BLMA Tank Cars

Trashman Apr 7, 2016

  1. Trashman

    Trashman TrainBoard Member

    57
    8
    15
    group

    Has anyone had the opportunity to test out the new offerings from BLMA. I know Atlas is or has acquired BLMA. What are your thoughts of their tank car? We all know BLMA makes a great good looking product but when it comes to the rails there is something to be said. With the help of Atlas I hope that will improve.

    Art
     
  2. Eugen Haenseler

    Eugen Haenseler TrainBoard Member

    549
    1,664
    44
    Yes I got my BLMA Tank cars. They are great!!!
    I tested the cars on my Layout, they run perfect. No wobbling, no derailments.
    I also have some other BLMA cars, the needed just a little “ swiss-finish” so they also run perfect.

    I am glad to have such nice cars in my selection!

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG][​IMG]
     
    fordy744 likes this.
  3. GP9

    GP9 New Member

    2
    0
    12
    Hi Eugen
    Sorry to derail this tread Art but Eugens Railroad looks FANTASTIC the New BLMA Tank Cars look great, Eugen do you have Videos of your Railroad? The Tank cars might be a bit too recent to fit my modeling era 1980's to 1990's.
    Cheers
    Rio Grande Steve
    Wellington NZ
     
  4. jhn_plsn

    jhn_plsn TrainBoard Supporter

    2,642
    2,793
    73
    Thanks for the tank car report Eugene, and I agree with GP9. Layout looks great.

    Off topic: What is your "swiss-finish"?
     
  5. Eugen Haenseler

    Eugen Haenseler TrainBoard Member

    549
    1,664
    44
    Hi Steve

    Yes there are some Videos on YouTube.
    The old Part of Los Angeles I did with an old Canon Camera and my Friend Stefan Wagner placed the original sound in the back and posted it on You Tube.



    The second one it’s from a visitor when I showed a part of the Layout on a Exhibition in Holland.



    The new Layout Diesel Facility I just did it with my mobile phone.

     
    subwayaz likes this.
  6. Eugen Haenseler

    Eugen Haenseler TrainBoard Member

    549
    1,664
    44
    Hi Jhn

    When I first got my badge of Trinity 64‘ Reefer’s and also the Beer Cars I got some problems with derailing on the Layout.

    The “ Swiss Finish” it’s to open the center whole on the trucks with a taper reamer.
    The center pin was to tide so the truck had no play.

    I think when you open the whole with a drill that works also.
     
    SD35 likes this.
  7. jhn_plsn

    jhn_plsn TrainBoard Supporter

    2,642
    2,793
    73
    Thanks for sharing your solution.
     
  8. DaveD

    DaveD TrainBoard Member

    454
    13
    22
    Is that a background shot of Mojave Airport? That's pretty cool.
     
  9. steveparkinson

    steveparkinson TrainBoard Member

    167
    272
    13
    Ditto, awesome background!
     
  10. Eugen Haenseler

    Eugen Haenseler TrainBoard Member

    549
    1,664
    44
    Yes Dave that’s Mojave Airport.

    I took the photos on a Rail fan trip to California.
    I stopped at the Motel 6 closed to the Airport.
     
  11. DaveD

    DaveD TrainBoard Member

    454
    13
    22
    Nice. They were using that spot right there on the airport to unload wind turbines, a couple years back... which were being erected up north and west of the town.
     
  12. Trashman

    Trashman TrainBoard Member

    57
    8
    15
    Guys

    I'm back again and this time I have some information on the BLMA Tank cars well I can only speak of three. The run very well right out of the box you can see the details that make BLMA great at what they do. Visually stunning but I already said that.

    Down to performance: The cars handle well. There were a few derailments but i will not put that on BLMA not he derailments were causesd from track work. The co
     
  13. Trashman

    Trashman TrainBoard Member

    57
    8
    15
    image.jpeg image.jpeg image.jpeg Guys

    Sorry was posted prematurely I'm back again and this time I have some information on the BLMA Tank cars well I can only speak of three.

    Looks: Visually you can see the details that make BLMA great at what they do. Visually stunning but I already said that.

    Down to performance: They run very well right out of the box. There were a few derailments but i will not put that on BLMA. The derailments were causesd from track work and not the cars. The coupler height was correct using the MicroTrains coupler height gauge. All metal wheels resulted in smooth and free rolling. This is a step in a very good direction as we can now have up to date tank car rolling stock on our layout.

    Please not this is by far a full and detailed review just one modelers thought. So no weight and measurements.

    Peace be with you,

    Art
     
    fordy744 and JoeTodd like this.
  14. OC Engineer JD

    OC Engineer JD Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

    12,782
    1,109
    152
    I have 30 of these outstanding cars and they are great running and great looking cars!
     
    Jim Reising likes this.
  15. Jim Reising

    Jim Reising In Memoriam

    1,598
    758
    45
    I have the 24 black - they are so good I hope Atlas has a second run already planned. I have had the least problems with this release of any BLMA product before. Don't get me wrong, I have a whole bunch of BLMA cars and love them all. But you need to tweak them out to ensure they will run on your layout. I have a routine that ANY new car goes through - truck looseness, do wheels roll freely and so on - and these required less than any previous BLMA release. Craig went out on a high note!
     
  16. DCESharkman

    DCESharkman TrainBoard Member

    4,396
    3,025
    87
    Never got mine, I am so depressed after seeing these photos.......

    Eureka! I found them from another source, I have 2 dozen on the way now!
     
    Last edited: May 19, 2016
    Jim Reising likes this.
  17. DCESharkman

    DCESharkman TrainBoard Member

    4,396
    3,025
    87
    Well mine came in yesterday, and all I can say is WOW! These are about the best looking tank cars I have ever seen.

    I just wonder what the next release of these cars will be like when Atlas tries to run them. Glad I got these instead of waiting for the Atlas versions.
     
  18. glennac

    glennac TrainBoard Member

    717
    159
    20
    Wait for it...Wait for it...Any moment now we'll hear: "They're TOO detailed!" "They're TOO expensive!" :cautious::confused:o_O:eek:
     
  19. Philip H

    Philip H TrainBoard Member

    1,007
    2,938
    54
    Ironically there's another thread where some folks are arguing exactly that. :mad::oops::notworthy::cautious::barefoot:
     
  20. mtntrainman

    mtntrainman TrainBoard Supporter

    9,982
    10,816
    143
    "They're TOO detailed!" "They're TOO expensive!" :p
     

Share This Page