Model Railroading > Dissatisfied with Aurora 60ft Box Cars

Many modellers have spoken about the AURORA 60FT. BOX CARS.....dissatisfied, dassatisfied, etc. We'd mentioned color, couplers, light weight, high price. A friend fell in love with the blue GATX CAR and bought four of them. Not to be undone, I bought four cars, 2 UP, 1 TTX, and 1 Blue GATX. We bought they from our friendly LOMBARD HOBBIES. At home, the cars displayed their bad habits. My blue derailed everywhere. The couplers wouldn't work. I replaced all with KADEES, #5's. By now, we've read the internet dissatisfaction with the cars. LOMBARD has received that dissatisfaction......checking their website, they've only sold 12 cars, 8 are from me and my friend. Their website lists 47 numbered cars, thats 188 cars. Bad sellers.

Today, all four cars run perfectly around my layout. Even, the big gondola. My friend proclaims a modeller shouldn't need to do all that I did to make this expensive cars run well. I agree. To replace the crappy couplers I replaced all with KADEE #5, wiskers. To add weight, I purchased A-Line weights from Walthers. To get room for the weights, I destroyed some of the underbody details. Forutenately,,we don't see that, anyway. Enjoy the pictures and the video. The Auroras run in my TEST TRAIN, powered by the MK diesels. A New York modeller said my layout is  50% wiring.

David Harrison 

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You might have put the weights closer to the wheels and painted them to match to keep them from showing up. Sorry you had problems. Mine run great. I have found that when cars are running on a layout, the problems are just about evenly split betwen bad running characteristics of the car and poorly laid track, especially over turnouts. Check ALL your gauges. 

I was so happy with the AURORA CARS I spent time running them on my basement layout. Three levels, mostly Atlas 100 code track. Takes 16 minutes to complete a circuit.  A stroke 13 years ago has limited completing my layout. I still visit MSI.

David Harrison

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I used the center location because here was a location where details would be less destroyed.

David

DHarrison Wrote:
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> I used the center location because here was a
> location where details would be less destroyed.
>
> David

You would think that the manufacturers would design their products to have a certain amount of weight built in.

Is anyone for having the equipment be as light as possible?

Underweight cars might be a result of concerns over shipping fees. Who knows?

We go to NAPA: https://www.napaonline.com/en/search/tools-equipment/shop-supplies/tire-wheel-supplies/wheel-weight/201579159

With two or three people involved or a large club layout, it doesn't take long to empty a box of 1/4 oz. wheel weights, and it's the same thing people are buying a dozen at a time for a premium price.

Most manufactures weight their cars close to the NMRA recommended weight in HO. Was there no way to open the shell to attach the weights inside?

Ted Curphey
Ontario, OR

grahamline Wrote:
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> We go to NAPA:
Those Napa prices seem really high. But they don't tell the quaninty, so it's hard to tell how high.

I went to Harbor Freight today and bought their stick on tire weights. They sell in packages of 48pcs for $8 at the local store, and you can choose either 1/4ounce or 1/2ounce sizes. Been using them for years.

Ted Curphey
Ontario, OR

Ebay has a 6lb box with free shipping for 20.00 thats where I got mine.

There is no way to open the car....the car is a complete rectangle box. An internet reader used an X-BLADE TO CUT THE ROOF OFF......UGH!!!!

David Harrison

The roof is glued on at several small tabs along each length. So far after 1-2 minutes work (each) with a chistle-tip blade along the edges, mine (50' & 60' Hi-cubes) have been popping off with out any damage.

My only "bummer" (I guess) is that the doors aren't removable on the 60' like they are on the 50' models, I thought that was really neat, and opens up options for modeling a load inside. Still I like 'em both.


~ Mr. MRL

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Leaves me wondering why nobody from Aurora Miniatures chimes in here with an explaination or solution.  The blue LRS car that I bought had one coupler wouldn't couple and the car derails often.

Jim

They can't be bothered by trivial complaints. Now stop buying the product just might get the point across.

Jimmies Wrote:
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> Leaves me wondering why nobody from Aurora
> Miniatures chimes in here with an explaination or
> solution.  The blue LRS car that I bought had one
> coupler wouldn't couple and the car derails
> often.
>
> Jim

Looks like they used the standard Athearn Blue Box sheet steel weight. You mean that's not heavy enough?    [insert eye roll here]

By now, we've read the internet dissatisfaction with the cars. LOMBARD has received that dissatisfaction......checking their website, they've only sold 12 cars, 8 are from me and my friend. Their website lists 47 numbered cars, thats 188 cars. Bad sellers. Lombard's website says they still have 176 cars, after two whole months. BAD SELLERS.

David Harrison
 

Oh man, I need to take some doors off, that's nice.  So far the ones I have run OK. 

Manufacturer did responded.......

"Hi David, I’m unable to post on the forum as I don’t own an account.I am aware of the underweight issue; our factory has been notified some time ago and additional weight will be present on future production models.For the already released cars, you can use a plastic pry tool to gently unlatch remove the roof of the car, in order to add weights inside.I apologize for the inconvenience caused.  Best regards,Ben WangAurora Miniatures – North Americainfo@auroraminiatures.com"

David Harrison  



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/26/24 09:50 by DHarrison.