Unboxing Tangent's BLE Hopper
Feb 2, 2024 12:44:58 GMT -8
The Ferro Kid, Colin 't Hart, and 9 more like this
Post by Christian on Feb 2, 2024 12:44:58 GMT -8
I have found that you have to make a quick decision when you receive a Tangent email. This is the first coal hopper I’ve bought in sixty-some years. Raw Cor-Ten construction plus painted panels caught my attention and I took a look on Tangent’s website. The prototype photograph sold me. The cars took coal to Ohio and brought home iron ore. In addition to coal grunge and rust these cars also weathered with iron dust and colorful rust.
Photograph one – prototype photo from Tangent’s site.
I picked a number at random, added some odds and ends, paid, and waited. Yesterday a nice plump box arrived.
Photograph two – the box.
I cut the tape, opened the flaps, and found this piece of white cardboard.
Photograph three – flaps open.
Under the cardboard was plenty of packing material surrounding my purchases.
Photograph four – contents of the box.
Part of the packing was a couple of pages from the Asheville newspaper. I always enjoy reading newspaper packing. I don’t think I’ll do this crossword – it’s really big. I get frustrated too easily.
Photograph five – newspaper.
Here’s the pile of packing materials. I wish Tangent would use more recyclable materials, but I’m not so sure I would want to pay the price increase. The amount of material was not at all excessive – well chosen and well wrapped/taped.
Photograph six – packing materials.
Here are the goodies. Front: invoice and advertising card. Middle: pigeons, Tangent sticker, code 88 wheelsets for this car, and 125-ton trucks. In the back is the car in its box.
Photograph seven – goodies.
Photograph eight – box end.
Photograph nine – back of the box.
Here it is in the usual Tangent clam shell. Note the spare bearing caps.
Photograph ten – clam-shell.
Ready to be pulled out of its packaging womb. I like this car already. I might put it under my pillow tonight.
Photograph eleven – the prize.
Here’s a common enough Kadee problem: coupler droop. In this case enough to snag on switches. Both ends. Not shown, but a 0.010: bit of styrene inside the coupler box fixed it for now. When I have it upside down for a wheel change I’ll do something better and more precise with shims and truck washers.
Photograph twelve – droop.
I found no other problems. None. Here’s a tight shot of why Tangent gets the big bucks. Note that the wheels come beyond the ends a bit. The tires are clearly seen in this location and for me detract from the end view. The wheels are a known choice by Tangent and the reasoning is perfectly clear. Thus the package of code 88 wheelsets I included in my order.
Photograph thirteen – brake system detail.
Close-up of the trucks and wheels. Note the printing and casting marks. Tangent trucks are great and fairly priced.
Photograph fourteen – truck side frame.
Here is a shot of the inside. Without the coal load, the car is plenty heavy. I’ll run it empty. The coal load is fine as shown in other photos. Some dull, dark gray pigment would make the coal lumps pop even better. The load’s fit at the ends is not as good as the sides. But it would not bother me at all if I chose to run the car with a load. It isn’t an easy on-off for the load for those of you who model loads in and empties out.
Photograph fifteen – inside.
Here’s a beauty shot from the side that shows the side panel pressings. The brown Cor-Ten and the black painted panels show clearly. A lighter or more-orange brown wouldn't capture that Cor-Ten look. It’s a good paint choice by Tangent. It’s not quite where I want it since my experience with Cor-Ten is that it is blotchy right out of the mill and darkens with age. Cor-Ten also looks like metal – a fine crystal rust that glints. I’m pretty sure I can deal with it. I haven't gone looking, but the military paint companies have lots and lots of metallic materials. For now, the car looks great to my eyes.
Photograph sixteen – beauty shot.
Photograph seventeen – higher beauty shot with coal load.
Photograph one – prototype photo from Tangent’s site.
I picked a number at random, added some odds and ends, paid, and waited. Yesterday a nice plump box arrived.
Photograph two – the box.
I cut the tape, opened the flaps, and found this piece of white cardboard.
Photograph three – flaps open.
Under the cardboard was plenty of packing material surrounding my purchases.
Photograph four – contents of the box.
Part of the packing was a couple of pages from the Asheville newspaper. I always enjoy reading newspaper packing. I don’t think I’ll do this crossword – it’s really big. I get frustrated too easily.
Photograph five – newspaper.
Here’s the pile of packing materials. I wish Tangent would use more recyclable materials, but I’m not so sure I would want to pay the price increase. The amount of material was not at all excessive – well chosen and well wrapped/taped.
Photograph six – packing materials.
Here are the goodies. Front: invoice and advertising card. Middle: pigeons, Tangent sticker, code 88 wheelsets for this car, and 125-ton trucks. In the back is the car in its box.
Photograph seven – goodies.
Photograph eight – box end.
Photograph nine – back of the box.
Here it is in the usual Tangent clam shell. Note the spare bearing caps.
Photograph ten – clam-shell.
Ready to be pulled out of its packaging womb. I like this car already. I might put it under my pillow tonight.
Photograph eleven – the prize.
Here’s a common enough Kadee problem: coupler droop. In this case enough to snag on switches. Both ends. Not shown, but a 0.010: bit of styrene inside the coupler box fixed it for now. When I have it upside down for a wheel change I’ll do something better and more precise with shims and truck washers.
Photograph twelve – droop.
I found no other problems. None. Here’s a tight shot of why Tangent gets the big bucks. Note that the wheels come beyond the ends a bit. The tires are clearly seen in this location and for me detract from the end view. The wheels are a known choice by Tangent and the reasoning is perfectly clear. Thus the package of code 88 wheelsets I included in my order.
Photograph thirteen – brake system detail.
Close-up of the trucks and wheels. Note the printing and casting marks. Tangent trucks are great and fairly priced.
Photograph fourteen – truck side frame.
Here is a shot of the inside. Without the coal load, the car is plenty heavy. I’ll run it empty. The coal load is fine as shown in other photos. Some dull, dark gray pigment would make the coal lumps pop even better. The load’s fit at the ends is not as good as the sides. But it would not bother me at all if I chose to run the car with a load. It isn’t an easy on-off for the load for those of you who model loads in and empties out.
Photograph fifteen – inside.
Here’s a beauty shot from the side that shows the side panel pressings. The brown Cor-Ten and the black painted panels show clearly. A lighter or more-orange brown wouldn't capture that Cor-Ten look. It’s a good paint choice by Tangent. It’s not quite where I want it since my experience with Cor-Ten is that it is blotchy right out of the mill and darkens with age. Cor-Ten also looks like metal – a fine crystal rust that glints. I’m pretty sure I can deal with it. I haven't gone looking, but the military paint companies have lots and lots of metallic materials. For now, the car looks great to my eyes.
Photograph sixteen – beauty shot.
Photograph seventeen – higher beauty shot with coal load.
