BLI F3's/F7's Shipping

[haasmarc]

I just got an email from Hogtrainz that my PRR F3/F7's have shipped.  Should get them mid-week.

[wcfn100]

If you can, please post a side shot of the F3.  The pre-production shots on the BLI site show some bizarre stuff going on.  I'm hoping the production models are corrected.

Jason

[wcfn100]

In case I'm traveling when these start to arrive, here are my concerns.



In the blue circle, the two panels with the red dot should be 'see through', while the two green panels should be 'solid'.  This is for both the A and B units.  Not a huge deal and I guess but the next one might be a deal breaker for me.

The top row of the grill is reversed/mirrored on the A unit.

Are the production units the same as this?

Also, on the bottom row of the grill there are four panels that should represent holes on the side, but the way It's painted they look more solid.  Is that just the paint making it look that way?

Jason

[Chris333]

I like it. Going out of town so do a pre-gripe now. 

[wcfn100]

I like it. Going out of town so do a pre-gripe now. 

I just didn't want to try and do this with my phone if anyone posted the picture I requested the next few days.  There's a lot to like about the BLI units and would consider getting one to look at closer, but the grill would be a non-starter for me.


Jason

[peteski]

I like it. Going out of town so do a pre-gripe now. 

I pre-gripped when I saw the preproduction prototypes of the Rapido meat reefers (huge board gaps) in hopes that they would fix that in the production run. No such luck. 

[cgw]

mbk now has them in stock.  my wallet just ran away from me.........
A passel of pensy f3/f7 should be showing up soon.      Still waiting for that invisible T1.........

[learmoia]

[Jbub]

I pre-gripped when I saw the preproduction prototypes of the Rapido meat reefers (huge board gaps) in hopes that they would fix that in the production run. No such luck. 

If they had fixed we would have that priceless piece of art from Josh. Where would we be today without that. The moral here, keep pre-gripping all you want.

[peteski]

If they had fixed we would have that priceless piece of art from Josh. Where would we be today without that. The moral here, keep pre-gripping all you want.

Oh, I will!  Online forums are a prefect venue for griping.  Striving for N-scale perfection!  I know - it's an impossible dream.

[Cajonpassfan]

I didn't realize BLI is doing the "long Warbonnet" F3... with the second headlight housing. Can't wait to see better photos, before I plunk down a bunch of money... I do have a KATO set from way back, pic below, but this is tempting, these guys were such iconic Santa Fe power. Pics please...?
Otto K.

[ncbqguy]

My CB&Q units are scheduled to be delivered today.
BTW, the ATSF F3 units have the oversized door headlight specific to the Santa Fe.  The F7s are later era units and as such have the lifting lugs per ATSF practice along with the grab irons and additional handrails (The F3s were modified to F7 appearance before they got these features).
Charlie Vlk

[nstars]

Charlie,

Do you know if the concerns from Jason have been addressed?

Marc

[wcfn100]

So here's what the artwork and all the photos on the BLI site show -



And this image shows the top grill corrected by flipping it.




Jason

[haasmarc]

Got my units today.

Grills are wrong.  Sorry for the quick cell phone pics.







On the plus side:
No giant blobs for lift rings.
Details are crisper than Intermountain but not Kato.  That being said, other than the grills, they look pretty good.
Lit number boards are well done.
They run very well.
No traction tires.
They sound pretty good.  Haven't really done much with sound.  As always, they are set way too loud.
Small number boards on F7's are prototypical for road numbers.
Grab irons. Eyebrow and ladder grabs on F7.
Nose lift rings.
Trainphone now painted DGLE.
Included closed pilot.

On the minus side:
Above mentioned grills.
A unit shell doesn't seem seated all the way down.  Will have to investigate.
Mold line on nose.  All F's suffer from this.
Looks like sloppy gluing of some side windows.

Still unknown:
Pulling power.
Can careful weathering hide grill issue.
Can we talk Ken into redoing the shells with better grills and do a swap out since they are definitely wrong.


Based on my limited usage, if they offered Reading F5/F7's I would buy them all (Reading F5's have F7 grills so no issue with grills).  (make note to start pestering Ken).