Weighting locos

[belstone]

I bought a Farish 08 (current version) for coupler development purposes and found that although it ran beautifully on plain track it didn't like points so much. Admittedly my tracklaying isn't brilliant, but I thought I would see if I could improve the running with a bit of extra weight. I didn't think there would be much spare space on such a small model, but I managed to pack 13 grams of lead into it while still leaving room for a DCC chip.  That may not sound much, but it only weighed 45 grams to start with, and the extra weight has made a huge difference.

Same story with my 2MT, although there I only found enough room for 6 grams and some of that was in the cab, the rest by replacing the cast alloy weight in the boiler with lead.  And the J39 is also more reliable with just 3 grams of lead in the boiler.  On such tiny models, it seems even a small amount of extra weight can make a big difference. Anyone else had similar results?

[Sprintex]

Not tried it with locos as haven't had any problems so far, but filling the bottom of my PGA hoppers with lead made a big difference in running quality. They don't bounce over point frogs like they used to when they weighed next-to-nothing and there's a good realistic clickety-clack over rail-joins too Check out the second half of this video:-


Hasford Blacklock - Class 31 freight workings


Paul

[austinbob]

I bought a Farish 08 (current version) for coupler development purposes and found that although it ran beautifully on plain track it didn't like points so much. Admittedly my tracklaying isn't brilliant, but I thought I would see if I could improve the running with a bit of extra weight. I didn't think there would be much spare space on such a small model, but I managed to pack 13 grams of lead into it while still leaving room for a DCC chip.  That may not sound much, but it only weighed 45 grams to start with, and the extra weight has made a huge difference.

Same story with my 2MT, although there I only found enough room for 6 grams and some of that was in the cab, the rest by replacing the cast alloy weight in the boiler with lead.  And the J39 is also more reliable with just 3 grams of lead in the boiler.  On such tiny models, it seems even a small amount of extra weight can make a big difference. Anyone else had similar results?

What sort of lead are you using - lead shot, lead strip?

Bob Austin

[lil chris]

I have lots of lead strip used on aquarium plants but would be interested to know what everyone else uses. And what you fix it with too, I seem to recall somewhere a mention of problems with pva.

[Agrippa]

I've bought lead curtain weights , about the size of an old penny and
smelted them down into a mold.

[belstone]

What sort of lead are you using - lead shot, lead strip?

Bob Austin

Lead strip, I have a small sheet (rapidly getting smaller).  Cyano adhesive seems to stick it well.

[Sprintex]

I have lots of lead strip used on aquarium plants but would be interested to know what everyone else uses. And what you fix it with too, I seem to recall somewhere a mention of problems with pva.

Most aquarium lead strip isn't actually real lead these days, unless you have the old stuff?

I use lead shot sourced from a diving shop


Paul

[lil chris]

Some of it is a bit old, it should be good enough to put in my wagons too, I think they will need weighing down to go over my junction.. I will have to try melting it down into flat pieces to fit in the bottom of open coal wagons.

[austinbob]

I have lots of lead strip used on aquarium plants but would be interested to know what everyone else uses. And what you fix it with too, I seem to recall somewhere a mention of problems with pva.

Most aquarium lead strip isn't actually real lead these days, unless you have the old stuff?

I use lead shot sourced from a diving shop


Paul

I hope the next post is not going to reveal they're using lead from church roofs!!

Bob Austin

[port perran]

I haven't used any weighting but I do need to as some wagons/coaches experience problems in some places. This thread will (hopefully) spur me on to do something !

[Bob Tidbury]

Deluxe Materials do some stuff called liquid lead obviously not lead but it's very tiny round balls the size of pin head I glue it in with PVA it stopped my wobbly Dapol B set and some wagons . Don't forget to get the weight as low as you can on the coaches and wagons to keep the Center of gravity down.

[Malc]

You need to be a bit careful using PVA with liquid lead. Apparently there can be a reaction and it turns into a gloopy mess. There has been some discussion on the forum about this.

[Bob Tidbury]

Hi Malc Never had problems till last week put some into Dapol Fruit vans to make them just a bit heavier for easy shunt couplings  and although it did make a horrible brown mess it did set in the end. Now I come to think about it I used Glue&Glaze  before NOT  just plain PVA .
SO BE WARNED if your using liquid lead ,,,,I think it's called something else now is it Liquid Gravity not sure???
Bob

[Oldun]

Liquid Gravity:


Liquid Gravity

Roger