Aerotrain Weight box.

I’ll have it in the OGR 3D Catalog very soon!

How about some shots of the Aerotrain with the weights installed?

Can you measure the current draw and pulling power?

Jan

I never measured the pulling power before and after, but I can tell you that adding weight makes a big difference!  I added weight on the inside, but I like this idea as well.

The lack of pulling power of light weight engines make one wonder why Lionel, MTH, K-Line, etc. did not add weights when they made the locos that needed more weight.  Why did they sell defective model train engines?  Most of the light weight engines probably have cheaper to build plastic bodies and DC can motors and earn them more profit.

Charlie

This is a side shot of the Engine with the weight box installed.  It is not visible since it is above the bottom skirt of the shell.

Video running conventionally, after adding 13.5 oz of weight, pulling 3 aerotrain cars, a  horse car, postwar Gondola with another as a load, these are the heavier ones, Milk Car and a modern caboose added.   Running conventional set to 12v.  About 1.5 amp draw according to my cheap volt/amp gauges I have on the track.  Lowest speed was about 8 volts, 1 amp.   I didn't notice any slip at all.

Adding the weight appears to be a success.   I didn't try the same thing without the weight, but there was a small amount of rear spinning on starting without the weight and 3 cars.

Cool, when that appears in the 3D library, I think I'll print it.  That's a painless way to add weight, and I have a second Aerotrain engine that I'm converting to Legacy that doesn't have internal added weight.

FWIW, it took me some time to tune the one Aerotrain engine to be able to pull it's prototypical ten car train of passenger cars.  I had to add about a pound of weight and do some tuning on the rear truck to maximize the traction.

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

FWIW, it took me some time to tune the one Aerotrain engine to be able to pull it's prototypical ten car train of passenger cars.  I had to add about a pound of weight and do some tuning on the rear truck to maximize the traction.

This set is essentially new, or very low run time, delivered in 2017.   I checked the gear grease, oiled the wheels and it was working well.  I had read up on the problems and made sure the engines rear wheels could articulate in the turns without catching.    With the 3 Aerotrain cars it is pulling 1 amp at 12 volts.   My first PS3 engine, I am impressed at how slow it can run in conventional mode, down around 8 volts.   

One last thing, I captured this shot of the observation car.  The rear wheels are just exiting the straight track.  It shows how much twist causing drag these solid axle cars can have.  On O36 track there is a very slight bump as the rear enters the curve.

Yep, on O36, those Aerotrain coaches must really have some drag.  They're not exactly free rolling on O72 and larger curves.

I printed the Aerotrain weight box, here it is installed on one of my engines.  Nice fit, it was printed in metallic silver as that was what was in the printer.  I print on the textured plate when I can, I don't need glue in that case.

I haven't drilled the two extra holes yet, but I'll use 2mm screws and tap them so I don't need to add nuts inside.

@Choo Choo Charlie posted:

The lack of pulling power of light weight engines make one wonder why Lionel, MTH, K-Line, etc. did not add weights when they made the locos that needed more weight.  Why did they sell defective model train engines?  Most of the light weight engines probably have cheaper to build plastic bodies and DC can motors and earn them more profit.

Charlie

Lack of weight doesnt make them defective. The main reason for the weight is if you the operator collected all 10 add on pax cars. The designs of the traction from the power truck were not optimal.

Out of the box the 3 car train runs fine.

@prrhorseshoecurve posted:

Lack of weight doesnt make them defective. The main reason for the weight is if you the operator collected all 10 add on pax cars. The designs of the traction from the power truck were not optimal.

Out of the box the 3 car train runs fine.

Sorry, but the prototypical Aerotrain has ten cars!

I know, it's not a very good video, but you get the idea.

I didn't add weight(s) to my MTH Rock Island Aerotrain loco, and it pulls 10 coaches around my layout (with 042 curves) without a problem.

Video attached as "proof of performance."  Maybe I bought a turbocharged version?

Mike M.    LCCA 12394

Mine had no problem pulling them on level track, the 2.5% grade is where things fell apart until I tweaked things and added weight.

@VHubbard posted:

This set is essentially new, or very low run time, delivered in 2017.   I checked the gear grease, oiled the wheels and it was working well.  I had read up on the problems and made sure the engines rear wheels could articulate in the turns without catching.    With the 3 Aerotrain cars it is pulling 1 amp at 12 volts.   My first PS3 engine, I am impressed at how slow it can run in conventional mode, down around 8 volts. 

I tried to put this on my PS/3 engine, but I ran into a problem.  The DCC/DCS switch is under one of the screw holes for the box.  I see the later PS/3 models removed the DCC/DCS switch, so this may be a specific issue to that one model.

Yes, the pdf file mentions that the switch would have to be moved.   Mine had the switch slot, but not the switch.   I guess I need to make a variant.

I figured it's probably easiest to just remove the switch, there's zero chance that my Aerotrain is going to run DCC.

@Rich Melvin posted:

I’ll have it in the OGR 3D Catalog very soon!

Thanks everyone for the comments.  I have uploaded an update.   Should be available in a few days.  Sorry Rich for making more work.

The .pdf instructions note it is Version 2.    The box is .2"/5mm longer with the same bolt pattern.  Added a second design that will clear the switch, but at the cost of a 8% of the weight area and different rear hole locations.

I can easily load 14oz/.4KG of steel weights, making 15oz/.45KG with the box and added screws.  There are small gaps that could still be filled.   

@VHubbard posted:

This is a side shot of the Engine with the weight box installed.  It is not visible since it is above the bottom skirt of the shell.

Video running conventionally, after adding 13.5 oz of weight, pulling 3 aerotrain cars, a  horse car, postwar Gondola with another as a load, these are the heavier ones, Milk Car and a modern caboose added.   Running conventional set to 12v.  About 1.5 amp draw according to my cheap volt/amp gauges I have on the track.  Lowest speed was about 8 volts, 1 amp.   I didn't notice any slip at all.

Adding the weight appears to be a success.   I didn't try the same thing without the weight, but there was a small amount of rear spinning on starting without the weight and 3 cars.

Fantastic! Many thanks!

@VHubbard posted:

Thanks everyone for the comments.  I have uploaded an update.   Should be available in a few days.  Sorry Rich for making more work.

Not a problem, Val! The more projects we have in the OGR 3D Catalog, the better.

The file has been updated!