Broadway Limited AC6000

[mu26aeh]

You've never talked to these guys face to face.   

Jason

Judging from that promo video on these, I doubt I'd be there long. 

No BLI product on the layout, and doubt these will ply the rails either.

[LarryN]

Hello folks,

Well BLI will be sending me a new decoder board. I will report the outcome after this comes to pass. I did find a chip on the underside of the board  that was clearly fried (a 4 pin chip, stouter that the others, so it handled the incoming power). I sent a picture of the bad part to BLI also. Perhaps they had a bunch of bad chips. It happens. I ran some power to the motor via some thin wires, and the chassis runs nice. Good quiet drive train. A few measurements also indicate that the chassis would be acceptable for the U50C shell now available on Shapeways...just sayin'...

Larry N

[C855B]

... the U50C shell now available on Shapeways...

You have this shell already? Is the nose, pilot and cab any better than the U50? I bought a U50 from this designer, and the proportions are so far off it will be sitting in my box of permanently unfinished projects. If I had the presence of mind to exercise the "money back guarantee" at the time I should have done so. I guess I could hack the cab off one of the Con-Cor shells freed from my C855 project, but getting that right is more effort than I have time for at the moment.

[carlso]

I just read this thread and all I can say is that it is sad that a manufacturer will not or can't waste time with a QC program that is quality. I'm sure that all have put out a product that had problems. However, the price our "toys" are demanding now should demand quality build by the manufacturer. Shouldn't we expect that ?

My real question, that I do not know the answer to, is did the SP exist when the AC6000's were first released or had they been absorbed prior to the 6000's first build ?  Or is BLI playing Con-Cor here ? Just curious.

Thanks and always have fun,
Carl

[Englewood]

SP ordered three of them. However, the were delivered in UP paint after the merger.

[C855B]

Never mind.

[EspeeGoldenState]

SP ordered three of them. However, the were delivered in UP paint after the merger.

600-602, but the order was changed by UP of course because of merger.

I just wish BLI had done more research, and went with the CSX style of body and UP trucks for their versions. I can't say with 100% certainty, but if I were a betting man, I would say they would have been like the SP AC44CWs and Dash 9s and had deck mounted ditch lights  like the CSX versions. I doubt SP would have changed what they had done with ditchlights being mounted on the deck to pilot on those units compared to how the MK5000Cs, SD70Ms, GP60s, or the MK rebuilds were delivered; or how the SP shops were deck mounting them.

Chris

[LarryN]

Hello C855B,

As near as I can tell (upon consultation with the U50/U50C book from Diesel Era), the Shapeways U50C shells seems pretty reflective of the real deal.
BTW, I have a pair of your DD35's on a shortened Bachmann chassis, as well as a DD35A from the same guy who made the U50C. Some grinding was needed, on shell and chassis, but it, too is operational. All need paint and handrails. Baby steps...
I also have one of your C855B shells. Years ago, I pretty much scratch built a C855 using (of course!) the Con Cor U50 chassis that I lengthened. I also kitbashed a U50 C with twin Bachmann U36B shells (with engine compartments trimmed to reflect the the V12's) and of course the Con Cor U50 cab. The chassis was scratch built using the Con Cor drive train on brass strip with a Atlas E unit truck for the the trucks. Side frames were scratch built. I will have to take pix and post....

Larry N

[C855B]

No, the 855s and DD35s are not my shells, Larry. The designer is James Norris @Jamesn320 . I'm just one of the minions trying to finish an 855 trio, after a number of costly false starts due to two fists full of thumbs and a couple of major mind farts on the paint work. DD35s are waiting for a roundtuit to finish designing correct pilots.

Did you use the current Bachmann frame (spliced, of course) under the DDA35? I have one that should arrive in the mail on Wednesday, so I s'pose we'll find that out firsthand.

I am concerned about the proportions on the U50 and U50C cabs because I did see them operating in real life, and like I said, the Shapeways' models hit me as "off". Tomorrow I'll start another thread with pics of both U50s (Shapeways and Con-Cor) and compare them to 1:1 photos to illustrate my issues.

[LarryN]

Hello C855B,

Yes, I am using the latest Bachmann DDA40X chassis for the DD35 series. I do believe that the air cylinders on the trucks are different on the '35's verses the 40x's, so I will have to address that at some point. That first cut through the chassis is always the hardest, but it does work out well in the end. I run just DC, so the electrical issues are not so troublesome. Some shell and  chassis grinding is needed. I am hoping to try and recycle a lot of the handrails from the DDA40X too. GM stanchions are nearly universally placed at 4' intervals.

Larry N

[Philip H]

after a number of costly false starts due to two fists full of thumbs and a couple of major mind farts on the paint work

That really needs to be a banner caption.

[High Hood]

600-602, but the order was changed by UP of course because of merger.

I just wish BLI had done more research, and went with the CSX style of body and UP trucks for their versions. I can't say with 100% certainty, but if I were a betting man, I would say they would have been like the SP AC44CWs and Dash 9s and had deck mounted ditch lights  like the CSX versions. I doubt SP would have changed what they had done with ditchlights being mounted on the deck to pilot on those units compared to how the MK5000Cs, SD70Ms, GP60s, or the MK rebuilds were delivered; or how the SP shops were deck mounting them.

Chris

When it comes to the SP AC6000's, I justified the way BLI did them by saying they were ordered to UP specs before the merger like the Conrail SD70's that were delivered in Conrail paint but built to NS specs.  Then I just say the UP/SP merger didn't go through in order to place them in a modern setting.

[ChrisKLAS]

Welp, 4 days after the first one but the dust, the other one went up in the proverbial puff of smoke this afternoon (also while simply idling away). I wonder if a small company like BLI can even absorb a loss like this. It must be an absolute nightmare for them.

[Chris333]

They should be used to it by now. Remember the PA units they were blowing out on their site.

[Cajonpassfan]

There's no doubt! It's not just here, either. The N scale groups on Facebook are littered with posts and comments from folks whose units were DOA or failed spectacularly after the fact. Obviously something is terribly wrong with most, if not all, of the entire run. Really sad, too, because they're great little engines when they're right.

Here's a short little video I made before one of 'em bit the dust: https://www.facebook.com/NScaleTehachapiPass/videos/1447346368713842

Chris, wow, that is a great scene! Really too bad about the locos, they do look and sound great.
Is that a Shapeways water tank? And what do you use for switchstands and telephone poles? Nice work...
Otto K.