NEW BLMA Freight Car & Trucks!

[ednadolski]

The choice of MT couplers seems good - IIRC there is no slinky problem with the body mounted versions.

No, the body mount couplers still have the slinky effect.

It's because of the centering spring in the MT couplers. Various versions of the MT coupler locate the spring on opposite sides of the screw post, so you may notice differing degrees of the slinky effect with that, depending on your exact operating conditions.  But no coupler with a centering spring design like the MT will be truly free of the slinky effect, given the right resonance conditions.

And yes, it happens with MT's Z scale version too.

The new McHenry coupler doesn't have a centering spring, so that likely would avoid the effect.  All we'd need is a body-mount coupler box (Craig are you listening?) 

[ednadolski]

Thanks for the kind words guys!  These cars were designed with the highest standards in mind, but will work for ANY operation.  In fact, today we tested the cars on an N-Track layout and fixed Unitrack layout - in both instances the cars worked literally derailment free - both forwards and reverse.

And, if I'm not mistake, I believe the photograph reveals the reason for the superior tracking: a healthy fillet.

Yes, that and with the taper on the tread.  Sounds like they should work fine on any NMRA-compliant hand-laid frog.

Craig, I notice the lower bolster.  Does that mean I can put a pair onto a typical MT car and get a lowering effect just from that?  Is the bolster pin compatible with the MT pin, or would an adapter be needed?

Again, awesome work 

Thanks,
Ed

[CNWlivesinme]

I am speechless, I am without speech.

These might be the single release that gets me back into the hobby.

Between the new ultra-high quality hoppers, and Fox valley releasing a unit C&NW coal train (to be pulled by Atlas Dash-8s naturally) its probably good I recently got a promotion.

In 4 weeks Chuck, you will be hearing from me!

[bbussey]

... The new McHenry coupler doesn't have a centering spring, so that likely would avoid the effect.  All we'd need is a body-mount coupler box ...

The McHenry will fit in the MTL 1015 coupler box, the Atlas AccuMate body-mount coupler box, and any car with integrated coupler boxes without issue.

[Sokramiketes]

I don't suppose there will be anyway to puchase a car before it gets sent to China?

Jason

Not going to be much in that box...   

[Guilford Guy]

Those wheelsets look amazing! It's a shame N scale does not yet have a semi-scale coupler.

[Ryan87]

I don't suppose there will be anyway to puchase a car before it gets sent to China?

Jason

Not going to be much in that box...   

A box full of cash?

[TiVoPrince]

Box 'o Cash
 won't last long with model railroaders around...

[diburning]

wow, if you didn't tell me that it was N scale, I would have thought they were HO!  They look absolutely amazing! 

[bicknell]

Leo:  Simply put, these wheels will roll through ANYTHING and will track incredibly well - again, they're thoroughly tested and we will continue with testing prior to production.  That said, the wheels are exactly 36" diameter (.225"); the wheels are just about .060" wide.  Why you'd need any other dimensions is beyond me...

The flange depth is interesting for those of us thinking about pushing the envelope.  ;D

Code 40 rail?  Code 25 rail?

The flange thickness and exact gauge are both more academic items.

[wcfn100]

I don't suppose there will be anyway to puchase a car before it gets sent to China?

Jason

Not going to be much in that box...  

I got the impression that these cars are pretty much an N scale version of the Tangent cars which are produced here and sent to China for assembly.

I'll assume you're saying few or none of the pieces of the BLMA model are made in the USA.


Jason

[Caleb Austin]

Those cars look epic. Hard to believe there n scale!

I generally don't buy cars over $20, but I'll have make an exception here.

[Mark5]

... The new McHenry coupler doesn't have a centering spring, so that likely would avoid the effect.  All we'd need is a body-mount coupler box ...

The McHenry will fit in the MTL 1015 coupler box, the Atlas AccuMate body-mount coupler box, and any car with integrated coupler boxes without issue.

So wouldn't this also be true for the Accumate?



(I havent actually dissected any of my accumates yet)

[ednadolski]

... The new McHenry coupler doesn't have a centering spring, so that likely would avoid the effect.  All we'd need is a body-mount coupler box ...

The McHenry will fit in the MTL 1015 coupler box, the Atlas AccuMate body-mount coupler box, and any car with integrated coupler boxes without issue.

So wouldn't this also be true for the Accumate?



(I havent actually dissected any of my accumates yet)

Seems the Accumate & McHenry are pretty close.  NSS mentions using the McHenry in the Accumate box but not the MT box.  I guess we'll just have to try them out, to see how well they fit and if they tend to sag, bind, etc.

[Sokramiketes]

I got the impression that these cars are pretty much an N scale version of the Tangent cars which are produced here and sent to China for assembly.

I'll assume you're saying few or none of the pieces of the BLMA model are made in the USA.

Jason

I just saw the note thanking Tangent for their help, which I'd guess is simply research information.  Tangent didn't tool their car in house, think it was the ExactRail guys that did the tooling...  I'm guessing BLMA didn't use ExactRail for this tooling.