The complete listing of Chinese prototype models is below. For model reviews, please scroll below the table or click here
The complete listing of Chinese prototype models is below. For model reviews, please scroll below the table or click here
The complete listing of Chinese prototype models is below. For model reviews, please scroll below the table or click here
The complete listing of Chinese prototype models is below. For model reviews, please scroll below the table or click here
CMR Line
XL25T
1:87 Scale
Rating
8/10
XL25T Class Baggage Car
Prototype Information
The XL25T is a high speed baggage car. The version CMR line have based theirs on were built new for a semi-privatised company called SSPE or Super Speed Parcel Express Co. Ltd. They are substantially different to the CNR standard XL25T's and SSPE had two types built, a mixed crew/baggage car with air conditioning and a non air-conditioned full baggage version. These cars usually travel in dedicated trains with only one mixed crew/baggage car, although occasionally they can be found travelling solo with regular passenger trains. Like all 25T baggage cars, they are rated for 160kph running.
General Information
CMR Line's only foray into the passenger car world so far has been the XL25T, a car built for high speed courier service by a private freight company. To date, only made the full baggage version has been made. The car is an injection molded one piece roof/body that screws into a floor. A metal weight is screwed into the floor. The dimensions of the car (not including couplers) are 304mm L x 37.5mm W (including handrails) x 50mm H. It weighs 170 grams.
Packaging
The model comes in a thin white cardboard box with a display window. The coach sits in a foldable clear plastic clam shell and is further protected by a thin plastic sheet.
Details
The details are fairly good on these cars. The mold lines are sharp and the overall appearance is excellent. CMR's XL25T features full glazing and separate metal handrails and door handles. The doors themselves are non-functional and there is no interior detail, although most of the car is obscured by the mostly plain steel walls. An omission I've noted are the complete lack of air vents on the roof. There were some cars which were like this, but the majority had at least some roof mounted ventilation, and it would have made the fairly bare design a little more interesting.
The bogies look OK, although they are prototypically fairly simple and the wheels feature highly detailed disc brakes. There is a high amount of under-carriage detail with air reservoirs, brake pipes, equipment boxes, etc. There are a total of eight step ladders and all form part of the main body shell. They are fairly thick, but the dark grey color helps slim them down a bit. All the same, care should be exercised while handling these.
The paint work is metallic silver with dark grey and dark blue lining. It features SSPE corporate logos as well as small China Rail markings on the ends. The lettering and lining is very sharp and the metallic 'grain' is not overly fine, but looks good all the same.
Performance
The cars are fairly well weighted and roll very well. The shock absorber mount occasionally strikes the bottom of the body shell, but I haven't experienced any derailments due to this. Wheels are metal and chemically darkened and the bogies are screwed to the floor.
Lighting
These cars were not offered with interior lighting. There is plenty of space inside to add some lighting and the bogies look fairly easy to add an electrical pick up system.
Disassembly
The car is very easy to disassemble, unlike most passenger cars. The floor is held on by four Philips head screws on the under frame and also by the corridors. The corridors are not glued in, but pressure fitted instead and the two bottom lugs prevent the ends of the car floor from hanging out. They can be simply pushed out to release the floor.
Couplers
The couplers have NEM 362 coupler boxes which pivot like most Chinese HO scale passenger cars. The couplers are not overly good quality and I have replaced mine with Fleischmann 6515 profi couplers, like my entire passenger fleet. I have also replaced two coaches with a single #19 Kadee coupler on two cars to connect to my locomotive fleet.
