[modeleng] Re: Securing models

I carry my 7-1/2" scale toys on angle iron rails in the bed of my wonderful 
Dodge Diesel powered PU truck.  The rails are not fastened down, but run the 
full length of the bed and they rest on a non skid rubber bed mat.  My RRSC 
American is secured on the rails by four semicircular shoes that are held to 
the angle iron rails by one 1/4" bolt at each shoe.  Other locomotives sit 
on adjacent but similar rails but are secured from moving along the rails by 
ample wooden blocking that is wedged at each end by closing the tailgate.

 Another shorter rail that fits crossways at the front and against the front 
of the bed is on swivel casters and is used to carry shorter locomotives 
when hauling our 5th wheel camper (caravan in parts of the world) .  The 
rails have two 1/2" cap screws that can be run down against the bed mat to 
prevent locomotive movement from its front to back while the ever handy wood 
blocking is wedged to prevent the locomotive from shifting sideways.

 None of the rails have ever been fastened down nor will they ever be since 
the truck is used in other truck like duties.  Though the locos sit on the 
rails, I have had only one bogie axle become derailed one time.  This may be 
not because the truck rides so well, but more than likely it is because the 
roads traveled are of Interstate (Autobahn) quality and generally smooth 
because the truck is a 3/4 ton vehicle and accordingly heavily sprung. In 
the event of a serious accident, everything should be pretty safely enclosed 
by the bed except in case of a rollover in which case loose cargo is the 
least of my problems.  Oh, it helps in having plenty of blocking if one was 
part owner in a sawmill for 30 years.

Jesse in extremely hot and humid West Tennessee, but we are used to it as it 
is an annual thing.  Sorry to hear that Europe and Jolly Olde England are 
having to suffer in this  weather to which they are not accostomed.  A good 
friend in Switzerland near the Alps reports temps in the mid ninties (F), 
but he too got exposed to Tennessee summers when he lived here a couple of 
years..



----- Original ---- 
From: "Clif Walker" <clif.gwr@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <modeleng@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Thursday, July 20, 2006 7:40 AM
Subject: [modeleng] Re: Securing models


> Hi All,
>
> The system that I use is similar to others in that I have a large sheet of
> plywood fitted into the back of my Hatchback.
> The Locos are then clamped down onto the rails on the board using angle 
> iron
> across the buffers which is then tightened down using Wing Nuts on 
> studding
> which goes down through the board with suitable load spreaders underneath.
> The board itself is fastened to the car's body works, firstly by chains at
> the rear which are fed through various holes in the in the body below the
> hatch back lip (you have to remove some of the trim to see these) and
> secondly by another chain  across the front of the board which is fastened
> to the luggage holding lugs fitted by the manufacturer on either side of 
> the
> boot area.
> I have never fancied having a loco thump me in the back in the event of a
> panic stop.
> As somebody else commented it can be a problem in the event of needing the
> spare wheel. My solution to this was to raise the  board on blocks so the
> the spare wheel could just be juggled sideways out in the event that it 
> was
> needed. The other solution is to put the spare wheel at one side in a
> vertical position when carrying locos.
>
> Regards
>
> Clif
>
> MODEL ENGINEERING DISCUSSION LIST.
>
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