Need Flat Car Load Suggestions

diburning · Jun 3, 2011

I bought two Bachmann Silver Series 50' flat cars and they're too light.

I would like to add loads to them so that they will actually run.

These are older flat cars with friction bearing trucks so I'd like to put some sort of MoW load on them (with weights) but if that option gets too expensive, I could swap the trucks for roller bearing ones (I have some spare Bachmann trucks) and put on a freight load (again needs to be something that either adds weight or can conceal a weight)

What do MoW flats generally carry? Also, where can I find real metal sheet steel loads? I'd imagine that the real metal loads would add to the car's weight. Where can I get scale tie-downs or chain?

Larry · Jun 3, 2011

I get my chain from Micheals in the jewelry dept. I use all kinds of stuff for flat car loads.
How about going to your local hardware store & getting tie down straps in the const. dept.
Have you ever looked at all the items I use on flats? Like real RR spikes, computer parts, large solid steel bushings, large rivets, large Taps, Dies, Sockets, PVC pipe bushings, PVC pipe connectors, irrigation sprinkler heads, pipe loads from real pipe, old camera lens & whatever you can dream up. Copper rivets, large bolts, large nuts, brass square tubing, spools of wire, steel studs, lead wheel weights, fishing sinkers. How about old engine weights & freight car weights.

Larry · Jun 3, 2011

Engine shells, engine frames(diesel & steam), engine trucks, powered or dummy, engine wheels, pass. car trucks, freight trucks. I can go on & on.

diburning · Jun 3, 2011

Thanks for the idea. I'll rust up a caboose, take the floor out and put the shell on the flat car as a "redneck caboose" (which the prototype actually does

)

Motley · Jun 3, 2011

Here are a couple of loads I have, just to give you some more ideas. I used the microscale chain at my LHS.

Rico · Jun 4, 2011

Eric, is there room under the flatcar to add BB's?
I filled the under carriage on a few flats with small lead shot on some of mine then dribbled white glue over it. When it dried and the car was turned over you can't see it.
I like running empty flats as well as loads.
I had a flatcar load that was stacks of wooden beams with lead weights inside, worked and looked great.
Then there's always Norscot heavy equipment, they're fairly heavy and if you chain them down right they make great loads! (just don't wrap the chain around them, then they look like heck!)

Just remembered I have a Walthers depressed flat with a transformer load filled with BB's also, looks and tracks great! You could do that with the Walthers prime mover, grain dryer, or any other plastic model

Espeefan · Jun 4, 2011

Vehicles, rail, bundles of ties. The list goes on. It's really tough to get one of those up to fighting weight without a load

. The BB trick works too, though you might not want to obscure the underbody detail. OTOH like Tony Koester has said, "I intend for my railroad to run well enough that visitors never get a look at what's under my freight cars" (or some such)

I run empty ones at the end of the train.

diburning · Jun 4, 2011

These are Bachmann silver series cars. If you're looking for underbody detail, you will find none

I'll see what I can find for the chain. There aren't any Michaels near me.

Motley · Jun 4, 2011

diburning said:
These are Bachmann silver series cars. If you're looking for underbody detail, you will find none

I'll see what I can find for the chain. There aren't any Michaels near me.

This is the chain I used http://www.caboosehobbies.com/catalog/product_info.php?manufacturers_id=&products_id=11471

TH&B'er · Jun 4, 2011

Great idea for a thread. What would be the common load-types found on flat cars from the 1950's. I always struggle with this question.

GrampysTrains · Jun 4, 2011

How about some TOFC's, (trailer on flat car). DJ.

Espeefan · Jun 4, 2011

That's a great scene, but...he wanted MOW loads. You have some mods done to those flats don't you?

nsconductor · Jun 4, 2011

What did you use for your asphalt Jay?

GrampysTrains · Jun 4, 2011

Oh, MOW, how about a small tracked crane.

Yeah, I added slotted rails on the sides and a fifth wheel mount.

The asphalt is my standard scenery mix of Sculptamold/Structolite mix, smoothed with an artist's trowel and painted grimy black, weathered with gray sidewalk chalk. DJ.

wheeler1963 · Jun 4, 2011

39 pages worth of ideas right here.

http://www.modelrailroadforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=5912

TH&B'er · Jun 6, 2011

Phenomenal scene, Jay! That has to be the best looking model asphalt I seen yet. Seriously.

Oh, and thanks a bunch for that link, Jerome.

bnsf971 · Jun 7, 2011

For a MOW load, how about a backhoe, side boom Cat, I even got two "stacks" of 39' steel (real steel) rail to put on those flat cars. Here's a link (steel= heavy): http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0..._m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=1Q9MW3XZAQG4YVYFJPNG

ianacole · Jun 7, 2011

Oddly enough, Model Railroad Hobbyist included this topic with their June 2011 release:

http://issuu.com/mr-hobbyist/docs/mrh11-06-jun2011-ol?viewMode=presentation&mode=embed

Artieiii · Jun 7, 2011

ianacole said:
Oddly enough, Model Railroad Hobbyist included this topic with their June 2011 release:

http://issuu.com/mr-hobbyist/docs/mrh11-06-jun2011-ol?viewMode=presentation&mode=embed

I was thinking the same thing but I think the poster wanted MOW loads. It was a pretty good article IMHO.
Art

cv_acr · Jun 7, 2011

Need Flat Car Load Suggestions

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