TIPS & TECHNIQUES

ELIMINATE WOBBLING FREIGHT CARS
Don't you hate it when you see your freight cars, especially box cars, stock cars, and refrigerator cars, go wobbling down the track?  Many people think it is the plastic wheels that are out of round, but I have changed all mine out to good quality metal wheels, and I still have the problem.  This wobbling is especially true of the older Aristo and USA cars.  The secret to the problem is the need for more bolster support. The trucks ride on a single point of attachment which is a screw. Because of this, there is too much side-play, which allows the car to wobble from side to side as it goes down the track.  There is a very simple solution to the problem that anyone can easily accomplish. Take your car and turn it over in some sort of cradle or support. Keep one truck screwed in place, and remove the other truck.  Build bolster supports out of styrene that will barely touch the bolster on each side and glue them in place with epoxy. I use styrene "L" girder and glue it so that the joint is up and can touch the bolster as it moves from side to side. I always paint these supports flat black so they cannot be easily seen. Replace the truck and test the movement of the bolster and the car. You should find that the bolster supports on one end will keep the car level as it goes down the track eliminating the "wobbles".