Summer 2015 BLMA Guessing Game

[unittrain]

Too modern for me.

[sirenwerks]

If BLMA wants to do another tank how about a N scale version of the 8k welded General American car Tangent has released in HO? Or something early 60s era but a larger capacity insulated tank?

[Cajonpassfan]

Way way too modern for me also..
Come on Craig, spread the joy around a bit?
Otto K.

[GaryHinshaw]

Given that the trucks are 100-ton, and have wheelbase of 5'9", I'm going to estimate that the car is a 50-footer.  This means a pretty high-density load, so probably not a box car and definitely not intermodal.  More likely a hopper or tanker (or coil car  ).  Since the last car announced was a modern tanker, another one seems unlikely so I'll go with a coal hopper or rock gon.  In any case, I'm almost certainly going to want some!

Way way too modern for me also..
Come on Craig, spread the joy around a bit?
Otto K.

Otto, I agree that pre-1950 modelers are out of luck, but the BLMA catalog is pretty well spread out over post-1950:
 
ACF 70-ton gon, 1948
GSC 60' flat car, 1956
GA Dri-Flo hopper, 1959
PS-4000 covered hopper, 1962
F89-J flat car, 1966
Bx-166 62' box car, 1974
NS Top-Gon, 1991
Trinity 53' spine car, ~1995
Trinity 64' reefer, 2003
Trinity 31K tanker, 2012

Caveats - I may be forgetting some cars, and the dates were taken from the BLMA site.

[ljudice]

Given that the trucks are 100-ton, and have wheelbase of 5'9", I'm going to estimate that the car is a 50-footer.  This means a pretty high-density load, so probably not a box car and definitely not intermodal.  More likely a hopper or tanker (or coil car  ).  Since the last car announced was a modern tanker, another one seems unlikely so I'll go with a coal hopper or rock gon.  In any case, I'm almost certainly going to want some!

You nailed it Gary -  a little image analysis and measurement, canceling out the perspective shows the car length to be about 52-53 feet.

My guess is still some sort of mill gondola.  What other modern one is there besides the Thrall from Atlas and ER?

- Lou

[High Hood]

Pleeeeease be the Freightcar America Triple Hopper!

[jagged ben]

Close coupling means no cushion coupler and probably not a boxcar or reefer.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

I like this one. You perfer the guess when the IM SD40-2 will actually arrive game instead? 

Or guessing how many pages of me bitching about it there will be?

[Denver Road Doug]

After reading Gary's comments, recalling Robbman's talk of having one "on the table" some time back, and taking another look at the photo, I believe I know EXACTLY what the car is...

...

...

...

A Freightcar America Autoflood III.
http://www.freightcaramerica.com/aluminum-autofloodiii-hopper-car.htm

Meets all the criteria, and if you squint I *think* you can see the bottom of the gates along the bottom of the blank.

[High Hood]

Well at least I got FCA.  Still hoping for the Triple Hopper!

[ljudice]

You got it Doug!

[Smike]

Man, the Autoflood III is sooo close looking to the RD-4 made by FVM already, I can't see much of a difference or market.

Now if its the Trinity RDL, now were talking:

[Denver Road Doug]

Man, the Autoflood III is sooo close looking to the RD-4 made by FVM already, I can't see much of a difference or market.

I believe that's one of the main reasons that Robbman/BLMA was wavering.   But, it doesn't appear that FVM is venturing outside of the comfort zone that is the Walthers list of roadnames, so there are some opportunities.  And large fleets by BNSF and (I think) UP/CMO.    So that alone is probably worthy of tooling.   Especially considering that multiple road numbers are desirable...even in N but especially in HO. (plus the differences are more apparent in HO, as prototype features go.)

It's a good choice that fits between the FVM RD-4 and the Exactrail Autoflood II should they ever decide to do one in N.   I personally think it will be a successful model.   If indeed that is what we are getting of course.

[sirenwerks]

Man, the Autoflood III is sooo close looking to the RD-4 made by FVM already, I can't see much of a difference or market.

I don't have a rooster in this fight since this car fits in the time of origami looking diesel cabs, but I looked at the RD4 and Autoflood III and, um, there are three obvious spotting differences I could see with my bifocals off - the rib count (RD4 - 11, AF3 - 13); the horizontal rivet strip down the RD4's side, and the control mechanism running between the bay doors on the RD4.

Smike, been to the optometrist lately?

[Smike]

Smike, been to the optometrist lately?

   Might need too.

You have to admit (and I'm generally a stickler for proto details, I touture myself to build wide handrails on all my CSX and NS GE units  ) that minus 2 rails, one of the end ladders being outward (instead of car to car facing) hard to tell when you see 40 stringed together in a unit train.

But hey more varaity in road names? Thats a great thing for sure.