BLI redesigned their SD40-2 because.... why?

[spookshow]

Now that I've gotten settled in at my new house I've finally had some time to take a look at some of the locomotive purchases I've piled up over the last 9 months. And the big surprise for me so far has been the second production run of BLI's SD40-2 (Paragon4). For whatever reason, they got rid of the easily removed (clip-in) trucks and phosphor bronze contacts between the trucks and chassis and replaced them with complex wired trucks that look very much like the ones used by scaletrains.com in their diesels (trucks that I've never even tried to figure out how to remove just because it looks so difficult).

2018 version -





2021 version -



I'm really scratching my head over these changes because IMHO the 2018 SD40-2 was BLI's best performing diesel to date and certainly didn't feel like it needed any changes. As near as I can tell, all they've really done is make it harder to work on 

-Mark

P.S. My apologies if you cannot see my photos - the links are to my website (which is not https), so some browsers may decline to retrieve them.

[peteski]

It seems to quite a few manufacturers are making dumb-headed (at least to modelers) design mistakes.  But "why?" will likely remain a mystery to us mortal modelers.   Atlas also started wiring they trucks to the chassis, but at least they used chassis connectors that can be pulled out easily.

They probably did this to reduce the possible power drop-outs.  Maybe they received bunch of complaints that the electric pickup was spotty (even though Kato has been successfully using that type of power pickups for decades), so they decided to hardwire the trucks (just like it was done by Model Power, Mehano, and Life-Like 45 years ago.  Who knows . . . 

[spookshow]

I guess if wiring the trucks was needed to keep the sound decoder happy, then the trucks themselves would need to be redesigned such that they couldn't be easily pulled off (and thus yoink the wires)? I'm not particularly enamored with DCC-Sound in general, so it's not a trend that I'm liking very much.

-Mark

[dem34]

It seems to quite a few manufacturers are making dumb-headed (at least to modelers) design mistakes.  But "why?" will likely remain a mystery to us mortal modelers.   Atlas also started wiring they trucks to the chassis, but at least they used chassis connectors that can be pulled out easily.

They probably did this to reduce the possible power drop-outs.  Maybe they received bunch of complaints that the electric pickup was spotty (even though Kato has been successfully using that type of power pickups for decades), so they decided to hardwire the trucks (just like it was done by Model Power, Mehano, and Life-Like 45 years ago.  Who knows . . . 

Allegedly something like half of the warranty repairs Atlas receives are resolved by just cleaning errant dirt and grease from the truck to frame contacts.

[peteski]

Allegedly something like half of the warranty repairs Atlas receives are resolved by just cleaning errant dirt and grease from the truck to frame contacts.

Interesting . . . and that confirms my suspicions.  But I also wonder why we don't see more complaints about this type of problem (both Atlas and Kato locos) in online forums.  In my own experience, the connectivity between the pickup strips and nubs on the tops of the trucks has not been most frequent problem.  More often it is dirty wheels and sometimes the axle bearing cups.

Regardless, I'm disappointed that the N scale loco design seems to be making a backwards step, especially when ease of disassembly and servicing goes.

[Chris333]

We have a Dilbert cartoon hanging up at work. He is standing at the head of a meeting table and says "I see the problem right here" He turns to his stand and there is a bunch of stick figures drawn on it. He says "it's people".

[dem34]

Interesting . . . and that confirms my suspicions.  But I also wonder why we don't see more complaints about this type of problem (both Atlas and Kato locos) in online forums.  In my own experience, the connectivity between the pickup strips and nubs on the tops of the trucks has not been most frequent problem.  More often it is dirty wheels and sometimes the axle bearing cups.

Regardless, I'm disappointed that the N scale loco design seems to be making a backwards step, especially when ease of disassembly and servicing goes.

To be fair. Remember most modellers don't even interact with the social aspect of the hobby. To joe shmo all he sees is he wants to run his train after it was sitting on the layout in the garage for a month and now it has spotty pickup or doesn't even run at all. I have bought a few broken engines in the past that only had a bit of oxide/oil on those frame tabs.

