BLI PA/PB couplers - oops

[spookshow]

I recently picked up a set of the new "Paragon3" BLI PA/PB models. In addition to the new decoder, they also have new couplers. I'm not sure what brand they are, but they are noticeably smaller and shorter than the MTL couplers that BLI used to use. In fact, they're so short that it's impossible to auto-couple an A to a B (the diaphragms hit before the couplers get close enough to couple) -



I asked BLI tech support if there was any solution to this and they said that they were looking into it. Oddly enough, they also said that I was the first person to report the problem. So, evidently people are making do by connecting them up in "Unimate" fashion (IE, lift one of the units up and lower its coupler onto the other units coupler). Kind of jinky, but I guess it's one way to do it.

So anyway, just FYI....

-Mark

[Mark5]

I thought they've been "rolling their own" couplers for a while now. Maybe the Mike was the debut for the smaller version (?)

But, man - those chunky end "steps". 

Mark

[spookshow]

Yes, I think you're right about the Mikados - that was first time I noticed the new couplers. They were still using 1015's as recently as last year's SW7/NW2 release.

-Mark

[thomasjmdavis]

In the photo, it looks like the unit on the left has a "1016" clone and the unit on the right has a "1015" clone.  Which is to say, the coupler on left clears the diaphragm by more than the coupler on the right.

I just had to correct the above for right v left and 1015 v 1016.  Too early....insufficient coffee....but hoping it now makes sense....

[spookshow]

Wow, you're absolutely right. I hadn't noticed before, but the rear coupler on the A unit does stick out farther than either of the B unit couplers. It looks they kludged up a second hole in the A unit truck, allowing the coupler to sit a little farther back -



If they'da done the same on the B unit, things would've been jake.

-Mark

[C855B]

Am I seeing that right? An Allen-head (hex) screw?

[spookshow]

No, just an optical illusion. The screw heads are on the other side (typical phillips).

-Mark

[Frank Amato]

But, man - those chunky end "steps". 

Ooh you're not kidding @Mark5 , makes you appreciate that Kato tooling for sure!

  Frank

[peteski]

But, man - those chunky end "steps". 

Mark

That was the first thing that hit my eyes!  Ewwww!  They look like something on a Hallmark Christmas Tree ornament.  Actually I take it back - Hallmark ornaments have better looking steps.  How does something like that happen on a new model produced in 2020?  Who ok'd that?    Can we blame it on COVID-19 social distancing? 

Actually, even the small portion of the truck side-frame visible in that photo seems to be off somehow. The look vertically compressed.

Yes I'm being blunt and brutally honest!

What brand are the couplers?  "BLI" brand - they roll their own (like more and more manufacturers seem to do nowadays, with mixed results).

[thomasjmdavis]

That was the first thing that hit my eyes!  Ewwww!  They look like something on a Hallmark Christmas Tree ornament.  Actually I take it back - Hallmark ornaments have better looking steps.  How does something like that happen on a new model produced in 2020?

Hey, you could always pick up the Gold Medal stirrup set, which includes 16 for the circa 1970 Con Cor PA and PB.  Only adds an additional $10 to the MSRP.

[spookshow]

I heard back from BLI and they said that they weren't expecting the factory to use those particular couplers on these models (instead, they were expecting the larger couplers that normally get used on their diesels). They are going to send me replacement trucks for my PB, so that's nice.

On a side note, he said that the factory evidently cooked up that second hole on the PA truck to give it a little more free play (with the goal being improved conductivity over turnouts and track imperfections). So, that explains why they didn't do the same thing on the PB trucks.

Lastly, he apologized for the inconvenience and said that the current pandemic is having an impact on QC both here and abroad, which I can certainly understand.

-Mark

[wazzou]

Hopefully the B Unit is on the right otherwise how do you explain the “F” on the end.

[C855B]

Hopefully the B Unit is on the right otherwise how do you explain the “F” on the end.

B-units have an "F" end, and (at least) UP lettered it that way.

I'm an idiot. Now I get what you said. Sheesh. 

[peteski]

Hey, you could always pick up the Gold Medal stirrup set, which includes 16 for the circa 1970 Con Cor PA and PB.  Only adds an additional $10 to the MSRP.

Of course, but why should I be futzing around with a brand new model? You know that I'm capable of little more than just replacing steps. - that is not the point. There really are no good excuses for a new model (designed in CAD) to need this type of rework when they could have just as easily made those steps look more accurate.  This is not just couple of rivets out of place - it is a major mistake.

[ChristianJDavis1]

Of course, but why should I be futzing around with a brand new model? You know that I'm capable of little more than just replacing steps. - that is not the point. There really are no good excuses for a new model (designed in CAD) to need this type of rework when they could have just as easily made those steps look more accurate.  This is not just couple of rivets out of place - it is a major mistake.

Not that I don't agree with you, but I don't think the tooling is entirely new, either. They've run the PA's before, so this is probably the same exact shell and tooling on a "new" mechanism (new being the rolling tur... I mean thunder decoders). Now, they could have made the steps thinner with a re-release, but that was likely money that they weren't willing to spend on a re-issue. BLI has always sort of been okay with compromises in N scale, so it doesn't' surprise me they didn't change them; they're target audience will eat them up while those of us who complain will have our comments fall on deaf ears.

As far as the coupler is concerned, that really is a weird way of going about it, but at least they are making it right for you. Even if I am not the biggest fan of their products, BLI has always been very helpful in getting me the parts I need, in my experience, and even doing so during this pandemic is even more admirable. Good on them.