Saw the new BLI boxcar with mule sounds today... (Eval on Page 8+)

[eric220]

I'll just leave this here.

OK, the over the top bashing is starting to get a little old.  Let's have some data points here, otherwise known as "photos or it doesn't exist."

First up, we have the BLI official product photos of both the N scale and HO scale cars:



Next up, prototype photos courtesy of Bill's Pennsy Photos:



In comparing these photos, I see the following:

• The overall rendered detail and quality of the casting is very good, and far superior to anything produced in the '70s or '80s. (That's not to say that all the nicely rendered detail is accurate.)
• As noted ad nauseam, the N scale car is one solid casting, and no attempt was made to cover that fact.  This is a significant difference from the artwork, HO scale model, and every expectation that BLI put forward before releasing the car.
• Also as noted ad nauseam, the stirrups on the N scale model are filled in, unlike the HO model or prototype.
• The ride height of the N scale model is markedly higher than either the HO scale model or the prototype.
• The metal cross braces on the prototype are pretty darn thick, and I actually don't think the N scale rendition of those details is too far off.
• The ladders on the N scale model are grossly oversized.  Not too badly for a $15 car, but unreasonably so on a $70 car.
• The roof walk on the N scale model is getting kind of thick.  Again, not objectionably so for a $15 dollar car, but for $70, both the roofwalk and ladders should have been etched metal or some other process that would allow finer renditions.
• On both the N and HO models, there are a series of notches along the center horizontal rail.  Those appear to be incorrect renditions of braces clearly visible on the prototype.
• The N scale model doesn't have a panel for the herald, and the HO Scale model kind of half-there.

Overall, after comparing the photos, I think the two biggest sins are the solid body construction (which I believe borders on false and misleading advertising) and the ride height.  If they were able to lower the car and at least conceal the solid body construction, I think this product would be orders of magnitude better.  As others have said, the final N scale car kind of looks like a wonky outside-braced boxcar.

[Chris333]

The photo of the one on e-bay looks worse than their company photo.

[towl1996]

What I don't understand is how could a company who goes by the name Broadway Limited have such a crass attitude toward a Pennsy specific model. Where is the pride? It's really a slap in the face of the PRRT&HS and the all the dedicated Pennsy modelers who do their best to preserve the memory and accuracy of the Pennsylvania Railroad.

[eric220]

The photo of the one on e-bay looks worse than their company photo.

That's true, but it's also poorly lit and partially out of focus. I didn't really see anything in that photo that changed my comparison.

[coosvalley]

People here are posting like it's the worst looking model ever made, but there are many poorer models out there.  I think the solid sides make the model look much worse than it actually is.

OK, besides the readers digest TOYS, what model(s) are worse?

To me, this is a HUGE FAIL on BLI's part, I wouldn't pay 5 bucks for that thing they're calling a stock car, sounds or no sounds.Heck,.I wouldn't even take 5 bucks from BLI to put it on my layout!

I do consider this car the WORST n scale offering to date. ....YMMV

OTOH, BLI did just make the SPFs a pretty sweet steam loco, so I guess they are allowed to fumble a little bit before I condemn the entire outfit..

This whole situation makes me glad I never pre-order anything...I'm feeling bad for those guys right now!

[Cajonpassfan]

I'm as disappointed as anyone but we could throttle back a hair on the vitriol.

With respect to others who have decreed that they will never buy another BLI product, I must also disagree. ...

Dave, with respect, I'm not getting the same vibe; what I'm hearing (and feeling) is that we're not going to preorder another BLI car before we see what it looks like. Maybe it's BLI' credibility that's questioned. Certainly, that's how I feel....
Otto K.

[learmoia]

OK, besides the readers digest TOYS, what model(s) are worse?

To me, this is a HUGE FAIL on BLI's part, I wouldn't pay 5 bucks for that thing they're calling a stock car, sounds or no sounds.Heck,.I wouldn't even take 5 bucks from BLI to put it on my layout!

Carefull... I'd almost call the Reader's Digest cars an improvement..



Lets also consider this model..
(Hallmark Lionel 'Stock Car')


~Ian

[coosvalley]

Carefull... I'd almost call the Reader's Digest cars an improvement..



