Factory Direct Trains; BLI PAs BOGO

[Mike C]

What would I need to buy in order to turn off the sound and make my BLI locos operate like a traditional D.C. Loco?  I have no interest in DCC and would prefer they run traditionally. The sound is nice but doesn't hold my interest. Cheapest alternative would be ideal.

Cheapest would be to remove the decoder and re wire the pick-ups direct to the motor . Shouldn't be too difficult .....probably .

[Chris333]

Ha found this thread. I got my PA's today and am not happy at all. They won't even go one full lap on a door layout running DC at full speed. Not even a full lap!

So that is OK I knew deep down I would want to rip all the electronics out, but the bodies are crap as well. The etched grills look like a roller coaster track and the body sits sky high on the chassis. Somehow the overall height isn't far off. I think the windshields are too short so the whole top half is smooshed down.

The grills:


The height:

Look how far the pilot is from the rails and the huge gaps above the trucks. Model on the left is a $15 Life-like that I fixed the pilot on.

I can't even take a photo of these to put on e-bay. 

[Frank Amato]

Ugh.  Life-Like FTW.

[Dave V]

Hence the BOGO?

Is it worth contacting BLI about your dissatisfaction?

[Chris333]

Once I'm back in the free world I will bust out scale drawings to check the height.

And yeah I think I'm trying to send these back. 

[Dave V]

Dammit Chris...     You made me go look at mine again, and sure enough...









Sunovabitch...  Well, I've had them long enough I don't see being able to return them.  FWIW, mine run quite well so at least I don't have that problem.  But damn...  OK, BLI, ya burned me once.

[muktown128]

Wow! those grilles really look bad.   
I would definitely try to return them.
Now I'll need to look at mine again. 
I didn't notice any problems when I got them.

Scott

[Point353]

Ha found this thread. I got my PA's today and am not happy at all. They won't even go one full lap on a door layout running DC at full speed. Not even a full lap!

So that is OK I knew deep down I would want to rip all the electronics out, but the bodies are crap as well. The etched grills look like a roller coaster track and the body sits sky high on the chassis. Somehow the overall height isn't far off. I think the windshields are too short so the whole top half is smooshed down.

The grills:


The height:

Look how far the pilot is from the rails and the huge gaps above the trucks. Model on the left is a $15 Life-like that I fixed the pilot on.

I can't even take a photo of these to put on e-bay. 

Here are your photos for eBay:
http://www.broadway-limited.com/images/products/detail/BLINSCALEALCOPAANDPB15of39.png
http://www.broadway-limited.com/images/products/detail/BLINSCALEALCOPAANDPB16of39.1.png

Are the grilles warped, or is the issue that the mounting tabs on the grilles don't quite line up properly with the openings in the body shell?
If it's an alignment problem, would slightly enlarging the openings in the shell or trimming the tabs on the grilles then allow them to lay flat - maybe with some adhesive, too?

[peteski]

If someone wants to keep their PA bad enough the grill problem should be fixable. Depending on the installation, either enlarge the slots in the shell, or pry them off and use some sort of flexible adhesive to reattach them.

[davefoxx]

I once added Kato stainless steel grilles to a Life Like E8.  I used CA spread carefully on the back of the grilles and then applied the grilles to the locomotive.  Using a very fine sanding stick, I polished the grilles after the glue dried where any excess CA may have oozed through.  Of course, your grilles are painted, so you'll just have to be more careful.  But, it is doable and certainly worth the risk of fixing that mess.  Now, I'm afraid to go look at my E units for fear that they'll develop the same problem as the PAs!

DFF

[Cajonpassfan]

That's disappointing. Try a little canopy glue on the back side? Dries clear and flexible. Of course once the grilles get mangled, there is no fix but a new grille.
Otto K.

[Dave V]

If someone wants to keep their PA bad enough the grill problem should be fixable. Depending on the installation, either enlarge the slots in the shell, or pry them off and use some sort of flexible adhesive to reattach them.

I think that'll be my way-ahead.  I've put enough laps on these now that I don't think asking for a return would be appropriate.  I should have caught this sooner.  Beside, they function as locomotives (i.e., they can pull sh!t around the layout, usually without stopping).  They toot and growl also.

Chris, on the other hand, has turds that don't even run.  He should get his money back.

[OldEastRR]

Maybe the colder weather made the plastic shrink so the grilles popped loose? Or the inside warmer house temps in winter made the metal grilles expand and pop off? Looks sorta like a contraction/expansion problem...

[Chris333]

It is hard to measure these, but it looks like the body is sitting about 4.6" too high. To make that look even worse I think the trucks are too small so it looks like a jacked up truck. The pilot is way too high off the rail. I just don't like the way they look and it would take too much work to fix. I'm ditching these right away.

[sizemore]

It is hard to measure these, but it looks like the body is sitting about 4.6" too high. To make that look even worse I think the trucks are too small so it looks like a jacked up truck. The pilot is way too high off the rail. I just don't like the way they look and it would take too much work to fix. I'm ditching these right away.

And the cab steps look like turds.

The S.