I decided that extra weight was required so I proceeded to find out how to get into the tank.
The process is simple enough and was carried out on an Esso tank car as follows:
- Ensure that you layout all of the parts similarly to the photo below so that you can reassemble the tank car with all the details correctly placed.
- Unscrew the bogies.
- Unscrew the three screws holding the tank to the underframe
- Remove the three unloading pipes from the underside of the tank.
- Carefully disconnect all ladders, strapping etc. connected to the tank from the underframe
- Unscrew the two small screws holding the underside of the tank.
- Glue four small lead fishing sinkers along the centre of the existing metal weight.
- Reassemble carefully, particularly when aligning all the ladders, strapping, etc. between the tank and the underframe.
Exploded view including the fishing sinkers
I should mention that these SDS Models rail tank cars are the ones that are/were available as singles from the first manufacturer (considered unsatisfactory by SDS Models). The later three pack tank cars from SDS Models may not have this weight issue. If some one could weigh a tank car from a three pack and let me know the mass in grams that would be useful.
9 comments:
Thanks for the information Ray, & I gather the problem exists only when the train is being banked in the rear?
I have a couple of the original NQR models from the 3 pack, so could weigh them for you if they are what you are after. I actually wondered myself whether or not they were heavy enough, as I had a couple derail but found it was with buffer lock when going through points into a loop.
I am wondering about how easy it is to remove the factory weight & replace it with lead flashing rather than the sinkers as you have done.
Colin
We found the problem when banking but I will be adding weight to all my SDS tank cars so that all wagons match in weight for length.
No need to replace the weight just glue some lead sinkers on the existing weight.
It would be interesting to know the weight of the tank cars in the 3 car set.
Ray
Hi Ray,
Looks like there has been a change from the fisrt production.
I weighed each car from Set 1950 A and each was consistent at 80g.
Although there may be other issues with your "offending" vehicle related to bogie pivot/ movement.
Happy shunting
John Z
Hi Ray,
A further update.
The Southern Rail tank car 1950's set (NTAF 2) weigh in at 66g each.
Cheers
John Z
John
Thanks for the information, very useful and also interesting.
I will investigate the bogies and bogie mounting on the SDS tank cars.
Ray
Ray
Just weighed an Atlantic wagon from the NGR pack & it came in at 83grams.
Will check a new run Purr Pull wagon later & compare it.
Colin
Colin
It looks like SDS corrected the issue with the later runs, no need to weigh another.
It does look like the Southern Rail Models tank cars are light though, but then 'light' is relative to each different modeller I guess.
Thanks,
Ray
Ray
The Atlantic wagon is part of the initial run that were not quite right thus the 83grams.
I weighed an SDS Purr Pull wagon from the latest run, from a single pack this evening & it came at 62grams.
When picking the two wagons up the weight difference is really quit noticeable, as I have 7 wagons in the original order, I will do a weight check on them to see if they are all in the 80 gram mark.
Colin
Colin
It looks like the SDS single tank cars are 63 grams and the three pack tank cars are 83 grams.
Interesting!
Ray
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