Exactrail - BLMA Covered Hoppers

Flash Blackman Mar 25, 2010

  1. Flash Blackman

    Flash Blackman TrainBoard Member

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    I would say these are identical hopper car bodies.

    [edit on 26Mar2010] False premise. These cars are not the same at all. Check the discussion below.

    Exactrail:
    [​IMG]

    BLMA:
    [​IMG]

    They are both some of the finest detail N scale hoppers on the market today.

    Maybe everyone knew this, but I didn't. Next, check out the couplers.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Mar 26, 2010
  2. N&W

    N&W TrainBoard Member

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    my 2 cents:
    [​IMG]
    ER on left, BLMA on the right.

    I wish the photo was better, the pic does not do these justice.

    Overall, the tooling on both cars is very comparable (and very good!). The underbody detail seems more complete on the BLMA car, but I honestly hope not to see the bottoms of my cars on my layout. On the BLMA car, the brake hardware coming down from the brake wheel actually goes somewhere. ;)

    The lettering on the CB&Q car is crisp - it looks good to me, but I don't model CB&Q. The herald plate is cool. My Grade on lettering: A+
    The lettering on the N&W is a bit off, the "N" in "N&W" in particular is too skinny - at least it looks like it's the correct 24" tall. Overall the lettering is very crisp, but one of the "hamburgers" was a little "droopy". My Grade on lettering: B Also, a few squares on the etched roof walk of the ER car were filled with paint (both roofwalks are etched and very similar)

    Couplers ... here I think the BLMA wins hands down. The body mounted MT couples much closer than the (truck mounted) Mchenry on the ER car. You can see how the truck mounted coupler pocket sticks out on the ER car. The ER car has metal wheels on it's trucks, but here these are outclassed by the amazing trucks and wheels on the BLMA car. Interestingly, the ER trucks are mounted with screws like an Athearn car.

    The packaging for the ER car looks just like pre-jewel case Athearn - cardboard boxes with exact same style inserts. The BLMA car comes in a typical for N scale "jewel" case.

    I think both cars are very good to excellent, with the nod going to the BLMA car. Keep in mind I paid about $5 more for the BLMA car (street) so maybe here's a case where you get more for paying more. ;)

    The BLMA car will go into service with no mods on my layout, except for some light weathering. On the ER car, I'm gonna have to do something about the truck/coupler problem - they stick out too far. I may have to get new trucks or maybe just body mount some MTs on it. Light weathering will apply here as well. The lettering is "close enough" for me - so I don't plan to mod the lettering.

    Mark
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Mar 26, 2010
  3. SteamDonkey74

    SteamDonkey74 TrainBoard Supporter

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    I didn't get off my duff fast enough to get some of the Milwaukee ER cars, but I have a couple BLMA hoppers and I am very pleased with them.

    This last couple years has seen the entry of some very good new freight car manufacturers in N scale. I like the trend.

    :thumbs_up::thumbs_up::thumbs_up::thumbs_up:
     
  4. Flash Blackman

    Flash Blackman TrainBoard Member

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    Exactrail - BLMA Covered Hopper Couplers

    Here is the BLMA car on the left and the Exactrail car on the right:
    [​IMG]

    BLMA with body mounted MT couplers and FVM steel wheels:
    [​IMG]

    Exactrail with Athearn McHenry couplers and some type of very nice steel wheels.
    [​IMG]

    The appearance of the cars and the couple/uncouple of the couplers with my pick system is just fine. Both cars roll like bear grease on ice. They are really slick and you need to leave them on a flat spot or they will be gone. Perhaps Kato covered hoppers roll a little better.

    Notice the wheels treads. (This is being discussed in another thread right now.) I can tell the FVM tread is more narrow.

    The McHenry has a longer coupler shank than the MT coupler and this operates just fine for pulling cars. I put these two cars in a string of 45 and backed them around my 22 inch radius yard lead. The longer McHenry coupler shank derailed because, I believe, the larger amount of left-right horizontal coupler swing allowed by the coupler box. The body mounted MT couplers did not derail. I believe this was not because of the coupler but because of the body mount position.

