Flatcar advice

My way is not realistic, but if function is the way you want to go, I use black elastic ponytail  bands. You can get a bag of several for cheap at Rite Aid. 

Glue for the wheels to the deck and I use necklace chain to look like tiedowns.

Museum Wax to hold down the cars - it is semi-permanent and will lift off readily - great for securing figures to the layout as well.

Available on Amazon.

If they come screwed down to a plastic base and I'm planning to keep 'em on the car,  I'll drill holes  as needed and run screws up through the deck into the vehicle.  

For example:

Tiedown is wire scrounged from the parts bin.  

Mitch 

Rubber cement works for us.  If we change our mind, the load lifts off and a few rubs removes any residue on the deck of the flat car.  John in Lansing, ILL

I drilled holes in the tires and in the flatcar. Put wire into the tires (no glue) and placed into the holes on the flatcar. The equipment can easily be removed.  

CB, the chocks look good. Have you ever run your wires over each axle?  John in Lansing, ILL

many many many flats cars I have loaded up. Both with farm tractors and construction equipment. I have used twist ties, those stretchy hair ties the girls put in their hair, and simple wire twisted together under the flat car. farm tractors come from Tractor supply, train shows, flea markets and antique stores. Construction vehicles come from the same. A long string (9-10 cars) at train shows get more attention than any other cars I run because of the variety and color. Sorry I don't have any pics.

Rattler21, I have not added any chains or wires to the load.  Most of the time the flatcar and load stay in the yard.  The load is a little top heavy, so if I run it in a train, I run the train at a slow speed. I have 072 plus curves.

Here's a picture or two of the flatcar and load with the pins in the tires....

rattler21 posted:

Rubber cement works for us.  If we change our mind, the load lifts off and a few rubs removes any residue on the deck of the flat car.  John in Lansing, ILL

Agreed.  Aleene's TACK-IT Over & Over also works good in the same fashion.

Candle wax or ponytail bands.

I use green floral wire. First I wrap the wire around the axles of my vehicle then measure out where they fit onto the flatcar. Finally I drill the corresponding pinholes thru the flatcar, pull the wore through, twist the ends and cut off any excess wire so as to not hit the rails. I did over 20 cars like this with my Military loads.

I take pipe cleaners, burn off the fuzz  (outside is best, a bit smokey) then use them to tie down the load.  Looks like chain.