New too OO9 coach building

[MGriffiths]

Hi
I purchased a Parkside kit No DM61 coach kit at last years Warley Ex.
What I wish to know is wether I need to weight the model or not?
Thanks
Mark Griffiths

[Graeme Dunbar]

Hi Mark,

A number of people recommend weighting rolling stock to give similar loads per axle across all stock to prevent derailments. I have never experienced it myself, as all my 009/HOe stock are similar kits or commercial items, but I can see that (say) a heavy whitemetal coach at the end of a train of light plastic ones might pull the light ones off the track on curves.

The NMRA have recommended standards for weighting stock:

http://www.nmra.org/beginner/weight.html

[MickT]

hi Mark,

Most of the rolling stock I make uses N gauge chassis - Peco wagons, various bogie coaches etc etc. All of the N gauge chassis that I have seen come with some form of weighting, so that is sufficient to indicate to me that "Yes" you should put some weight in! Obviously you need to ensure that your wheels are free running and if you are constructing the chassis from the kit, that you have made them exactly square with the axles parallel to each other.

As to how much weighting - Graeme's link should give you an idea. As a general guide, the standard sort of weight that comes with nearly all N gauge bogie coaches is a piece of steel approx 1.5 to 2mm thick, 10 to 12 mm wide and up to around 70mm long dependant upon the length of the coach. Lima 4 wheel coaches and wagons (about 50% longer than the standard Peco 15ft N wagon wheelbase) have a similar weight but about 30mm long to sit inside the wheelbase between the axles. In my opinion, Peco N gauge wagon chassis kits (very economical and run very reliably) are under-weighted and I always add a bit more - most N gauge modellers that I know also do this.

Any weighting should be as low on the piece of rolling stock as possible. Vans can have the weight inside on the floor, but wagons should have any weighting under the floor. A weighted piece of stock that is top heavy is worse than having one that is not weighted at all!

If I make my own weighting for vehicles, I use the strips of lead alloy material that you can get in garden centres for weighting pond plants. My own strip is 2mm thick , 6mm wide and as long as you want it to be! It comes in a coil about 10m long for a couple of pounds.

If you have doubts about the amount of weight to use in a 4 wheel vehicle, I suggest it may be worth investing a couple of pounds in a rough secondhand N gauge wagon at a toyfair and using the weight of that as a guide.

The acid test will be to push your vehicles, ideally in a string of 3 or 4 through your sharpest reverse curves and through some points at a slightly higher than normal operating speed. If it all works without jumping off the rails then all should be OK!

Mick

[JulienW]

Should you weight your stock?

YES!

How much?

Well...

The NMRA wieghts are, I feel, a bit exsessive.

Most 009 kit-built stock will have metal wheels mounted on steel pin-point alxes running in plastic bearings (the moulded hole in the ack of the axlebox) or possiblt brass (if you fit bearing cups). the 3/4 ounces given for HOn3 (the nearest too 009) works out to 21 grams, and you'll have a hard time getting that much lead under the floor of a small 4 wheel coach.

Most of my stock is weighted to between 5 and 10 g and works fine.

[garrywhiting]

The NMRA wieghts are, I feel, a bit exsessive.

Most 009 kit-built stock will have metal wheels mounted on steel pin-point alxes running in plastic bearings (the moulded hole in the ack of the axlebox) or possiblt brass (if you fit bearing cups). the 3/4 ounces given for HOn3 (the nearest too 009) works out to 21 grams, and you'll have a hard time getting that much lead under the floor of a small 4 wheel coach.

Most of my stock is weighted to between 5 and 10 g and works fine.

I certainly do not recommend using the NMRA standards, they are far too excessive, even the N gauge advised weights are not appropriate to 009. Julien's advice is the best to follow. Having said that however, all locos can benefit with a little extra weight, even some rtr locos can benefit with a bit more weight. Heavier locos, relatively lightweight rolling stock is a good rule. Do make sure that all stock is consistently weighted as GraemeD has pointed out, uneven weighting brings its own problems.

[MGriffiths]

Thanks to the members that took time to answer my post.
Mark Griffiths