In this quick how-to video, Eric White shows you how a little bit of filing can go a long way when trying to fix the pesky wobble on a boxcar.
VIDEO TRANSCRIPT BELOW:
Ready to run models can be great, but sometimes you need to do a little tuning. Take a look at this.
You notice I can move the model, but the truck stay on the track. That’s not the way it’s supposed to be. So when you have a problem like this, the first thing to do is just to tighten up the screws in the bottom of the trucks.
I’ve got a screwdriver.
We’ve got the model.
So I will come in here.
Got my screwdriver and that’s tight.
And that’s wobbly.
So there must be something else going on. Let’s take a look.
So as you can see in there, the Kingpin actually stands up a little bit higher than the inside of the truck.
So the solution to that is to file it down.
Now there are a lot of things we can use to remove material, but I wouldn’t recommend any of these a short form.
A rasp.
A mill file.
You want something more like this.
Alright, just a few swipes here. Should do it.
I’m gonna try and hold this as flat as you can.
Just keep checking your work as you go.
Better ways to go there.
Let’s take a last look.
I think that’s what we’re looking for.
Back it up to hear the thread drop. There we go.
What I’m hoping will happen is I can tighten this down enough.
There we go.
Now the truck doesn’t really want to move.
And that’s good.
’cause I can back it off about 1/4 turn.
OK, so we give this A twist. We can see that it turns back and forth, but it doesn’t want to rock.
This one over here does rock, and that’s what we want that gives us what model railroaders call a 3 point suspension.
So let’s put it on the track.
You can see when I go to tip it.
The wheels are the ones that are trucks do come off.
But the other ones stay on so that gives you enough flexibility to get over any rough spots in the track.
So that’s a handy little tip to take care of the wobble on your cars in the layout. And the best part about it is you only have to do one end of the car.
