Wobbling cars

[nkp_174]

I don't like it when cars wobble and other such "it's a model" tell tale signs. I add springs in between the coupler screws and the car bolsters on my worst offenders. Typically this has to be below the truck to prevent the car from riding too high.

If you can't find appropriate commercial springs, it isn't difficult to make your own. Take a piece of 0.008", 0.015", or 0.020" diameter brass wire and heat it up with a flame. Let it cool. (heating will cause brass wire to become softer). Then take a rod...preferably metal...slightly larger than the diameter of the truck screws' threads. Hold about a 1/2"-1" of brass wire in one hand, perpendicular to the rod. Wrap the other end of the brass wire around the rod...tightly. Then slide it off the rod and you have a spring. Cut the spring to the desired length (I use two turns). Voila! I began doing this for Colorado Central truck springs...but the technique has eliminated the annoying wobble of my Branchline boxcar. Perhaps I should post pictures...