BLI centipede deal

[Philip H]

http://editor.ne16.com/vo/?FileID=d6b83e5b-edd0-4bd9-828d-d8d07c0036f5&m=8f4f5985-fb1f-45ff-a103-f7894eb2ddf7&MailID=32832015&listid=20514

[C855B]

What I find fascinating is they're blowing-out road names that actually had them, and not the foobie, UP. For that price I would have picked up the foob just for S&G.

[Dave V]

Sigh...

Given what I've heard about their stalling issues, I'm not sure even at that price if I want to introduce that aggravation to the Juniata Division.  But then again, I am planning a new layout...and one with powered switch frogs...  Damn temptation!!!

[reinhardtjh]

They are doing the same thing that they did with the PA.

There is an A-A UP set in the list. It's on page 2.

http://www.factorydirecttrains.com/emdcentipedenscale.aspx?utm_source=delivra&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=1-6-17-2&utm_id=32832015&dlv-ga-memberid=312772712

But I don't think that does you much good.

I put the UP A-A and a PRR A in the cart and the coupon works.

[Smike]

Good grief, I have NO, I mean utterly NO need for this, but at $146 for two DCC and sound units is hard to pass up...

[C855B]

The stalling issue is 100% the sound decoder. There would be a decoder-ectomy anyway if my intent was to run it with any regularity (which reminds me I need to do that with the PAs).

Yeah, John, you're right. The fantastic deal only works for the single units.

Better to save the coinage for the turbines, which are shipping in a couple of weeks.

[peteski]

And I bought them for the original (discounted) price.    I thought the PRR units would be an instant sellout. Maybe they produced such a yooge amount that they simply flooded the market?

Yes, they were really poor runners for me too. In mine the stalling issues are mainly due to very narrow-gauged wheels (not getting along with Atlas C55 track/turnouts), but shoddy assembly is another big problem. I have one of mine apart to be fixed - it is still on my long list of half-started projects which I haven't' touched for a while (and probably won't complete for a while either).  I think that once I am done "fixing" it, the model will run well.  But again, a modeler should not be spending hundreds of dollars on a crappy-running model.

Does this also mean tht BLI will be soured by not selling all of those (N scale) models and will think twice before starting another N scale project?

[Dave V]

@peteski, I forgot if it was discussed, but did you try to re-gauge those wheels, and if so...did it work?

[Spikre]

 
  U.P. isn't exactly a Foooobie,they did order a pair.
  then cancelled them before they were finished.
  the units did become the Baldwin Demos that mainly
  toured the western U.S.,even ran on Trona.
  but it seems they never did wear U.P. paint or numbers.
      Spikre
       

[reinhardtjh]

Does this also mean tht BLI will be soured by not selling all of those (N scale) models and will think twice before starting another N scale project?

Although I know that FDT and BLI are joined at the uterus (i.e. run by brothers), technically the Centipede was a sellout for BLI.  Their latest "In Stock" list shows everything N scale is sold out except a few of the stock cars (sound and silent) and the water tower.

Maybe they transferred the surplus to FDT at a huge discount, but inventory-wise they are gone.

Don't forget their 2017 catalog has F3's, F7's, ES44AC's and SD70Ace's as all new models scheduled for N scale "soon".  So they are at least thinking about more.  And the T1 has a prototype so it's already farther along sooner than the M1a/b was.

[Dave V]

I wouldn't read too much into it.  Remember, inventory on a shelf is money not made.

[seusscaboose]

that sound you hear is all the PRR guys hitting the floor as they faint from anger (paying retail) or joy (time to build the fleet)

[Dave V]

The PRR single A units are sold out.

[Chris333]

Erie PA's still calling my name...



Ahhhhhgggggggg I did it!  Paypal balance made it easy.

[C855B]

U.P. isn't exactly a Foooobie, they did order ... they never did wear U.P. paint or numbers.

Which more or less defines the model as a foob - it never existed, but could have. I am surprised that BLI did not offer them in demonstrator paint, as that is something a lot more modelers could rationalize. Versus, say, NdeM... how many NdeM N scale modelers are there? Maybe not zero, but definitely not >> 0.

... Does this also mean tht BLI will be soured by not selling all of those (N scale) models and will think twice before starting another N scale project?

Aside from the FDT connection handling the overstock/surplus and more or less cooking the books, you may have a point, a repeat of Exact Rail. But ER did it to themselves, not talking to N scalers and making assumptions, then offering three models in a row with instant demand issues. I hope Scale Trains doesn't get burned on the turbine which is even more niche than the Centipede; OTOH, they had the wisdom of offering options and not shoving (the cost of) sound down everybody's throats, with the inherent market resistance that comes with high price points. They will be able to move models at or near MSRP.