taking apart Lionel auto cars (next!)

I forgot that I had 2 SUVs parked inside my only Lionel auto carrier for weight. They came slamming down as I put the car on my bench.

I like the idea of a plate inside the bottom for weight as in the above linked post. I think the lower center of gravity would work the best.

I have also attached some stick on weights (1oz tire weights with 3M tape) with fairly good success in the lower level.  I've only had a couple release if knocked fairly hard, but otherwise they are low enough that they aren't noticeable through the see-through side panels.  Biggest downside is if I want to load the autoracks with actual cars hard to do in the lower level.  

Was thinking it might be nice to do a simulated load with the silhouettes of trucks using styrene and the weights that would slide in and out. Could even photo print the trucks and attach to the side of the load for a more realistic appearance.   

 I just used what I had at hand right now. I found some large galvanized finish nails that I bought a whole case of along time ago. I stuck about 12 or fourteen in the floor recess. I was going to hot glue them in but they are trapped tightly. That added the 3 ounces I needed. I'll have to see if that's enough.

 I need to order more stick on weights for the future. Money's tight right now.

I had just 2 SUVs in one car from the old dollar store stock. They weighed more than I could probably fit in the floor. Maybe I will look at more of them down the road too. I think they'll be too heavy for the top though. So the silhouette idea might be better up there?

I know this car isn't any new news here. I had bought four of them some time ago. I converted one of them right away to 2 rail. The others got stashed under the layout and forgotten. I knew they were there when I did my yearly cleaning last year. I was just too busy with engine conversions. This year money is tight so when I have spare time, I look for stuff that never got completed.

 Anyways I like the finer detailing of these cars. They actually look good right next to my MTH versions, so I will keep those. I feel that getting to picky about every piece takes away from the fun. It is hard to ignore a well done piece though. So maybe down the road I will get more of these? I went overboard on the Atlas articulated version and they take up a good chunk of my RR's real estate.