Large Scale Central

Strange quirk with a Bachmann Flat Car

Modeling Rolling stock
#1

I know this conversation must have been discussed back in the early days of large scale, but I don’t ever remember it on the internet. So I’ve got this old Bachmann ET&WNC flat car.

Nothing fancy, but in a way, well done. It even has unworkable, plastic, coupler lift pin rods on each end.

I’m putting Kadee 830’s on it. Because I always cut off all of the “mouse tails” off of the Kadee couplers, I was looking where I would put an Ozark Minature air cock valve and air hose. Bachmann had put a lot of energy into moulding in a pretty nice replica of the brake system on the bottom of the deck. There is the brake cyclinder, the piping for the air lines and even the rod that the chain would be hooked to for the manual brake wheel.

Why they even put a cut in the underframing to allow for the brake wheel to come through.

Wait a minute. I’ve been looking at the underside of this car for two hours while mounting the coupler pockets. THE DAMN HOLE FOR THE BRAKE WHEEL IS ON THE WRONG SIDE OF THE COUPLER!! Talk about a total FUBAR. All that work and some dude drills the hole in the wrong place. Wonder how many cars were done like this? All of them or just a few. Simple to fill, but what a screw up by somebody that has no idea of what they were working on. I’m sure somebody will say the answer to the whole situation is in the third picture, but I’m still trying to work on that political correctness thing. :wink:

#2

Tell me you haven’t done something sillier yourself

I certainly have! I like the “Bachmann China” detail on the bottom.

#3

Ric -

What can I say about the FUBAR molding, except that bigger companies do just as dumb stuff on materials that are 1000’s times more costly. In my town they are building a 5 story apartment building from pre-cast concrete. They cast the stuff somewhere in PA and bring it in on flatbeds, raise them like building blocks with a huge crane, then weld together cast-in weld plates at the joints to make it structurally sound. Problem was the guys casting the concrete kept getting the tops and bottoms of the molds mixed up. A good number of wall sections were cast with the weld plate on the adjoining section on the wrong side.

The real reason for my reply is to comment on your pictures. I think you have this digital photography thing down. Nice clear close-ups with good lighting that allows you to see all the detail. I can even read BACHMAN CHINA on the bottom of the flat! Nice job.

Jon

#4

Thanks Jon,

At least the mould in this case wasn’t wrong, just the hole in the deck where the brake wheel goes. It was drilled on the wrong side of the coupler. Simple fill in one spot and drill another hole. But I just thought it was funny that it happened. Heck, I’m not a rocket scientist here, I’ve owned the car for over 5 years and never noticed the problem.

#5

Ric…

The most simple solution, before installing the couplers; was to detach the underframe and reverse it. All you have to do is take out the four screws on the two bolsters, and the underframe comes off. Reverse it and the problem is solved.

While you have the underframe detached from the body; cut about 1/16th" off the body “Standoffs”, and drill the screw holes a bit deeper. This helps to press the underframe tight to the body, and applies to all B’mann rolling stock generally.

Flat cars are one type of rolling stock, that I always use metal wheel sets on. It gives the car weight where it is needed.

You ended up with a nice looking piece of rolling stock, Ric.

Fr.Fred

#6

Fred,
The hole in the deck would still be on the wrong side. I just filled in the hole, drilled a new one and moved the brake wheel to the right place. I did check the bolsters and pegs like you suggested. A good simple little flat, maybe perfect for holding the chains, dogs and roosters for a lumber extra.

#7

Talk about a nitpicker…:wink:

#8

“NITPICKER”? I haven’t picked a nit in years. If ya can’t tell port from starboard, ya need to stay on da dock. We’ll talk. :wink:

#9

Dear Ric,

I remembered seeing something similar to your problem but with Aristo cars a month ago on their forum. There the problem was the entire undercarraige was backwards. They just said to rotate the floor to solve this problem and they would fix this problem at the factory. I looked at my Aristo flat car and yes it is backwards. I guess the same factory worker built your Bachmann car as well. :wink:

Todd Siddle