What's a good way to keep tinplate passenger car doors closed, but still functional? As they go around the track the doors seem to swing open and have way too much movement. Thanks for your suggestions! Appreciate it!
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Are you talking about sliding doors on box cars or reefer doors that swing or passenger car doors? Reefer doors should have a latch on them to keep them closed. For box car doors I have heard of folks dropping toothpicks in the door tracks or using a small rubber band on the the door handles.
George
Passenger/Parlor car doors. Standard Gauge Lionel 300 and 400 series for example.
Buy cars that don't have doors.
NWL
I must say that would solve the problem!
Would a tiny magnet on the floor like a door stop work?
Thanks JHZ...A magnet just might do it. They make those little tape magnets that just might be the trick!
I guess you could put a strip of plastic or card or something in the track so there is some friction.
If a magnet would solve your problem, how about a cylindrical magnet 1/16" in diameter? It should be wholly adequate to keep a door from sliding shut, I should think.
Super strong magnets of Neodymium are available in many, many shapes and sizes. We (LHS) sell LOTS of them for a variety of uses among the hobby groups....gamers, trains, R/C vehicles/planes/drones, miniatures, static models, science projects, the applications are endless.
The 1/16" magnets are about as small as they get. One purveyor sells 250 of them for $12!
FWIW, of course...
KD
Thanks for all of the suggestions! Appreciate it!
A dollop of rubber cement. John in Lansing, ILL
rattler21 posted:A dollop of rubber cement. John in Lansing, ILL
Agreed. Or maybe model wax, also called museum putty, and maybe a glue gun.
More good ideas...thanks Rattler and John!
I can't abide flappy doors, so I use tiny super magnets, as suggested above.
Cheers, Mark
tiny magnets...the Dude abides!
Curiously, Lionel put springs on the larger 300 series passenger car doors, but FAILED to do so on their high-end passenger cars, including the iconic state cars! Surely, it was not a matter of cost for a small spring? Mario Caruso (and company) apparently were asleep at the switch! 😐
If you don't want them ever to open again, a dab of 'Go To Glue' from Loctite - it's clear so you won't see if it gets a little messy. Just find a way to hold them shut while it dries. It can be cut open, but the stuff is pretty sticky.
going to go with the tiny magnets...thanks all!
