BLI announces a new NW2, SW7...

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Different phase https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=46183.0

Sweet!

[wcfn100]

Here's a close up of the SW7.



The main spotting over the late NW-2 would be the non-arching cab windows and full height radiator on the nose.

I still prefer the slightly raised panel type doors the Kato does over the 'moat' method that BLI and Bachmann do, but I'll probably get one undec just to see what I can do with it.


Jason

[peteski]

I still prefer the slightly raised panel type doors the Kato does over the 'moat' method that BLI and Bachmann do, but I'll probably get one undec just to see what I can do with it.

Ah, another new model with exaggerated (width) door lines.    Why to they have cowboy their own methods of depicting that detail, rather than simply imitating what already works well?   

[learmoia]

Is it the molding method due to the fact that it's a cast metal shell (BLI) vs injection plastic shell (Kato)?

I have not studied other BLI diesels to see if they are molded the same way..

(I think Bachmann just does whatever is cheapest.. so that doesn't count ....most of thier Diesels are like that.)

What's the status on neon handrails for these?

[peteski]

Is it the molding method due to the fact that it's a cast metal shell (BLI) vs injection plastic shell (Kato)?

That shouldn't matter. Maybe some super small details cannot be rendered in metal as easily as they can in plastic, but a slightly raised door wouldn't be a problem.

[randgust]

I was wondering how you could possibly jam DCC and sound in an NW2 and still have something with enough electrical conductivity and tractive effort to even call itself a locomotive.

Cast metal shell just might do it, OK, I'll hold my fire.

I have to admit that test-running the BLI PA1 on my layout was such a disaster I never considered anything BLI after that (electrical pickup +derailments) but that I've also loved to watch the various PRR steam locomotives with sound at Altoona.

I still don't know how we manage to end up with three different NW2's in N and no first-rate RSD15.   

[peteski]

I was wondering how you could possibly jam DCC and sound in an NW2 and still have something with enough electrical conductivity and tractive effort to even call itself a locomotive.

Not unreasonable at all.  If you check  the DCC section of the forum, there are several  home-brewed DCC sound installs in that size switcher.  And those don't even have metal bodies. Plus, Atlas sold S-2 with a factory-installed sound.  I have not seen any griping about their pulling abilities, and electrical contact reliability is greatly dependent on the quality of the trackwork.  After all, these are lightweight, short-wheelbase locos.

[Mark5]

I still don't know how we manage to end up with three different NW2's in N and no first-rate RSD15.

My money is on BLI doing the RSD15 in N - they did it in HO.

[Jbub]

My money is on BLI doing the RSD15 in N - they did it in HO.

But has Kato done an RSD15? I think that's part of their go/no go decision on new n scale models.

[C855B]

My money is on BLI doing the RSD15 in N - they did it in HO.

That would be a shame, since it would mean it would be unlikely to made by somebody else. I'd like an RSD15 for Santa Fe interests in the era I model. Given Ian's @learmoia discovery about the undocumented decoder timeout default - what else have they screwed with waiting to bite us? - it means I wouldn't have one.

It's bad enough to have to pay the "sound premium" when I don't want sound, but to have to fiddle with the models so they can run in my operating setting is a waste of my time. Pay more for unwanted stuff, work required to undo questionable, unneeded and arguably bizarre product decisions... what's wrong with this picture? Bah!

BLI may well release a gotta-have unique model where I will grit my teeth and pull the trigger, but as far as I'm concerned they are polluting the market and reducing choice by preempting other makers from pursuing the same or similar prototypes. What, say, would happen (...Richie @up1950s ...) if it was BLI who decided to do the AS-616? It's certainly not going to be produced by Atlas or Kato.

But has Kato done an RSD15? I think that's part of their go/no go decision on new n scale models.

This. That there is an apparent business strategy to undermine a respected long-time major, positive contributor to N scale is troubling in its own right.

[Mark5]

All of BLI's N scale releases have been models that BLI previously released in HO. No conspiracy here. 

[C855B]

All of BLI's N scale releases have been models that BLI previously released in HO. ...

Yes, but with the exception of the Centipede their choices for porting diesel models from HO to N have so far been duplicating Kato's offerings. The GP20, SD7/9, SW1500, Sharks, RSD15, EMC E1, etc., are equally port-able, and, for a while the GP20 and SW1500 were pronounced weak areas (and therefore opportunities) in N. But no.

[Mark5]

The duplication is coincidence (though you missed that BLI did EMD E6 and EMD E7 models when Kato had neither of these ). And now we get an SW7.

Much of the Kato tooling on diesels is dated (great for 1990s, but not so good now) and needs updating (SD40, SD40-2, SD45, etc) so improvements are welcome (for me!). Also, Kato tends to "park" tooling for ridiculous amounts of time, and then when they do release it is in 3 or 4 roadnames.

If Broadway can spin a profit making them I have no issues with duplication - competition is good.

Mark

[nstars]

That would be a shame, since it would mean it would be unlikely to made by somebody else. I'd like an RSD15 for Santa Fe interests in the era I model. Given Ian's @learmoia discovery about the undocumented decoder timeout default - what else have they screwed with waiting to bite us? - it means I wouldn't have one.

It's bad enough to have to pay the "sound premium" when I don't want sound, but to have to fiddle with the models so they can run in my operating setting is a waste of my time. Pay more for unwanted stuff, work required to undo questionable, unneeded and arguably bizarre product decisions... what's wrong with this picture? Bah!

I know there are people who don’t like BLI, but I don’t see why a problem with an old third party decoder (QSI) is brought forward as a reason not to like BLI. It has been years ago the last HO BLI loco with QSI decoder has been produced and there has never been a N scale BLI loco with QSI decoder. So chances that is going to happen are zero.

Marc

[thomasjmdavis]

Ah, another new model with exaggerated (width) door lines.    Why to they have cowboy their own methods of depicting that detail, rather than simply imitating what already works well?   

There seem to be 2 "schools of thought" at work here.  School 1 is that all details should be to scale (my preference)- or as close as practicable.  School 2 is that all details should be visible from 3' (or some other arbitrary viewing distance) or the modeler won't know that you bothered.