Guys please read before posting!!! I am trying to compile some information on adding weight to the to some of the available steam locos on the market. In attempts to search the forums I was not able to find what I was looking for...argh! I am making 3 seperate posts and asking for responses from people that HAVE made the modifications. If you can include pictures that would be fantastic. I am NOT looking for suggestions or opinions or speculation. I would like to compile everyones efforts and post them to my blog so that they can be easily found (as well as on the forum). Much like a "How To" or "Loco Shops" threads found on TB. Thanks guys, Tim
You can check the May-June of N-SCALE Magazine it has a whole article on that loco and part of it covers adding weight to improve the pulling capability (tractive effort). In the article the guy talks about using lead putty, however I would recommend tungsten powder (30% heaver than lead by volume), also covered in the article is installing a decoder.
Tungsten powder is almost exactly the same weight as solid lead. Now solid tungsten would be heavier than solid lead. Lead 11.34 g/cm3 Tungsten 19.25 g/cm3
Guys, this isnt a debate about whether to use tungsten or not. Fotheringill, Bob Ellis and I exhanged some emails and I have his permission to use some of the information he used in his article! Hopefully I'll get some time this weekend to post some stuff. If anyone else, Chris, or Max or OldRK or anyone else has actually made the modification chime in!!! Thanks, Tim
http://www.maximum-velocity.com/tungstenpowder.htm You cannot compact it enough to really be of any real gain. I have done it with epoxy, but won't now that I know. You can buy tungsten rods cut to length on E-bay from this guy: http://myworld.ebay.com/metallectric/ I have bought from him. Get the measurements right because you probably won't be able to cut it yourself. You can find some goodies as well: http://www.maximum-velocity.com/speed_supplies.htm#tungsten Tim, A friend of mine overseas turned and milled solid tungsten pieces for my 0-8-0. This is how he was able to make them: http://www.maximum-velocity.com/tungstenpowder.htm Here they are being installed: http://picasaweb.google.com/ErieChris333/ErieRailroadC3080NScale/photo#5176610212511887058 I think it was 42 grams to start out and was 84 grams after adding the weights. You can see more here: http://picasaweb.google.com/ErieChris333/ErieRailroadC3080NScale
