Atlas General American RBL: A Thing That Exists

[thomasjmdavis]

I wonder if this is one of those contract factory things where the new contract factory for the car insists on making the whole thing- trucks and all.  I need a bunch of the BLMA friction bearing version of the
A-3, so I am hoping the ones on this car are not the future and that Atlas will see the wisdom of continuing BLMA products.

[nickelplate759]

George, do you know if the NKP used centered or offset doors? These have decidedly offset doors.

Offset




but I want it as delivered, not with the post-NKP consolidated stencil and wheel stencil (yellow dot), roofwalk removed, etc.

[reinhardtjh]

I wonder if this is one of those contract factory things where the new contract factory for the car insists on making the whole thing- trucks and all.  I need a bunch of the BLMA friction bearing version of the
A-3, so I am hoping the ones on this car are not the future and that Atlas will see the wisdom of continuing BLMA products.

The BLMA 100-t trucks are in the new catalog as "pre-order" so hopefully coming at some point.  The BLMA 70-t are listed as "In Stock".

http://download.atlasrr.com/0820MCPDF/AUG2020AMSCMSRPOnly.pdf page 37.

[peteski]

Correct. I don't know what's up with that. Clearly this model was designed for the BLMA ASF trucks. I kinda wonder if this was originally a BLMA project that was half done when Atlas acquired the brand a few years ago. Maybe some things were lost in translation?

King pins also appear to be unlike previous Atlas, Walthers or BLMA models.

Is it possible that the new Chinese subcontractor Atlas uses now already makes those trucks and kingpins for another project, so they are just utilizing a common part on Atlas models?  I seem to recall this type of parts sharing happening in the past.

Maybe the BLMA molds are missing?

EDIT:  I just read the last post. Never mind the missing BLMA molds part.

[thomasjmdavis]

The BLMA 100-t trucks are in the new catalog as "pre-order" so hopefully coming at some point.  The BLMA 70-t are listed as "In Stock".

http://download.atlasrr.com/0820MCPDF/AUG2020AMSCMSRPOnly.pdf page 37.

Well, I am confused....if they were doing ASF trucks anyway (and in both roller bearing-9025 and friction bearing-9045, I am left scratching my head as to why they would tool up what sounds like an inferior truck to put on the model.

[wcfn100]

It doesn't look like the axle will clear the coupler box if you lowered the height.  I have a Wabash on the way.  Looks like it's time for a new TCS adapter.


Jason

[bbussey]

The ESM 70-ton ASF Ride Control truck is comparable with the BLMA truck and are available year-round at your favorite dealer.

[bbussey]

Just the A end has the upside-down ladders, or both ends?

[MystrJBL]

The ESM 70-ton ASF Ride Control truck is comparable with the BLMA truck and are available year-round at your favorite dealer.

Its a shame they don't make 100ton.

[cjm413]

Correct. I don't know what's up with that. Clearly this model was designed for the BLMA ASF trucks. I kinda wonder if this was originally a BLMA project that was half done when Atlas acquired the brand a few years ago. Maybe some things were lost in translation?

King pins also appear to be unlike previous Atlas, Walthers or BLMA models.

The ride height and couplers I can fix, but that upside down ladder is glued in and won't budge. In fact the whole model is glued together.

I did find some flash on the trucks that was preventing them from rolling smoothly. Once removed the model does roll well now. Not that it matters because I have to replace the damn trucks to reduce ride height.

At the rate they've dropped the ball on this one, I bet they also brought back the old Walthers tradition of gluing the damn kingpins in place....

At the very least, they should be sending out replacements for the CR ones with the upside-down ladders.

[cjm413]

Its a shame they don't make 100ton.

You misspelled "have more Hydra-Cushion underframes available" 

If you need 100T trucks, Bowser is another option.

[nkalanaga]

The kingpins on mine are not glued in.

BLMA 70-ton trucks are available from N Scale Supply - listed in their catalog under BLMA.  I just received 10 pair each of the roller and friction bearing.  If you look under Atlas they're listed, but not in stock.  The ones I received were the new Atlas/BLMA packaging.

[Point353]

Just the A end has the upside-down ladders, or both ends?

Presumably not, given that the car has a high-mounted brakewheel and a tall ladder to reach it.

[Mark5]

It doesn't look like the axle will clear the coupler box if you lowered the height.  I have a Wabash on the way.  Looks like it's time for a new TCS adapter.
Jason

If true this is giving me 2nd thoughts about getting the Wabash one that I wanted ...

If lowered to correct height, I assume the draft gear (coupler box) will be rendered useless.

Waiting and watching ...

Mark

[Frank Amato]

There is so much to be said for crisply molded-on ladders in N.  A quick wash really pops the detail without compromising scale.

  Frank