BLMA Spine Cars

[John]

Just received a set of these - I must stay I am impressed with the quality of the details on these cars

[Philip H]

sweet.  I'm waiting for the 3 car set later in the summer.
Any chance you have video?

[GaryHinshaw]

I guess mine is waiting for the Canada Post strike to be over...   >

Fortunately I have plenty to keep me busy until then.

-gfh

[jnevis]

Totally missed them  :'( Sold out everywhere I've looked.  Nothing local would have them.

[lock4244]

Biggest complaint I have is that they're too new for my era. Would love a plausible excuse to have a few.

[Chulvis]

Got mine in stock today. Spent the day sorting out the pre orders and will start shipping in the morning. I did take a break and put a set on the store layout to check them out. Excellent is all I can say. The detail is top notch and they are nice and heavy, so they run great. As a runner and a dealer these are easily one of my favorite new products in a long time.

[jerwayne]

Could use more detailed directions on how to add the hitches. On the A Forum they were described as "rudimentary" directions. That they are.

[sd75i]

    Anyone want to share pics or video of their cars?



   dave

[Smike]

Easily one of the most detailed pieces of rolling stock for n scale I’ve ever held.  Awesome runners while unloaded. Off to my other sport of hunting trout for a few days, but I’ll post some pics with containers and trailers installed when I return.  I’m definitely going to get my hands on some of the 3 car configurations when they hit this fall. Now if Deluxe can come through and deliver on their upcoming 53” trailers we are in business…

BLMA again has raised the bar in N scale with this one.


P.S. These two pics will help as a ref for installing the trailer hitches

http://www.blmamodels.com/images/misc/SpineCar_Sample3.jpg

http://www.blmamodels.com/images/misc/SpineCar_Sample5.jpg

[Ian MacMillan]

I missed these too. I balked on them when they could of easily been a plausable car to run on my layout.

[jerwayne]

I just sent a request for help on the BLMA site. There needs to be a "how-to"on the hitches. It is not intuitive -- the building of the hitches and the sheet that comes with the cars is not much help. The pictures posted above are helpful, but...

Jerry

[djsmeltzer]

I really have to agree on the hitches.  They are fragile and even though there are only three pieces, some illustration would have been helpful.  If they are supposed to be held to the car with a pressure fit, that doesn't work for me.  The back side of the hitch fits it's pins into the holes just fine, but the front piece only wants to bend when I try out put it into the holes in the front.  I don't know if there is a buildup of paint that needs to be scrapped away from the molded in feet or what.  I had to do that with some of the holes for the pivots on the cars themselves.  The instructions seems to suggest a pressure fit for the hitches on the cars, but certainly doesn't work for me.

The cars are otherwise gorgeous.  I had some of the brake detail left in the tray when I took the C unit out, but a little CA fixed that problem. I only pre-ordered one, may have to try and grab another from the LHS very soon.

[GaryHinshaw]

I haven't seen these in person yet, but it sounds like they will be a good candidate for MLE hitches, which are very sturdy and retractable (but not simple to assemble).  Does anyone have a shot of a spine without the hitch installed?

-gfh

[Craig Martyn]

Hi Guys.  Thanks for the kind words on the cars.  Regarding the hitches...

Our original plan was to have the hitches pre-assembled at the factory, in which case you would be able to simply press-fit them into place.  Because that didn't happen, each hitch requires a little gluing.  Ultimately, the hitches are three simple parts - slanted brace, vertical support and 5th wheel.  Please see the following photo until we can deliver step-by-step instructions:

[jnevis]

I found a set of the 5-car in Timonium and WOW!  I should have grabbed 2 but the "budget" only allowed for one if I was going to get enough DI trailers to fill it, and a couple Kato Amfleets. 
Can't get pics as now  must pay them off to the other half, LOTS of housework in store for today>