    I have done this before with normal MT low profile wheels in MT trucks and I could not keep them on the track. The result of this is that I use pizza cutter MT wheels in my cars.

    So I conclude that body mounting helps a lot when backing up a lot of freight cars. Hopefully N scale will eventually get to the H0 scale position on this. Thanks to BLMA for one of the first cars with this standard body mount type.

    BTW, there is a position on the Exactrail car to body mount the coupler. It could be added if you wish.
     
  5. N&W

    N&W TrainBoard Member

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    Flash, the BLMA cars come with BLMA trucks and wheels - did you swap FVM wheels to it?

    Mark
     
  6. Flash Blackman

    Flash Blackman TrainBoard Member

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    I just went back to check. The end detail on the BLMA is better with more etched brass parts and brake line detail. But when the cars are turned upside down, the BLMA car has no brake line detail. The Exactrail car has a fine brass wire simulating the piping along the center of the car.

    Also some of the molded end detail is not the same. Maybe these are not the same bodies. A lot of the brass etching additions do seem alike. Roof hatches and roofwalk look alike.

    Still both excellent cars.
     
  7. skipgear

    skipgear TrainBoard Member

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    Those two pictures show the differences in the tooling.

    The obvious differences:
    The stirrups are different.
    The grabs on the ladder protrude on the BLMA and are flush on the ER cars.
    The lower corner brace is a different angle on the two cars.

    That said, I believe they are both supposed to represent the same car, now which one is more correct?
     
  8. MRL

    MRL TrainBoard Member

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    The BLMA cars seem better because of the trucks and body mount couplers...
    The ER seems better because the grabs aren't as thick looking. But if one prefered he could body mound and add BLMA trucks. I wish there was a way to get free standing grabs on cars say on the corner ladders...
     
  9. Robbman

    Robbman TrainBoard Member

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    It's the slack adjuster, not the brake piping. It's on the BLMA car... just molded to the bottom of the center sill, as per P-S drawings it only sits about 2" below the center sill.
     
  10. Greenlightintermodal

    Greenlightintermodal TrainBoard Member

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    These are some beautiful looking models, IMHO. BOTH brands are an asset to N scale, and I think that they will both do well in the marketplace. We have had both of them together at train shows and modelers comments on both of them are very positive. Hopefully we will see more (but different) schemes and variations of schemes from the two manufacturers. I think that They're a new Generation of N Scale freight cars !

    Steve
     
  11. N&W

    N&W TrainBoard Member

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    I guess it needs repeating - the BLMA car does NOT come with FVM steel wheels. They are BLMA's own.

    BLMA Models - N Scale Rolling Stock

    Mark
     
  12. tin1197

    tin1197 TrainBoard Member

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    I got my 3 SP yesterday and I am very happy with them, I am play very close to every single details, painting, I must say they are the best and perfect car we ever have in N scale. BLMA and ER are doing really good and amazing job in every way, from now on they are the first choice to collect for my rolling stock collection.

    Hien.
     
  13. Westfalen

    Westfalen TrainBoard Member

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    My six arrived a couple of days ago, they look even better in the flesh. It's taken 40 odd years, but N scale has finally come of age.:thumbs_up:

    I know it's not up BMLA's alley but I'd love to see them do some steam era stuff.
     
  14. Craig Martyn

    Craig Martyn TrainBoard Member

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    Thanks for the support everyone!

    Who said we aren't looking at transition era products? :) Stay tuned...
     
  15. SteamDonkey74

    SteamDonkey74 TrainBoard Supporter

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    Kids, you didn't REALLY want to college anyway, did you?
     
  16. Nick Lorusso

    Nick Lorusso TrainBoard Member

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    Can't wait Craig.:tb-biggrin: Give us a good 2-bay covered hopper for cement.
     
  17. Westfalen

    Westfalen TrainBoard Member

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    Staying tuned.:tb-biggrin:
    Looks like I might have to work a bit of overtime to fatten up the credit card.
     

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