Wheels of time flat's couplers?

[w neal]

I am wondering if people out there have had the chance to run their latest WOT 53' flat cars. I'm worried as there seems to be little side to side flex in the couplers. Has this posed any problems for you? Do the cars run well for you on your layouts?

Thanks in advance!

[w neal]

Just ran it around the upper deck of the WC layout, once behind the locomotive, and once a few cars back. It worked just fine. No derailments, yet.

[jagged ben]

I am wondering if people out there have had the chance to run their latest WOT 53' flat cars. I'm worried as there seems to be little side to side flex in the couplers. Has this posed any problems for you? Do the cars run well for you on your layouts?

Thanks in advance!

I have run a few of the bulkhead version, I have not managed to run the most recent flats but I think the coupler design is identical.  I did have a couple derailment problems with the bulkheads but I can't say it was due to the coupler issue you mention.  It was not obvious why they should have derailed at the spots they did rather than other places with tighter radius, and there could have been other track issues to blame.  I think that if you have good trackwork and curves upward of 16" radii you should not have problems. 

[JoeD]

as a side question, how thick is the decking and is it separate?  So far I have been loading up on the HO flats and bulkheads and laser cutting veneer decks for them.  I plan on getting the N scale and would like to do the same.


This is about .02 thick and made for a GS flat I've been scratching.


Joe

[Denver Road Doug]

Joe, that looks great.   Nice color variation.

[nkalanaga]

0.02 would be 3.2 inches in N.  The GN's prototype flats had 3 inch wood decks, so that would be just about right.  I measured the deck on one of mine and it seems to be about 4 inches thick.  Yes, they are removable, although it may take some work.

There was a thread when these first came out with considerable debate about these decks.

[ryan_wilkerson]

Looking good Joe! I look forward to seeing the N version and trying it on a flat. Do you know if the WOT flat car and bulk head version use the same deck or are they slightly different? I have the one SP non-bulkhead and a few of the bulkhead version.
-Ryan

as a side question, how thick is the decking and is it separate?  So far I have been loading up on the HO flats and bulkheads and laser cutting veneer decks for them.  I plan on getting the N scale and would like to do the same.


This is about .02 thick and made for a GS flat I've been scratching.


Joe

[mcjaco]

Joe, I took this a when I got them, and the deck thickness question was asked.  I believe we determined it is removable.

[JoeD]

If they are like the HO models they are pretty much the same...the flat being longer due to the lack of bulkheads.

Looking good Joe! I look forward to seeing the N version and trying it on a flat. Do you know if the WOT flat car and bulk head version use the same deck or are they slightly different? I have the one SP non-bulkhead and a few of the bulkhead version.
-Ryan