New run of BLI PRR M1a/b hits the streets

[reinhardtjh]

With an expected delivery date of November 2017, the Paragon3 PRR M1a/M1b has made the deadline.  These are now showing at MB Klein's web site and presumably arriving soon at many other retailers.

New is the Paragon 3 decoder.  I bought my fill at the first run so I'm not planning on buying any of this run. Hopefully there are more PRR modelers out there that didn't get a chance the first time.

[chicken45]

I wonder if they'll make the paragon3's available separately as a drop in like they did for the HOers.

[reinhardtjh]

You could write and ask them.  Or post to their Facebook page.

Personally, if I'm replacing the decoder in mine, I'm putting in an ESU LokSound.

[eric220]

My new run M1s landed yesterday. I haven’t had the chance to run them yet, but I did find something interesting in the box:



Evidently BLI is now including a replacement pilot with a full size dummy coupler. The whole pilot has to be replaced because the coupler is secured with a pin instead of clips like on the installed scale coupler. @Lemosteam ‘s solution is a lot simpler to install.

[peteski]

What exactly is "full size"? That thing looks horribly oversize!
Larger than even McHenry or a Bachmann "boxing glove".    Weird.  You figure that if they wanted to add a non-functional replica coupler they wold have made it true scale size.

[Jbub]

What exactly is "full size"? That thing looks horribly oversize!
Larger than even McHenry or a Bachmann "boxing glove".    Weird.  You figure that if they wanted to add a non-functional replica coupler they wold have made it true scale size.

I thought it was a Lionel coupler at first.

[Lemosteam]

My new run M1s landed yesterday. I haven’t had the chance to run them yet, but I did find something interesting in the box:



Evidently BLI is now including a replacement pilot with a full size dummy coupler. The whole pilot has to be replaced because the coupler is secured with a pin instead of clips like on the installed scale coupler. @Lemosteam ‘s solution is a lot simpler to install.

Thanks for the kind plug @eric220

[eric220]

No problem!

I’ll take another shot of the part with the full loco tomorrow. I think it’s hard to gauge the size without a reference.

[peteski]

No problem!

I’ll take another shot of the part with the full loco tomorrow. I think it’s hard to gauge the size without a reference.

Dunno . . .even just seeing the pilot, the coupler looks YOOGE to me.

[eric220]

Dunno . . .even just seeing the pilot, the coupler looks YOOGE to me.

That’s what I mean. If your brain is interpreting the marker lamps as being the full width of the locomotive, you’re overestimating the size of the part. The steps aren’t much wider than the pilot wheels.

We’ll see tomorrow!

[eric220]

Dang, that thing really is UUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUGHAH! I’d doesn’t even couple nicely with the MT on the tender. It has to be lifted over/under, and the coupler jaw can’t close afterward.

Keystone Details’ solution is far superior.

[Mark5]

looks like a true scale HO coupler ... 

[eric220]

looks like a true scale HO coupler ... 

Probably not far off!

[peteski]

looks like a true scale HO coupler ... 

It looks larger that a true-scale H0 coupler!

Eric: the comparison photo was not needed (at least for me) I said right along that this thing was YOOOOGE!  Larger than McHenry or Bachmann Boxing Glove.  Wow!  Somebody missed that  when approving the design, and the Chinese engineers that designed this model probably have no clue as to the real coupler sizes in US.

But we should also look at the bright side: if they made it correct size we would have nothing to make fun off. 

[Lemosteam]

Dang, that thing really is UUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUGHAH! I’d doesn’t even couple nicely with the MT on the tender. It has to be lifted over/under, and the coupler jaw can’t close afterward.

Keystone Details’ solution is far superior.

Looks like my original iteration- Yuuuuuge and monstragonous!!