BLI Watch

[GaryHinshaw]

So, while I don't have any interest in these, I'm just curious... is the market for ES44s big enough to support three manufacturers making them (four if you count brass)?

No.  I was curious about these, but from looking at the photos, I'm already backing away.  Compare the tooling quality of the BLI (top) to a Kato (bottom):




Kato winds hands down on crispness of rendered details.  Granted there are no stand-alone grabs etc., but we modellers can fix that.  In my book, the only advantage the BLI has (aside from sound -- maybe) is that it's a later phase model than the Kato.

[DKS]

Granted there are no stand-alone grabs etc., but we modellers can fix that.

Not to mention that BLI's grabs are kinda fat--reminds me of InterMountain--while the ones running up the nose are cast-on. IIRC, the Fox Valley ES44 includes grabs that the buyer must install. Seems no one is consistent.

[GaryHinshaw]

Not to mention that BLI's grabs are kinda fat--

That's a bit of an understatement.  I do like Fox Valley's approach, but I still prefer Kato's tooling (and running quality) over the FVM GEVOs as well. 

-A Kato fanboy. 

[Mark W]

I didn't know the ES44's had headlights mounted inside the cab either...  Another miss by Kato and FVM.

[Chris333]

lol

[nstars]

Although the ES44 is certainly not for me, I was wondering when Kato finally will start painting handrails? That’s a detail I’m always missing from Kato (and yes I know I can do it myself).

BTW I also think the BLI picture is not very good which won’t improve the comparison. It would be better to have both engines in the same picture.

Marc

[w neal]

Thanks for posting the pics of the BLIs gentlemen. Whorry Cow! 

We don't need four manufacturers of Gevos.

Something else, pretty please, for the love of OG. 

[C855B]

... We don't need four manufacturers of Gevos. ...

The sad thing is this reflects 1:1. Even my wife gets excited when we're out railfanning and something in the lashup is "NOT A TOASTER!". (I've taught her well.) The model manufacturers in the two popular scales have always gravitated towards current-production prototypes because that's what the market seems to demand, because that's what modelers see in real life.

In so many words, if I, as a manufacturer, am not offering something reflecting current reality, then I'm missing out on a sizeable chunk of the market. Last survey I saw indicated that as much as 40% of the hobby is modeling "modern", defined as being within the last 10 years.

For me, if I want to see GEVOs I just look out the window look at the railcam. We get all the toasters we can possibly eat.

[DKS]

The sad thing is this reflects 1:1.

Yes, and forgive me for not staying in touch with what's currently running on the mainlines, but aren't there any other modern locomotives in use? Or is everyone and their brother running ES44s? Have model manufacturers run out of things to make?

[GhengisKong]

Something else, pretty please, for the love of OG. 

OG?

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[peteski]

Although the ES44 is certainly not for me, I was wondering when Kato finally will start painting handrails? That’s a detail I’m always missing from Kato (and yes I know I can do it myself).

BTW I also think the BLI picture is not very good which won’t improve the comparison. It would be better to have both engines in the same picture.

Marc

While I certainly agree that a bare plastic is unlikely to ever match the color of the painted shell exactly, painting those flexible slippery-plastic handrails requires rather thick coat of paint. That adds thickness to already-over-scale plastic  handrail.  It is a tough call as to which is less evil.

[peteski]

That's a bit of an understatement.  I do like Fox Valley's approach, but I still prefer Kato's tooling (and running quality) over the FVM GEVOs as well. 

-A Kato fanboy. 

Thanks for that. I often think that I'm the only person who sees the superior quality in every aspect of Kato models.  No, they are not perfect, but closer to perfection than other manufacturers. Especially when it comes to the molding quality, thinness of the paint coat, and overall mechanical quality.

[chicken45]

Thanks for posting the pics of the BLIs gentlemen. Whorry Cow! 

We don't need four manufacturers of Gevos.

Something else, pretty please, for the love of OG. 

I'm really pulling for them to do a GG1!

[Jbub]

OG?

(Attachment Link)

Hey, that's my avatar!

[reinhardtjh]

BLI Updated their Product Delivery Schedule page on Jan 18th.  Items in N Scale on the list are:

GE ES44AC - In stores.
PRR T1  -  Due April 2018 - Expected was in the latest catalog http://www.broadway-limited2.com/ProductGuide2016-17/
EMD F3/F7  -  Due April 2018 - First mention on the Delivery Schedule list.  Expected, was in the 2016/2017 catalog.
EMD E6/E7/E8  -  Due May 2018 - 3rd or 4th run of E8's and E7's, 2nd run of E6's ?  Unexpected - not in the 2016/2017 catalog.
EMD SD40-2  -  Due July 2018 - New model - Unexpected.  Not in the 2016/2017 catalog.
Cryogenic Tank car  -  Due August 2018 - New model - Unexpected.  Not in the 2016/2017 catalog.