HO Scale X-3 UTLX Tank Cars from Rapido Trains
The HO Scale Union X-3 10,000 tank cars from Rapido Trains have arrived and we have had a chance to check them out on the shop layout. For somewhat plain black tank cars their is plenty to look at between the over half a dozen schemes in this release, our favorites are the Atlantic Refining version from the 1920's and the Eastman Chemical scheme from the 1950's. These cars hauled many commodities including fuel oil, vegetable oil, gasoline, and many types of chemicals. The models are highly detailed and feature the correct brake appliances depending on the era of the car.
This 1934 Cadillac awaits as a manifest freight rolls by with some of the X-3's built in the 1920's and 1930 in the consist.
In this early 1950's era scene some of the later schemes in this release can be seen. These cars were known to survive all the way into the 1970s.
The coupler height looks good using our Kadee gauge.
This run of cars seem to have much better rolling trucks than some of the recent Rapido releases. The weight on them comes in at 2.6oz which is almost a full oz under the recommended 3.5 on a 5" car per NMRA standards, but the car still tracks very well.
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