I have also been waiting for more than a year now for the 53' Maxi IV 3-Unit Well Cars to come out. I e-mailed them about 3/4 year ago and got a response that they where having problems with the wheel sets. BLMA: This is one of a very few companies that I would pre-order from without seeing a picture of the completed product. With their past products you know that they are doing their home-work.:thumbs_up:
Good stuff. The most inportant thing is that we are going from kits to RTR models for one of the most wanted cars in N-scale. I pre-order all four BLMA cars as soon as I saw it, and I already have the TTX and FEC 3 plattform spine for what seems for ever.
As might be expected, I am very pleased and excited by this announcement, I am a well known intermodal "junkie" and big fan of NSK, Deluxe, and to a lesser extent- Kato (had some issues with broken tabs on the maxi IV connectors and was not pleased to learn they did the same road number on 6 CN 53' cans but otherwise, very good stuff!). Its GREAT to have a manufacturer of BLMA's quality enter the intermodal field, there are so many different varients of intermodal cas that could be made and are regularly seen on intermodal trains that there is plenty of product to go around, consider for example that so many different previous cars are being extended or shortened! So, add BLMA to my list- big train smiley! Thanks Craig-- and by the way, have you seen the articulated 3-unit all-purpose gunderson 40' well cars?:tb-embarrassed: have a good one, my order went in, Jan
Do you mean this set Jan? http://www.railcarphotos.com/PhotoDetails.php?PhotoID=37862 If so, I heartily agree. (I saw a bunch of these on Cajon last month.) So are we!
So Gary, did you determine the NSK 53' Spine to be closest to the Trinity car? I had been sticking to their 48' sets until I broke down recently and got a 53' set. Figure I should try and get it built before the BLMA ones are released and I wondering if I can make it look different - maybe an earlier class or one of the NSC built cars???? Time to look at some more photos I think....
Now if we could get DI to put those new BLMA trucks with metal wheels on there spines cars I would be set. If there is car screaming for proto looking wheels this are it.
James - The N Scale Kits model is definitely a RAF53 prototype. I wasn't familiar with the National Steel prototypes, but I looked at some photos (with the help of your list) and the brake detail (and some other stuff) is different. I numbered mine 553042 (probably built in 1993 according to your source): P.S.: Johnstown = JAF NSC = NAF Trinity = RAF (not TAF?)
Post By James Costello It's not a rant.#1 I was replying to a statement.#2 You could tell that be the other post.#3 What part of my post/statement was wrong.I'm not ranting against DI I'm just sadly being correct.#4 I'll buy from all but I'm not going to look the other way at the facts.#5 The facts are in my statement that you have so nicely replyed about. #6 It's not my problem if you don't like to read or here the correct statements.#7 I don't care who it's about but I'm not going to look the other way.#8 Honestly I'll still buy from DI no matter what is said.
Guys: There is a disappointment that DI has not come out with cars that were announced quite some time ago. When they do arrive, will people buy them? You bet they will. Does DI make good stuff? They sure do. Will this discussion be a distant memory when they start delivering? I would say it will. I'm sure DI wants them out just as much as we do. If DI had no track record and announced projects that never happened, they would be crucified (like another manufacture was). A little more patience will be rewarded.
Gary is right - the cars are the Trinity built RAF53 5-car set. It could be altered to the NSC car, with quite a bit of filing and other work but I have not documented this. Peter Peter Harris N Scale Kits N Scale Kits