[davefoxx]

I disagree that wired trucks is a step backwards.  When I moved to HO, I discovered that most trucks were wired.  At first, I was disappointed, because the ease of disassembly/reassembly of a model locomotive was more complicated.  But, since learning how to install DCC sound decoders and speakers, it’s really not that big of a deal, other than having to get the soldering iron out and heating it up.  A simple touch of the soldering iron, and the wire comes free.  Another zap puts it back.

And, aren’t those new Atlas mechanisms soldered to the trucks, but press fit into the frame?   What’s the problem with that?  Those pick-up strips were always ugly.  I usually tried to blacken them with a Sharpie, except the contact points, to camouflage them.  Removal of these strips from the design allows more detail under the frame.

DFF

[peteski]

And, aren’t those new Atlas mechanisms soldered to the trucks, but press fit into the frame?   What’s the problem with that?  Those pick-up strips were always ugly. 

One word  (well 2): Wires break.  Period!

 I'm of Victor Miranda's school of thought.  The fewer wires in a model, the more reliable it will be. And easier to service.  That's all.  I also really have hard time believing that so many modelers have issues with the Kato-style of truck-to-chassis connectivity. I base that on my own experience,  plus experience of several N scale model layout owners, and also the members of the NTRAK club I belong to. Unless maybe some ham-fisted person takes the model apart and bends the hell out of the pickup strips.

Pickup strips were ugly?  Really?  Ok.

[davefoxx]

One word  (well 2): Wires break.  Period!

[. . .]

Pickup strips were ugly?  Really?  Ok.

I have never had a problem with broken wires.

Also, regarding the pick-up strips, I was trying to give my opinion in a mature debate.  There was no need for your usual condescending tone, Pete. 

DFF

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Pickup strips were ugly?  Really?  Ok.

Pickup strips ARE ugly. They're a neccessary evil in some cases, but I think I prefer wires. I don't feel like I'm running stuff nearly enough for those wires to break through normal usage and they're easy enough to fix if they do.

If something happens to a pickup strip, you've gotta hope there are replacement parts in stock.

[peteski]

I have never had a problem with broken wires.

Also, regarding the pick-up strips, I was trying to give my opinion in a mature debate.  There was no need for your usual condescending tone, Pete. 

DFF

I'm sorry Dave.  I had no idea that was being condescending.  I just wrote what I was thinking at the time. I would have said the same thing to you if we were speaking face to face.  I also did not think I was being immature. Seems that after almost 6 decades of life I still don't seem to play well with (some) others.  One thing is inescapable - we disagree on the what is the best electric pickup method for N scale locos.

[peteski]

Pickup strips ARE ugly. They're a neccessary evil in some cases, but I think I prefer wires. I don't feel like I'm running stuff nearly enough for those wires to break through normal usage and they're easy enough to fix if they do.

If something happens to a pickup strip, you've gotta hope there are replacement parts in stock.

I genuinely find it interesting to see that there are pickup-strip-haters out there.

[oakcreekco]

Not all manufacturers "hide" their pick up strips equally. Some stick out like a sore thumb, others are hidden well.

I'm sure that the correct type and quality wire would be a non headache and reliable, just like a contact a contact strip.

My concern is the quality of the wire, and corrosion possibilities. I've seen more than my fair share of corroded contact strips and motor contact strips from certain manufacturers. I have my thoughts on what causes this, but that's another subject!  😆

Corroded contact strips are an electrical contact headache, but easily fixed (which shouldn't need to be done in the first place.)

Corroded wire is an electrical nightmare. I don't need that. Guess time will tell how it works in the long run.

[jagged ben]

Pickup strips are ugly when you can see them.  I.e. they are ugly on Atlas Dash-8s and some other Atlas models.  And they are not ugly on Kato models, which are always designed to hide them from view.  Always baffled me that Atlas didn't seem to care after about 2000.