Bev-Bel Quasi Reefer
Bev-Bel
Quasi Reefer...
Bev-Bel is a company that takes kits made by other companies
and decorates them in unique paint schemes. The only problem is that
Bev-Bel doesn't always do their homework. They have released some
great kits, but others are so far off base you should strip them and start
over. This next kit may be that sort of project for you.
Bev-Bel kits are expensive. I got this one for $8
and was robbed. I bought it very early on in my Chessie modeling
only to find out shortly afterwards that Chessie didn't have any all yellow
40 foot boxcars. So, what to do??? I decided to make it my
third quasi reefer to join my two Bachmanns.
I would show you a pic of a 40 foot all yellow Chessie
boxcar, but my chances of finding a picture of Bigfoot hugging Santa Claus
and the Easter Bunny are better. Below is a pic of the closest thing
around, and it is a 50 foot refrigerated boxcar.
Stripping this car and starting over is a good option.
However remember that only 3 40 foot boxcars ever recieved Chessie paint,
so you may want to paint it in a predecessor paint scheme. As for
what else is wrong with this kit... The markings are all wrong.
The Ches-C logo is way too far towards the middle of the car. The
C&O letters and road number are also too far towards the center of
the car. I didn't waste my time adding a consolidated stencil decal
since this car was so bad already. This car also has a regular type
door instead of a plug door needed to keep the contents cool in a refrigerated
boxcar. The ends and roof came yellow out of the box and I painted
them blue and weathered the car heavily to hide the car as much as possible.
Out of the box this car is about 10% accurate. Stripping it and starting
over is your best bet with this car. But when you shell out $8 for
it, like I did, you may find that a hard thing to do.
