BLMA recently visited the huge La Mesa Model Railroad Club in Balboa Park, San Diego, California. In this video you'll see 40 BLMA TopGon Coal Cars and a BLMA 64' Modern Reefer sample traverse this Tehachapi, California, based layout. This club is located in one of the best and largest model railroad museums in North America, if you have never been there, it is worth a visit. You can get more info on the museum here

We have some more shots of the production sample test cars below. They look great! Click on any of the pictures below for a full resolution version.

Looking at the test sample car pictured at right, the attention to detail, craftsmanship and number of separately applied detail parts clearly show this is going to be a sensational piece of rolling stock.
	In the picture to the left, both the N Scale & HO Scale test samples are shown. Note the high level of detail on the end platforms and the reefer units. Even on the N Scale version, excellent detail is obvious.
At right, while the brake wheel end of a reefer car is not going to be the main point of interest, BLMA has still done a great job of detailing here and numerous separately applied detail parts are evident. Note the fine detail in the brake wheel. The coupler cut bar and end ladders look great too.
	At left, a closer look at the door area of the car indicates more intricately detailed features. Note the highly detailed door and prototypical appearance of the door tracks. Some of the fine under-body detail is also visible in this view.
At right, a closer look at the end platforms of both the HO Scale & N Scale test samples reveal a highly prototypically accurate model with many separately applied and intricately detailed parts. Note the bolt detail on the ladders and grab irons.
	At left, a different angle of view of the end platforms shows BLMA's incredible attention to detail. Looking closely, there are  prototypical gaps along the sides of the reefer units. The number of separately applied details parts on the end platforms alone is simply incredible.
At right, from this vantage point, the shadows cast by the details on the test samples clearly illustrate the high level of detail. Note the highly detailed tread plate on the end platforms and the door and door track. Looking closely, each roof panel can be seen, and each reinforcing rib is present as well.
	At left, the reefer unit on the HO Scale sample car is shown from a nearly head on view. Note the fine detail present including conduit detail and louver work. The access panels on the reefer are also visible. Note also the bolt detail on the end platform and the railings.

BLMA is on track to release this car in the second quarter, as originally projected. Orders for this car have been extremly heavy, but there are a few left available for reservation. We have also heard whispers of a new run of the very popular BLMA Norfolk Southern TopGon Coal Gondola for later this year. We will post more information about that release as soon as we have it. PORTERS Members, watch your reservation sheet.