Lets also consider this model..
(Hallmark Lionel 'Stock Car')


~Ian

Haha, I agree with you!....Though I was thinking more of the gp35-ish locomotive...

Do any of the other stock car models look as bad as the BLI?..

[learmoia]

Haha, I agree with you!....Though I was thinking more of the gp35-ish locomotive...

Do any of the other stock car models look as bad as the BLI?..

Lets see..

If it looked like that we woulnd't have much to complain about..




.. wait that's an actual boxcar..


Hallmark Christmas Tree Ornament?!?!?.. Stirrups are still open...

I had better stop... .. The BLI car would look acceptable in a train if you 'weathered' the gaps to help create the illusion of depth..

~Ian

[chessie system fan]

Hey I didn't say it looked good haha.  They're bad, just not as bad as some of the hyperbole here, IMO.  I see what you all mean about the ride height.  I based my opinion on the Klien photo, which is more top down.  The grabs are bad, but no worse than on the recently released IM war emergency boxcars.  And if you think they're clunky now, just think what they'd be like molded on.  I shudder to think about trying to remove them.  From the few pictures I've seen, the wooded boards on the ends look about like the Rapido reefer's boards, and no one has a problem with that model.   

If this car had open slats, actual stirrups and better ride height I bet most modelers would give it a B/B-/C+ instead of its solid F-.    Personally, even unchanged I'd rate the Atlas Trainman wannabe PS1 worse, mostly due to that atrocious door it has.   

[Chris333]

So do they still use those wide treads on the wheels?

Did anyone tell them how bad their PRR hoppers look next to FVM hopper?

[nkalanaga]

The only cars I have with filled-in stirrups are the old GHQ/DI(?) flatcars, and in their defense, those were solid cast pewter.  I don't think the stirrups COULD have been made open, and they're not hard to replace, if they bothered me.  So far I haven't.

As far as I can remember, the only cars other than those that I ever had were my first set - Lone Star 000.  And those weren't "scale models", but toy trains, and sold as such.

[coosvalley]

Hey I didn't say it looked good haha.  They're bad, just not as bad as some of the hyperbole here, IMO.  I see what you all mean about the ride height.  I based my opinion on the Klien photo, which is more top down.  The grabs are bad, but no worse than on the recently released IM war emergency boxcars.  And if you think they're clunky now, just think what they'd be like molded on.  I shudder to think about trying to remove them.  From the few pictures I've seen, the wooded boards on the ends look about like the Rapido reefer's boards, and no one has a problem with that model.   

If this car had open slats, actual stirrups and better ride height I bet most modelers would give it a B/B-/C+ instead of its solid F-.    Personally, even unchanged I'd rate the Atlas Trainman wannabe PS1 worse, mostly due to that atrocious door it has.

I only quoted you earlier because I really can't think of a worse looking model. While the Atlas Trainman PS1 isn't great, one could argue that the Micro trains one is even worse. But somehow either of those don't look as bad to me, probably because the details they do have are not over-exaggerated. Both of them are also much older tooling. Atlas seems to have addressed the problem with a new PS-1. Though the MT car has issues, they were designed around pizza cutters, not ideal, but understandable(Something I do feel they should fix, though).

 I really cannot think of a reason BLI couldn't get these cars right, or at least better than what they are. Not one good reason. Maybe it really does take BLI 10+ years to get something right.

Imagine if you had a brick and motor hobby shop and ordered a bunch of these. ...I feel bad for those guys too...

[Chris333]

Negative post fairy strikes again!   

[peteski]

Negative post fairy strikes again!   

Ha!  More than one can play that game!    
I think it sucks that members here cannot give  their honest view of something (without bashing anything or anybody and without trolling) without someone who simply disagrees to to take away that persons respect points. Just because somebody thinks that some model is the worse they have seen (and provide detailed reasoning), that is their opinion - why should someone ding them for that?  To me that is bullcrap!

I think that "respect" is a poor choice of description for the rating.   That rating is more of a popularity rating.  To me respect and popularity are totally different things, and what happens here is more a popularity voting than respect.