Weighting really light stock

[kiwitram]

I was messing around the other day, and dicovered that dead batteries in coaches and waggons really do increase the weight a lot and help them adhere better to the track. The same I suppose could be done for dead locos or even working models, if enough room is given.

Kay

[Lysander]

Some dead batteries can leak noxiously however, so you need to be sure what you are locking away inside your goods vans. 2p pieces are far better, and totally inert of course.

Tony.

[Bufferstop]

To overcome the drag of pickups to the unpowered model of FR No20 that I'm working on I needed to add 25grams somewhere. The only place was inside the boiler. Rumaging around my workbench I found a collection of chewed up hex drive screwdriver bits. Four of them came to 25gm, so I wrapped them in a poly bag (to stop them rattling) and shoved it into the boiler tube.

[Zunnan]

Agreed, batteries can pose a bit of a risk. When they leak you really want to know if they will react with the materials enclosed with them, glue, plastic etc. 2p coins I've used before but I find that after a period of time the copper corrodes to a point that they rot out of the glue holding them in place.



This is the kind of stuff you want to use as you want to keep added weight as low as possible in a model, 'liquid leads' are great for this as you can fill chassis voids with the stuff. Fluid superglues and epoxy resins are great for holding this stuff in place. The main aim regardless of what you use as the weight is to use an adhesive that doesn't accelerate corrosion of the weight material, which is something that PVA does very well so should be avoided at all costs for this use...ever used a screw to cap that tub of PVA, then noticed a few days later that the screw is rusting?

[guinnesskid]

I started to use old button batteries in my n gauge stock but when my box of "dead" batteries started exploding I soon took them out again. I was thinking about using lead weights from the local fishing tackle shop. Would these pose any problems?

[b308]

No. Most people still use lead strip anyhow. Its easy enough to get hold of in the small quantities we use it. Just don't take any off your roof!

[Lysander]

Lead strip is fine - and has the added advantage that you can cut it with strong scissors, so you can cut exact shapes to fit recesses in chassis, etc. Epoxy will hold it well also.

Tony.

[Essex2Visuvesi]

Try this
http://www.aquamania.co.uk/product.asp? ... &PT_ID=115

[Lysander]

How can that possibly be safe for fish ? Mind you, who cares about fish....

[I didn't just say that - and you didn't really read it here either. Oh no you didn't. I love fish. Yes I do. I just love 'em to bits].

Tony

[Essex2Visuvesi]

How can that possibly be safe for fish ? Mind you, who cares about fish....

[I didn't just say that - and you didn't really read it here either. Oh no you didn't. I love fish. Yes I do. I just love 'em to bits].

Tony

I dont know but my dad has been using it in his aqauriums for years and some of his fish are over 15 years old

[Lysander]

It looks quite good value - 10ft. would last a life time. I just can't work out how it's sealed after you cut it. I would have thought lead was the last thing you'd want to put in aquarium water. Still, if it works, it works.

Tony.

[gwr]

Essex2Visuvesi , got any spares for a panzer 4

[FZ6]

I've used some self adhesive wheel balance weights before. They can be picked up for a reasonable price on ebay.

[ChesterChuen]

Another way i suppose might be the use of fishing weights. These weigh alot and are the size of batteries and do not leak. Just my pennies worth of idea.

[buz]

Hi guys
I just fit metal wheels and bearings as needed.
I find if the stock has metal wheels it doesn't give any problems.
because the weight is down low where you need it.
if my stock has plastic wheels they get changed as a matter of course.
regards
John