BLI N-Scale Announcements

[dem34]

BLI expecting us to buy pancake-wheel foobies to prove the desire for prototype models is an “interesting” strategy.

In this case its TrainWorld paying a deposit to have a handful painted like that.
Last I heard BLI's threshold for doing that is relatively low for a mfg.

[Dave V]

Gonna keep it LIRR or reletter?

LIRR... I grew up in Greenlawn, NY on the LIRR.

BLI expecting us to buy pancake-wheel foobies to prove the desire for prototype models is an “interesting” strategy.

Admittedly I'd prefer proper spokes. But, it'll be running on Unitrack so...I'm not losing a whole ton of sleep over a foobie on code 80 rail.

In this case its TrainWorld paying a deposit to have a handful painted like that.
Last I heard BLI's threshold for doing that is relatively low for a mfg.

I wondered about that, so maybe I'm not taking on for the team after all. But, I'm still feeling this one, even though the real #107 was a class H10sb.

Some days I'm hunting for brake rigging diagrams as I build a one-off prototype boxcar. Other days I'm pre-ordering a foobie for the neat-o factor. I've begun to realize I'm a bit bipolar at times in the way I approach and enjoy the hobby. And as I'm getting older I'm finally worrying less about what other hobbyists think about my choices.

[muktown128]

I spoke with the BLI rep at Trainfest last year about the solid driving wheels.  He said that with the change to a new factory they didn't want to overwhelm the factory with all the fine details.  Long term plan is to do see-through spoked driving wheels.  Not sure when that will happen.  Solid driving wheels is a big turn off for me. 

[R L Smith]

Some days I'm hunting for brake rigging diagrams as I build a one-off prototype boxcar. Other days I'm pre-ordering a foobie for the neat-o factor. I've begun to realize I'm a bit bipolar at times in the way I approach and enjoy the hobby. And as I'm getting older I'm finally worrying less about what other hobbyists think about my choices.

Preach on brother!!

[peteski]

I spoke with the BLI rep at Trainfest last year about the solid driving wheels.  He said that with the change to a new factory they didn't want to overwhelm the factory with all the fine details.  Long term plan is to do see-through spoked driving wheels.  Not sure when that will happen.  Solid driving wheels is a big turn off for me.

Fine details? Hmmm . . . spoke driver wheels in a steam locomotive to me are not "fine details". That is one of the basic details in a scale model.  But whatever . . . I guess that excuse is as good as any.  Still, European model manufacturers have been making see-through spokes going all the way back to the '60s.

Also, if the contractor making these models for BLI is capable of producing see-through spoke drivers, why would it overwhelm them now, but be ok making them later.   Again, I'm trying to apply logic to what seems illogical.

[robert3985]

I spoke with the BLI rep at Trainfest last year about the solid driving wheels.  He said that with the change to a new factory they didn't want to overwhelm the factory with all the fine details.  Long term plan is to do see-through spoked driving wheels.  Not sure when that will happen.  Solid driving wheels is a big turn off for me.

That doesn't make sense.  N-scale steam locomotives of a specific type are nothing but fine details.  The factory is there to make your product and to please you.  You don't exist to please the factory other than to pay them to do the job you want to your specifications.

I don't know how Chinese factories function from a social aspect, but frankly, if they can't do the job then find another factory who won't be overwhelmed.

Cheerio!
Bob Gilmore

[pmpexpress]

I spoke with the BLI rep at Trainfest last year about the solid driving wheels.  He said that with the change to a new factory they didn't want to overwhelm the factory with all the fine details.  Long term plan is to do see-through spoked driving wheels.  Not sure when that will happen.  Solid driving wheels is a big turn off for me.

It appears that some of us are overlooking the fact that BLI has been utilizing Vietnam, not China to produce some, or all of their recent N-Scale products.

As Vietnam hasn't been producing model trains for decades, there is likely going to be a learning curve.

[Kentuckian]

Back when I was working one of the first management principles I learned was the “pygmalion effect”; basically you get what you expect. I believe it’s better to set the high standards you want from the get-go, and then use coaching or other appropriate measures to get the desired results.

I have read that many of the tech billionaires used similar methods in their companies.

I also believe that lowered expectations carry over to other aspects of the product, like Paragon 3 decoders. I appreciate BLI and have a handful of their products, but if other options exist I use those first.

I still have hope for some big steam from them in N scale, but I’m not holding my breath.

[kscessandriver]

For what it’s worth, Midwest model RR has a KCS exclusive version of the 2-8-0, if that’s something you need

[Dave V]

I still have hope for some big steam from them in N scale, but I’m not holding my breath.

What do you consider "big steam?" Maybe it's the narrow-gauger in me, but I'd consider the PRR M1a/b and the Reading T1 to be pretty big steam. Same for the PRR T1. BLI also makes a Big Boy, a Challenger, an N&W Y1 2-8-8-2, and an AT&SF Northern. Those are all big.

[Chris333]

Yabbit do they make a NEW big boy?

[Kentuckian]

What do you consider "big steam?" Maybe it's the narrow-gauger in me, but I'd consider the PRR M1a/b and the Reading T1 to be pretty big steam. Same for the PRR T1. BLI also makes a Big Boy, a Challenger, an N&W Y1 2-8-8-2, and an AT&SF Northern. Those are all big.

You are of course correct. I’m a C&O modeler, so from my viewpoint unless a manufacturer has produced a C&O mallet, H-8 Allegheny, or a T-1 Texas, they’re just pretenders. Bachmann is one for three. I have hope for a T-1 from BLI. I will admit the Challenger in Clinchfield livery is very tempting.

[robert3985]

You are of course correct. I’m a C&O modeler, so from my viewpoint unless a manufacturer has produced a C&O mallet, H-8 Allegheny, or a T-1 Texas, they’re just pretenders. Bachmann is one for three. I have hope for a T-1 from BLI. I will admit the Challenger in Clinchfield livery is very tempting.

Go for it!

Cheerio!
Bob Gilmore

[reinhardtjh]

You are of course correct. I’m a C&O modeler, so from my viewpoint unless a manufacturer has produced a C&O mallet, H-8 Allegheny, or a T-1 Texas, they’re just pretenders. Bachmann is one for three. I have hope for a T-1 from BLI. I will admit the Challenger in Clinchfield livery is very tempting.

I got a Challenger to go along with the Big Boy since they are contemporaries.  Also a Y6B just because.  But I'm looking at that Challenger...  the drivers are only 2" smaller than an H-8 and the driver wheelbase is only few inches off as well.  How much did BLI have to shrink things to fit the flanges?   I don't think I have the skills for that, but it's an interesting thought.  Hmmm.

[robert3985]

I got a Challenger to go along with the Big Boy since they are contemporaries.  Also a Y6B just because.  But I'm looking at that Challenger...  the drivers are only 2" smaller than an H-8 and the driver wheelbase is only few inches off as well.  How much did BLI have to shrink things to fit the flanges?   I don't think I have the skills for that, but it's an interesting thought.  Hmmm.

Although I don't have a BLI Challenger to actually measure the flange height nor the driver diameter, nor the wheelbase, I would say that, if anything, N-scale model manufacturers don't usually "shrink" things to make oversized items fit...they enlarge things...so, I suspect the wheelbase will be a little longer than prototypical, the flanges will be larger (since a scale-sized flange is 1" high or only 0.00625") and the drivers will be very close to correct diameter.

Just sayin' 

Cheerio!
Bob Gilmore