Manufacturer
BLMA Models
302 District Ct.
Fullerton, CA 92832
www.blmamodels.com
Era: 2006 – present
Comments: A TrinityRail 64-foot mechanical refrigerator car decorated for The CIT Group (CEFX reporting marks) is the latest offering from BLMA Models. The ready-to-run model is based on a group of 30 cars (992114-992143) owned by the railcar leasing and financing company.
Though this car is similar to the Union Pacific car I reviewed in the November 2012 issue of Model Railroader, it’s not just new paint on existing tooling. The CEFX car, offered in 24 road numbers, has prototype-specific ASD plug doors and a Thermo King refrigerator unit (the UP car uses a Carrier unit).
The rest of the body, underframe, and A end platform details follow the construction used on the UP car. The white paint is smooth and evenly applied, and all of the printing is crisp. The car’s load limit and light weight didn’t match the data shown on a prototype photo of car 992129 that I found on www.rrpicturearchives.net, but that’s an easy fix with decals.
For the most part, the car’s dimensions follow prototype drawings found on the TrinityRail website. The distance between the truck centers is a scale 45′-9″. On the full-size car, it’s 46′-3″.
The metal wheels, mounted on plastic axles, are correctly gauged. The body-mounted metal knuckle couplers are at the correct height. At 5.9 ounces, the car is .15 ounce too heavy based on National Model Railroad Association Recommended Practice 20.1.
Unlike the UP reefers, which typically travel in unit trains, the CEFX cars can be seen individually or in small groups on railroads throughout the country. This contemporary car would look right at home in a modern manifest freight.
