BLI SD40-2

[nscalbitz]

So is there going to be bashing on this model...or is that just reserved for IMRC?
Things I do not like:
The ugly silver color is not helping the cause
...
Seeing as I am happy with my IMRC units, these are a meh for me.
Y-it

I have no dog in this fight, what's the 'official status' of the model that's shown?

So you're saying that manfs. should just take pretty commercial photos and post those at shows?
Because no-one is going to win if they can't even show pre-production efforts to the wiling customer base.
regards
dave

[Chris333]

The silver color helps you see what you're getting.

[soo]

Yeah Dave,, that is exactly what I am saying..NOT.
Instead of the silver, they could have chosen a road name.

Yeah yeah so they dont have any yet. Custom paint one!! There are plenty of modelers that do good work.
Just a thought..

Soo 6 actual, out

[daniel_leavitt2000]

Guys this is a very early preproduction sample. They have not even announced the model yet. Let's take a look at the model...
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Handling was pretty rough at the show. They had to glue the handrails back in several times. You can see the cab glass has window separation molded into it. This will be painted silver like Kato does.
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Rear looks really good.
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Strangely the grabs are molded in on the rear. I like the fans.
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Cab is nice. Tooling is delicate. Nor the grabs are hand bent, so I expect they will look better in production.
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Engineers side. The trucks look fantastic. They also have a full frame detail below the walkway. Electrical contact is made by leaf springs a bit like the LL SW1200, but mounted to the chassis. It was a solid solution in person. Sight glass will be painted gloss black.
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Bell is separately applied to the chassis.

[soo]

     The whole sight glass thing rubs me wrong.
All will be for naught if road specific details are missing such as:
Proper size fuel tanks
Proper mounting location of horns and bells. ( how about the electrical ones that the Milwaukee Road used)
How about rear porch mounted hand brake stands?

Am I picking nits...ehhh probably so.. But as other people have said..." If we settle for subpar...we will see no progress"

I will say this..who ever does the Soo paralellogram logo first will have my business.

Soo 6 actual. Out

[nickelplate759]

Also noticed the step alterations.  Why is it that every mfg can get those in the normal width of front sill and or steps without doing that?  Is that a bell also molded on the right side short hood?  Also looks way off.

To me, it looks like they are using a new factory, who took some liberties with the design.  We can only hope.  I also hope they rushed the test shot to the show and know corrections must be made.  Maybe they saved some money on QC, knowing the eagle eyes on Railwire would catch the flaws?  Hey, if our participation lowers the cost a few bucks, it is worth our while!

Seriously, being the third SD40-2 to market (excluding the old Bachmann's) and maybe the third out of four, they need to do everything exceptionally well to succeed with this model.  After years of complaining, who would have ever thought we might have too many SD40-2?

More than that.  Con-Cor/Roco made one too!  http://www.spookshow.net/loco/ccsd.html

[nkalanaga]

If this is a Phase 1 SD40-2, the ditch lights don't bother me a bit.  When the BN ordered them they didn't HAVE ditch lights, so I'll just cut them off.

[peteski]

I frequently do ask myself that question.

There is much to find of value on the RW, but the constant elitist whingeing and sniping at selected manufacturers, which only seems to be getting worse, is a real turn off these days.

If the truth hurts, then so be it.

I don't understand your view (which also seems to be shared by few other members here). What selected manufacturers?  It the time I have spent on this forum my impression is that we are equal-opportunity mud-slingers (actually, making brutally honest observations) about all  the various manufacturers' models. I have personally given my honest opinions about most of the manufacuters. No selected snipping here.  Sure, some manufactures deserve and get more comments, but no selected manufacturer is protected.

[daniel_leavitt2000]

BLI gets a hard time here. MTL does as well.

This IS a good model of a phase I SD40-2. I doubt BLI will be doing multiple versions of this model. Like their HO C30-7 and SD40-2, I think this model will fulfill their entry level segment.

And that's ok folks.

Do you want a photo prototypical model of your phase I SD40-2? Get this. Want a good phase II? Go for the IM engine. By the end of next year, I'll be running Kato, IM and BLI SD40-2s. Each one has its advantages. Now if Scale Trains follows though with their SD40-2, well I'm in trouble!

[AKNscale]

What's wrong with being picky? If I'm going to spend $200-$300 on a model, it should be worth it. 1 of the 4 IM 40-2s I've bought has run well out of the box. Luckily I'm not afraid to work on them. As for BLI, I'm just not a fan, though I will admit that I have very little experience with them, it was not a good experience. I also find their choices, when it comes to detailing, quite odd. They may change my mind eventually, but for now, I'll steer clear.

[Chris333]

Where is the boiler? 

[Englewood]

I was sitting at work today looking at two of the SD40Ns that we use in the yard. From 50 feet away, the sight glass just looks like a glossy black oval.

[Philip H]

I was sitting at work today looking at two of the SD40Ns that we use in the yard. From 50 feet away, the sight glass just looks like a glossy black oval.

Which means this is a 3 foot rule call folks.

While many of us have had to wait eons for the SD40-2's of our youth, I think all this . . . criticism . . . is starting to sound like the SPF's K-4 bashing when it came out.  So, how about we ALL take a breather, agree that no SD40-2 will ever be perfect, and buy the ones we want from the manufacturers we want?

And BLI - if you are reading along - KCS in White.  Seriously.  Kato and IM seem to have avoided it like the plague.

[Jbub]

Which means this is a 3 foot rule call folks.

Well technically.... 50 ft is 3.75 inches in N. So to see the same thing that close your face is in the layout. 3 feet equtes to 480 feet or a little more than 1.5 football fields. Sometimes being any is fun 

[Rossford Yard]

Odd that the front grabs are separate, the back grabs are molded on.  In the separate grab iron thread, I said if someone could get more depth on the grab irons, molded on would be preferred.  It looks like BLI has the best look on the grabs to me.  Now, just do it on the front end, too.

Every mfg should take a look at those on the back end.  Just MHO