Good evening...I am looking at the Bluford Shops 70 Ton coal hoppers for BN and the pictures I have seen are nice. Does anyone have any of these and if so, can I get some opinions on them regarding details, paint, printing, couplers, wheels, weight, coal loads, etc? Thanks in advance for your help.
Craig at Bluford does very nice work, and while I haven't see the 70 ton hoppers yet, I have seven on order the MP Eagle scheme. Otto
I believe this will be the most detailed 70T hopper available... not to mention most prototypically correct for several railroads. Here's a description I found... Diecast slope sheet-hopper bay-center sill assembly; Injection molded plastic sides, ends, and hopper doors; Fully molded brake tank, valve and air lines; Slope sheet braces; Separately molded vertical brake rod and lever assembly (a first on an N scale open hopper!); Body mounted brake hose detail; Coal load; Body mounted magnetically operating couplers; Close coupling; Friction bearing or roller bearing trucks as appropriate for each road name. The BN and NYC were released already... they were the first batch. The next batch is coming soon. I have the Athearn 70T hoppers; which are okay, reasonably priced (~$9.50/car)... but... they will look vastly inferior to the Blueford models which will only be about $4.00 more per car. From afar, you can't really see much difference between a 11 panel and a 14 panel car... but.. the close-up photos now-a-days will catch every incorrect or missing detail. I'm heavily invested in D&RGW 70T cars from Athearn and the former MDC/Roundhouse (about 40 cars). Very tempted to get Bluefords... but 20 cars is over $250.00 :we-eek: [OUCH !!!]
I have both body styles, the 14-panel rib side hopper and the 3-bay offset side hopper, and I think they are very good models that go well together with the new Atlas 2-bay offset side hoppers. They have about the same level of detailing and good printing. Special for the Bluford hoppers are body mounted Accumate couplers, the trucks seem to be the same as Atlas trucks except for the couplers. A little extra are separate brake hoses. I have not put the cars on a scale, but the Bluford and the Atlas hoppers (2-bay!!) felt similar. The coal loads do not always fit tightly which might be due to a light construction. I am sure that Hay Bros. and others will offer loads for these cars, or already do. I have some cars right now, and more on backorder, and I am very happy with them. :thumbs_up:
Can someone post a photo of one of these cars showing the body mounting of the coupler? I would like to see how easy it would be to substitute a McHenry.
McHenry or MTL couplers are drop in replacements for the Accumates. Just remove the screws fore and aft of each body bolster and lift off the draft gear box lid. Put in your favorite coupler, then screw the lids back on. Done. Some detail shots of the cars in general can be found on this page: http://www.bluford-shops.com/bluford_1025_002.htm Also the second batch of hoppers began arriving at dealers a few days ago. Pics of them can be found toward the bottom of the home page: http://www.bluford-shops.com/index.html Craig Bluford Shops LLC
Craig, the release that's shipping now; is that the D&RGW cars? I reserved them ages ago--never knew if they arrived yet--apparently not.
Yes. It was Rio Grande, Chessie, and Western Railway of Alabama on the 14 Panel design, and Central of Georgia, Chicago & North Western, New York Central, and Canadian Pacific on the offset side design that just shipped. Everything shipped from here (Bluford) 8 days ago so you should have them soon. Craig Bluford Shops LLC.
Just got mine My 10-pack of D&RGW 70-ton hoppers just arrived, and I'm thrilled with the quality of these highly detailed models. I like the coal loads, too. Unlike the usual loads provided by manufacturers, these have some sparkle to them and an asymmetric profile. Unlike most of the other hoppers I've purchased (including Trainworx's), I see no need to shell out additional $$$ for prototypical-looking loads. Just ordered another 10. -b9
A quick addendum. Those thinking of swapping out the Accumate couplers should do some testing first. I've been running my 10 70 tonners up and down a 2% grade with 30 MTL 40 and 50' boxcars coupled behind them, with none of the uncoupling or "exploding" phenomena I've come to expect from Accumates in the past. Your mileage may vary! b9
Yeah, the body mounting combined with the screw-shut draftgear box makes all the difference. Craig www.bluford-shops.com
A good solution. For those with Accumates of old, you can simply heat seal the coupler box yourself. It's good to see great product coming onto the market, congrats Craig. (What is it with all the Craig's doing phat stuff in N scale right now? A conspiracy of Craigs?)
Gota Date? Hey Craig, They look really nice. I've got a batch of the MoPac ones on order with my LTS. I said; "Oh, order me six". He said; "I'll order them all... you'll want them." -- what a pusher. Anyway, do you have a date on the next batch? I don't have a industry for them to stop at, but I really look forward to seeing them chase their tail around my layout. Dan (Man, it must be nice... and a pain. You just get one batch out and guys are already bugging you about the next.)
This group: http://www.bluford-shops.com/bluford_1025_007.htm is due in late November. And the parade goes on... Craig www.bluford-shops.com
