I didn't add weight to any of my coaches and I don't have problems, not even with 1:87 coaches (303 and 316 mm). The 282 mm cars are 1:93.5 or 1:97.
I guess adding weight is a workaround for track problems, coupler problems, buffer problems, other problems.

The weight should be added at the bottom. Between frame and interior details would be the best place, but room is limited. Under the frame is another option, but it might be visible from low viewpoints. Above the interior details on the floor is another option, but the weights may have to be painted to make the less visible.

Do you have problems with all coaches or just with some?

Also the pilot truck on my new br38. It's better now that I increased the tension on the spring, but not 100%.

I think so Tom. Intericity cars are 11 1/8 inches. The start up ones are 10 5/8", and still derail, even not coupled with the longer new ones.
Some of the Marklin SBB panorama cars are shorter at 10 5/8". A Roco SBB panorama express coach is 1/87 exact and comes in at 11 7/8" if not a total foot. I have one, another first class coach on order, and it's not any worse for tracking thr rails. It seems heavier. Marklin was making 1/110 9 5/8", and 1/100 10 1/4" scale cars for so long because they handled M track and tighter radius curves on layouts restrticted to length due to room size. Now many want longer trains and M is catching up with Piko and Roco.

When it comes to Maerklin, here are the common scale lengths used by the company and referred to by modellers:

Tin Plate (1960s/1970s): 24cm (240mm)
Plastic (1970s to 1985): UIC-X and TEE coaches, etc 270mm*
Plastic (1985 to 2015): UIC-Z (Eurofima and other) 264mm (1/100)**
Plastic (new); UIC-X, UIC-Z, etc 282mm**/***

* The original plastic coaches had classic couplings and bogies with a centre pivot
** With the introduction of close coupling mechanisms, Maerklin began manufacturing models with offset pivot bogies, meaning that the bogie does not rotate on the centre, but from closer to the rear (inside), meaning that there is less visible overhang in curves and allowing longer coaches to operate on tighter radii.
*** At some point post 2000, a decision was made that all models with a length of less than 24m would be rendered in exact scale, while longer models like the 26.4m UIC-X and others would be rendered in a scale length of 282mm. For most of the models, this means a scale length of 1:93.5, but it has been pointed out that some prototypes are longer but the models are still rendered in 282mm, so it is not accurate to describe all models as having that ratio for scale length.

Roco has many models in exact scale 1/87 (303mm) and longer. They do have some models in 1/93, largely based on old Fleischmann designs and a handful of models still in 1/100 (Hobby)
LSM, ACME, etc are all in exact scale 1/87

Regards

Mike C

Hi all,

I agree that the source of derailments is often somewhere else. Nevertheless I have added weights in some cases to solve the final issues. Or prevent slipping and increase traction force a bit.
In an attempt to place the weight as low as possible I had some good results in placing the weight inside the bogie.



Best regards,
Gregor