BLI SD40-2

[Mark5]

This model might be good. Although I just bought a IM SD40-2 (the shell is great but needs to be lowered onto the chassis and such), I will wait to see the actual BLI SD40-2 before buying any more SD40-2s.

I wonder if they will do a high nose version like they did in HO ...

http://www.broadway-limited.com/bli-1248emdsd40-2hhnandw1626blacknorfolkandwesternpaintschemeparagon2sounddcdccho.aspx

Mark

[reinhardtjh]

BLI posted pictures today of the N Scale SD40-2 sample they just got from China.  Same deal as the T1 pictures.  The main picture and a couple of other pictures posted as comments.

http://www.facebook.com/BroadwayLimited/photos/a.1049835628369595.1073741880.149864068366760/1917182528301563/?type=3&theater

Looks similar to the previously posted pictures, just less beat up by the public.  They haven't changed anytihng on the BLI website yet so no announcement of road names and the August 2018 due date hasn't changed, although if this is still pre-production I think that date will slip.

[drbnc]

Parts list for N SD40-2 on their website:

http://www.broadway-limited2.com/support/SD40-2%20N%20Scale%20Exploded%20View%20Diagram.pdf

[learmoia]

Parts list for N SD40-2 on their website:

http://www.broadway-limited2.com/support/SD40-2%20N%20Scale%20Exploded%20View%20Diagram.pdf

5 versions of the shell and 2 versions of the sill so that's a good sign.. it looks like 4 are high nose, but the alternate sill only applies to one HN shell so maybe a drawing error, and the rest are LN.. (they did do modern grills in HO, and they did C36-7s in HO as well so there will be variation..

Not bad overall.. (Blind drivers?  )

(In all fairness, I commend them for commenting to get this stuff out the door and keeping promisses.. and sticking (fairly well) to a production/delivery schedule..

~Ian

[reinhardtjh]

Thanks for finding that!  Looks interesting. They have 5 different bodies and 4 different cabs to match.

[Mark5]

Parts list for N SD40-2 on their website:

http://www.broadway-limited2.com/support/SD40-2%20N%20Scale%20Exploded%20View%20Diagram.pdf

Awesome, the parts show a hi-nose version.

Mark

[unittrain]

This looks good so far, I'll definitely support these if they operate well.

[daniel_leavitt2000]

Awesome, the parts show a hi-nose version.

Mark

Several hi-nose versions. And it looks like all bodies are early? Drop plates on the end handrails.

[phil55]

Wow what do you guys do when life hands you a real problem? It's just a hobby !

[peteski]

Wow what do you guys do when life hands you a real problem? It's just a hobby !

Real problems?  We deal with them! 



But since this is a hobby, we can discuss the model's shortcomings and flaws ad nauseum, and bitch and kvetch about it in online forums.  This is all part of that hobby you mentioned. Fun stuff! 

[phil55]

Fun stuff is good 

[reinhardtjh]

BLI just added new photos to the SD40-2 posting on FaceBook.  They have painted CSX, Chessie (B&O), BN, CN and UP photos.

http://www.facebook.com/BroadwayLimited/photos/a.1049835628369595.1073741880.149864068366760/1917182528301563/?type=3&theater

The new photos are in the comments.  Go to the above link, click "xx Coments" and the pictures should be there.  They are at comment # 58 so if more comments have been added you may have to click "View previous replies" and/or "View additional replies" to see them all.

Okay, I found individual links that make it somewhat simpler.

CSX: http://www.facebook.com/BroadwayLimited/photos/p.1923509027668913/1923509027668913/?type=3
BN: http://www.facebook.com/BroadwayLimited/photos/p.1923510921002057/1923510921002057/?type=3
Chessie (B&O): http://www.facebook.com/BroadwayLimited/photos/p.1923512711001878/1923512711001878/?type=3
CN: http://www.facebook.com/BroadwayLimited/photos/p.1923514214335061/1923514214335061/?type=3
UP: http://www.facebook.com/BroadwayLimited/photos/p.1923514957668320/1923514957668320/?type=3

[wazzou]

From what can be seen so far, I think they potentially look better than the Intermountain -2's

[Ed Kapuscinski]

They do look pretty good, but BLI seems to have completely ignored the differences in radiator grill types (corrugated vs chicken wire). This is one of the major spotting features between early/late versions and is a big pain to fix on decorated models (much worse than HTC => Flexicoil trucks).

It looks like it might be the same way with the frame\anticlimbers. These ALL look like they're early phase SD40-2s but they've chosen paint schemes and road numbers for later phase units (I checked the CSX and UP versions).

I've said something on the Facebook post and plan on emailing them, but if you care about avoiding the F3 grill thing all over again, please do the same. Hopefully if enough people indicate that it's an issue early enough they can fix it (or at least choose road numbers that they're accurate for until they do).

[C855B]

... These ALL look like they're early phase SD40-2s but they've chosen paint schemes and road numbers for later phase units (I checked the CSX and UP versions). ...

Fatal flaw. I'm looking for earliest deliveries to UP (1972) and they seem to have the body mostly right (versus the others in the SD40-2 game), but BLI's notoriously bulletproof paint and lettering will make relettering to correct era a pill. I don't need another over-the-top-difficult project.

The photos make the radiator screen ribs appear exaggerated, but I'd like to see one in the flesh before passing judgment.

[Insert usual gripe about mandated sound and cost thereof.]