BLI Watch

[peteski]

Another good SD40-2 is always a good thing. Like GP9 and F7s, these can be turned out monthly for years by multiple manufacturers.

Funny that you mentioned GP9s.  Wit the proliferation of the F-units out there, from multiple manufacturers, the only viable GP9 (and GP7) are pretty much only made by Atlas.  Yes, there was early Arnold/rapido Geep, but it is not really a contender in the current market. Ok, Bachmann recently came out with a Geep but I still prefer Atlas.   I wonder why not more manufacturers have jumped on the Geep bandwagon?

[Angus Shops]

I'm with Peteski; we could use a new state of the art GP 7/9. The Atlas ones are good, but they're falling behind a bit in terms of proto details and such. I say this because I'm moving from DC to DCC and looking to replace some of my older models and not seeing replacements that measure up to today's standards. How about some freestanding grabs... 
Geoff

[Angus Shops]

With regard the F's, not only are the grabs too thick, but they stand about 2' tall. The grill on the ATSF units looks a little weird, as do the class lights (although the Pennsylvania model looks better). There is also something off with the nose contours, and it looks to me that the windshield lays back too much; it should be more vertical. And the window glass has that 'big fat plastic insert' look to it. Kato and IM are better.
Geoff

[Maletrain]

While we are asking for GP 7s and 9s, I'll add my request for a GP7 with DCC/sound and no dynamic break housing.  But, I guess it might also need a depleted uranium fuel tank casting in order to be able to pull anything more than its own shadow.

[Angus Shops]

Depleted uranium fuel tank casting? Where are you going to put the speaker?

Geoff

[garethashenden]

I'm with Peteski; we could use a new state of the art GP 7/9. The Atlas ones are good, but they're falling behind a bit in terms of proto details and such. I say this because I'm moving from DC to DCC and looking to replace some of my older models and not seeing replacements that measure up to today's standards. How about some freestanding grabs... 
Geoff

With regard the F's, not only are the grabs too thick, but they stand about 2' tall. The grill on the ATSF units looks a little weird, as do the class lights (although the Pennsylvania model looks better). There is also something off with the nose contours, and it looks to me that the windshield lays back too much; it should be more vertical. And the window glass has that 'big fat plastic insert' look to it. Kato and IM are better.
Geoff

Taking these two together, I'm perfectly fine with molded on grabs. I can replace the ones I want to, and I'm not offended by the ones I don't replace.

[OldEastRR]

As long as we're lobbing grenades: the cryo tanks are interesting to me, but couldn't they at least pick a contrasting background colour for their model photos?   

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH! That's funny.... but those are the new "stealth" tankers. Nobody knows they're in the trains passing through town until it derails and ruptures. Surprise!

[OldEastRR]

I was just reading the April 2017 issue of Model Railroad News and they had a feature on all the awful SD40-2s made in N scale before the IM version.

Really? The KATO dash 2's were crap? I don't remember them as such. I don't trust MRN; they are heavily biased toward HO.

[gelboy45]

Maybe N&W Redbird geeps? 

Gerry

[daniel_leavitt2000]

I don't see them a biased at all. They really have a good selection of scales and reviews each one differently. I think it's one of the best publications in the industry.

They liked the Kato SD40-2. But the article focused on the misfires. Namely the 4-foot too long Con-Cor, the wide body Bachmann and Spectrum units. And who could forget the Hallmark BRASS deal with swiveling pilots that looked more at home on an O27 layout.

[draskouasshat]

Damn, it must be nice complaining about which manufacturers sd40-2s are the crappiest.
Also, how about we venture into other models and markets? Why did we need regurgitated versions of every freaking model? We need to expand n-scale, not keep it in the same damned gutter its been in. How many years have we had the same damned models? 

Drasko

[High Hood]

Funny that you mentioned GP9s.  Wit the proliferation of the F-units out there, from multiple manufacturers, the only viable GP9 (and GP7) are pretty much only made by Atlas.  Yes, there was early Arnold/rapido Geep, but it is not really a contender in the current market. Ok, Bachmann recently came out with a Geep but I still prefer Atlas.   I wonder why not more manufacturers have jumped on the Geep bandwagon?

There is still no RTR Phase 3 GP9.

[peteski]

I saw the BLI F-unit shells at their booth at the Springifield show today.  The windshields don't seem to be tall enough. It looks "squinty".  Kato units have much better rendered windshields.  Also, the anti-glare panels on UP and other road-names are just spots on the hood. They are way too small overall and end far away from the bottom of the windshield panes.

[Cajonpassfan]

This from another forum. Good to know N scale steam is doing well!
Otto K.

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[thomasjmdavis]

This from another forum. Good to know N scale steam is doing well!
Otto K.

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"N scale models are selling like hotcakes."  And so far, they have only produced steam locos for the proportion of the N scale market that models PRR. Let's hope that means we see some ATSF steam.