Micro trains wing carrier. How would the prototype secure the load?

[Peavine]

So I started working on the micro Trains Santa Fe/Union Pacific wing carrier three pack. The question I have is; how is the wing secured onto the flat car? I get that it sits on the flat car opposite of the sandbag counterweights, but how would a prototype railroad actually secure a load like that? Would there be some sort of a steel or wood superstructure It is strapped to? Or would it be a matter of tiedowns looped over the top of it? If anyone has any suggestions, I’d like to hear them.  Just having the wings sitting on the flat car held on by magic seems kind of lame to me so I know there must be more to it. Thanks for the input.

[thomasjmdavis]

Good question.
The ATSF book on flatcars and gondolas has several photos of the prototypes.  Unfortunately, all the photos are all taken from the side of the car with the sandbags.  Part of the mounting that is visible are steel plates that were attached to the wing, and laid flat on the car and were bolted down.  I don't have the set, so I don't know if these plates are included.  Also can't tell if there is some sort of bracketing on the back side that attaches to the plates, or sits in the stack pockets.

There are a couple of 'bumps' on the top of the wing- that also appear in the photos, and I was speculating those might be the top of supports for the wing, but I don't have the set to take a closer look.

Although one photo shows the cars in a train with locomotive, what I expected to see but don't are cables/guy wires over the top of the load attached to the side of the car. This leads me to the conclusion that either it must have been firmly supported from the back.

[Peavine]

Thanks Tom,

 I looked up those photos and they were helpful. Definately looks loke some sort of bracket attatched to the wing and bolted to the deck. I think the bumps that are cast into the Trailing edge of the wing could be the back of the nacelles of the inboard engines. I wonder if the structure there at the firewall on the leading edge of the wing that the inboard engines were attatched to was strong enough to simply bolt to the flat card deck, or some sort of adapter. I think I’ll guesstimate some sort of a bracket and build it since there doesn’t seem to be any photos that I can find of the backside of the wing anyway.

Jim

[JoeD]

Thanks Tom,

 I looked up those photos and they were helpful. Definately looks loke some sort of bracket attatched to the wing and bolted to the deck. I think the bumps that are cast into the Trailing edge of the wing could be the back of the nacelles of the inboard engines. I wonder if the structure there at the firewall on the leading edge of the wing that the inboard engines were attatched to was strong enough to simply bolt to the flat card deck, or some sort of adapter. I think I’ll guesstimate some sort of a bracket and build it since there doesn’t seem to be any photos that I can find of the backside of the wing anyway.

Jim

Do you have access to the Santa Fe book on Flat Cars?   There are a couple good photos there   I don't have my book here at work..

Joe

[Peavine]

Yes,
I took a look.
It was very helpful.

Jim

Much easier to work on the model than the real thing…

[Spades]

Having received and shipped light twins, Seneca, Baron 58 in containers to and from Japan.  Wings are placed on their leading edge in a cradle cut to match the leading edge profile. Strapping holds wings and fuselage in place.  Care is taken so the straps don't damage the skin or control surfaces. Engines and nacelles firewall forward are removed, and secured to palates. Cram parts and stuff inside the fuselage

I would imagine cradle and post secured to the flatcar deck.