Factory Direct Trains; BLI PAs BOGO

[daniel_leavitt2000]

Run by the same family, different businesses. They do this sort of sale with HO too. Last I checked in, they were very heavily with sales of their n scale line.

[Lenny53]

Isn't  FDT and BLI the same thing.

I believe Bowser and Toy Train Heaven are the same.

[Joetrain59]

Eh, no D&H. Pass.
 Joe D

[w neal]

Can anybody loan me $137.99?

[rrjim1]

Wow!     I sure don't need them but couldn't pass up this great deal, I ordered two Erie PA1s with PM shipping for $154.  Thanks for the tip!   

[brokemoto]

Still rockin' my $15 LifeLike PA units 

Those old plastic frame PAs (and FAs, for that matter) run allright and they will pull every piece of rolling stock that you own up a fifty per-cent grade.

The thing that really surprises me is that the manufacturers do not take a page from the construction method on this one for DCC locomotives, but, have gone back to the 1980s and earlier method of flexing wires soldered to pivotting trucks, which eventually come unsoldered.  As most are aware, the motor in the LL plastic frame PAs (and E-units), sits in a plastic cradle.  There is a stationary contact strip that runs almost the length of the locomotive.  Tabs on the trucks contact it.  Wires are soldered to the contact strip on one end and to the electric motor on the other.  Thus, the motor already is easily isolated from the track power.  You simply run the wire to the decoder and wires to the motor from the decoder.  Truthfully, though, the system that E-R used on its sharks was the best.


Several manufacturers now have issued PAs, all  have done New York Central lightning stripes.  Indeed, the stripes take well to the locomotive design.  What escapes me is why not one manufacturer has done P&LEs.   It would be something different.  Modellers of other parts of the NYCs could actually run them as they did run on the parent's lines regullarly between Pittsburgh and Buffalo and not infrequently elsewhere.  P&LE actually had money to keep up its power, unlike dissolute parent which had not money with the result that it practiced deferred maintenance.

[w neal]

Truthfully, though, the system that E-R used on its sharks was the best.

Now THATS what we need in N scale. A re-run please!

[Chris333]

You know looking at the actual N scale photos I'm not so sure I would even be happy with the BLI model at any price. The details look bulky (number boards and lift rings) and the grills, while they look etched, also look chunky and not right. LL and Kato are much better in the details, even though the LL pilot needs help. Never saw a Concor.
http://www.factorydirecttrains.com/images/view.aspx?productId=42341
Also the front windshields look to small.

My LL unit has detail bracing molded behind the grills that is easily seen:
https://goo.gl/photos/ceHWxH2isGaFibsaA

No comment on the DCC or sound because that doesn't interest me.

[Cajonpassfan]

Well, I really like mine, bulky details like road specific numberboards, and freestanding handrails notwithstanding...
Otto K.

[Chris333]

Grills look good in silver.

[Cajonpassfan]

Well, I really like mine, bulky details like road specific numberboards, and freestanding handrails notwithstanding...
Otto K.

Well, I really liked mine until I tried to reset their addresses. One engine is fine, but the second one, while operating as designed on address 3, will not accept any attempt to change its address, and reads back as address 171 while factory set to 3? Does not recognize 171 either. WTH?
Never had this happen before. And I'm using the BLI "Address Changer" which has worked perfectly on every loco I own and borrowed to date. I also tried the program track with my NCE system. no luck either. Before I send it back to BLI with a "faulty decoder" note, am I missing anything? Like I said, the engine performs flawlessly, but only on address 3. Thoughts?
Thanks, Otto K.

[rrjim1]

The DCC decoder board in one of my locos was not installed correctly. The loco ran fine on address #3 but I couldn't change it or read any CVs, everything came up (0). I removed the body, did a reset and everything worked perfect. I could see the DCC board was sitting at a angle and when the body was installed it would be pressing the reset button. I had to do some adjusting and trimming to get the board to sit correctly, replaced the body and everything now works perfect. 

[thomasjmdavis]

Well, I really like mine, bulky details like road specific numberboards, and freestanding handrails notwithstanding...

They could make a tidy little side business out of those ATSF center number boards (above the windshield) for the thousands of Kato and Con-Cor (and I assume LL, but I don't have one) PAs out there.

LL and Kato are much better in the details, even though the LL pilot needs help. Never saw a Concor.

  For the Con-Cor, think Kato but with 1970 era die tooling- the detail is not as fine (mine is 38 this year, IIRC).  As with the LL as described by Brokemoto, will pull everything you own up a steep grade.  I literally tried once a couple layouts back, and ran out of cars (I have more now, but no layout to test on).  Mine still runs fairly well, although it is loud compared to Katos.  Of course, the real Alcos were pretty loud too.

My train budget is shot for this year, so I won't be taking advantage unless there is a deus ex machina for my checkbook in the next couple days.  On the other hand, just before they announced the sale, I was able to pick up several of the Kato ATSF modified F3s (high fans but F7 style side panels and grills), so the layout, if it ever comes to pass, will have plenty of passenger power.  And my lovely wife gave me a new cordless drill/driver for Christmas, which will greatly speed up work in the basement to make the layout room a reality.

[cbroughton67]

While I enjoyed getting two DCC sound equipped PA's for under $69 a piece, substantially less than the price of a good sound decoder, I wonder whether this means we're not going to see new BLI diesel offerings in N scale anytime soon. They are obviously following Hornby's lead and dumping the units at well below cost, I would guess, and so I have to wonder whether this is actually a good thing.... I like to get a deal as much as the next guy, but also want my N scale manufacturers/importers to be financially heathy and eager to bring more stuff to the market. Time will tell...
Otto K.

Given the end-of-year timing of these blowout sales, I'm wondering if inventory taxes or other tax-related factors are playing a role.


Chris

[Cajonpassfan]

The DCC decoder board in one of my locos was not installed correctly. The loco ran fine on address #3 but I couldn't change it or read any CVs, everything came up (0). I removed the body, did a reset and everything worked perfect. I could see the DCC board was sitting at a angle and when the body was installed it would be pressing the reset button. I had to do some adjusting and trimming to get the board to sit correctly, replaced the body and everything now works perfect.

Mystery solved! Thank you RW and thank you @rrjim! That's one of the many reasons why I love being here...
It seems the board was not properly seated on the frame, with the tiny reset button pressed down by the shell, see pics. It would just keep resetting to factory settings. Do'h
Another problem taken care of...it's now snapped in place.
Otto K.