forgot what my orginal question was, must be gettin that dreaded old timers disease.
tom
Just ask for SUPER GLUE. Now I know that is a brand name but all ACC glue seems to come under that title. I use the medium and gel type. Just be careful and READ the instructions as many times as you have to to understand the product. Davey