Hello,
I have a set of 5 Athearn 40’ hopper cars that are missing the weights that came with the kit. I plan to create loads for the cars so I can place the weight substitutes inside the hopper. Is it OK to place all the weight in the bottom most center of the car unlike the kit weights which are located directly above each truck?
Thanks,
Bob
Adair Shiops has weighting kits for the cars:
Also, have you tried Athearn/Horizon for the factory weights? Here is their URL:
http://www.athearn.com/Products/Parts/Default.aspx
Do and ‘edit’ ‘find’ and search on ‘weight’ - there should be a listing for the hopper weights.
Jim Bernier
OK as long as you keep the weight centered in the car. Also keep the weights as low in the car as possible. Since you are using loads to hide the weight you can use anything. Shot, BB’s, Nuts, etc.
The problem with open hoppers is that they run fine when the loads are installed but don’t when loads are removed.
To solve this problem, I bring the empty cars up to proper NMRA weight standards with lead shot, pour some white glue over them and sprinkle a little Woodland Scenics “coal”. Thus, the cars look empty but run fine.
Yes, if you peer inside my empty open hoppers, you will see the residual coal in the bottom that we must “pretend” just didn’t get dumped out. I’d rather deal with this than have my cars derail.
Hope this helps.
Mondo
Fellers,
Well, I was pondering your dillema today and had an interesting idea for a partial solution. If you were to use your digital camera and take an image of the empty car from the top, looking down into it, you could print it out and size it to fit just above the bottom of the hopper. Then paste it to a piece of sheet plastic and drop it in. That way, you’d have the ability to place weights down into the hopper, and they’d be hidden by a photograph of the inside of the hopper. I suspect that anyone glancing over them wouldn’t even notice that it was a picture, especially if it’s good quality and sits well down in the hold.
Anyway, that’s just a thought…
Respects,
Thank you for all the feedback!
I have some stick on weights that I can use and I’ve read here in the forum that pennies can work well too. Athearn does sell the weights (part #90701) at $2.50 for 2 pair plus shipping- that turns out to be a bit expensive when you consider the other options. If I can find some at a swap meet or at the local hobby store that might make the option more viable.
Placing the weights in the center of the car under a load looks to be the best bet if I cannot locate the original Athearn parts at reasonable cost.
Bob
A-line (?) makes moldeable lead. This can be packed into the center sill on hoppers. Another thing I do, is cut stick-on weights in half, and apply them inside the hoppers. Once the glue dries, flat black (or whatever color your hoppers are) is applied to make them “disappear.” While I’m at it, a set of metal wheelsets adds additional weight.
I like Mondo’s 'solution; best. An Athearn 21 bay hopper with the factory weights on weighs about 2.5 oz. Load up the bottom of the bays with ‘shot’(dirt cheap) and some glue - sprinkle some coal fines over it. You should be able to get it up to 3.5 oz(meets the NMRA suggestion).
Thanks!
Jim
On very light cars I replace the original Athearn steel weights with sheet lead. You can draw the shape on it from the original weights and cut it out with a scissors.
I paint the lead thoroughly with acrylic paints so that it is at least a little safer to handle. Always wash your hands very thoroughly after touching lead and do not eat or drink stuff while working with lead.
Those Athearn hoppers are so light even with lead weights replacing the originals that I too add a little weight inside the car and cover it lightly with coal. Another trick is to wrap very fine solder around the axles.
Dave Nelson
On the stick on weights, get them from your local auto repair shop. They use them for Mag wheels, they are stick on and 1/2 of what you would pay at your LHC. I have yet to buy any, National Tire and Battary gave me a stick and so did my repair center. Bob is getting me 20 of them, for $12.00. Each one is 5 oz.
Cuda Ken