I received this last weekend, but havent really had time to toy with it until today. Though, when I first received it I looked it over and immediately noticed that the nose bell looked deformed. I contacted BLI about it and unfortunately they informed me that the bell on my model is "normal" for these.
Here is a photo nose to nose with an Atlas SD35 (same kind of nose bell):
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Here's a real bell:
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Back to the overall model. Despite the bell issue, it is my opinion that these are by far the best (in terms of matching the prototype) early SD40-2 in N scale. Much better than the Concor SD40-2, Bachman SD40-2 (lol), Kato SD40-2, and Intermountain SD40-2.
So, my overall observations are that the shell, trucks, handrails, etc are very nicely tooled. That said there is a tiny gap in front of the dynamic brake blister (photos eventually but not today!). One of the number boards is popping out on the long hood - hopefully an easy fix. Getting the handrails into the holes on the cab is fairly easy, though one was reluctant to stay - I might have to end up gluing them in place. The couplers look like MTL copies, and unlike on the Kato SD40-2 with MTLs they give fairly close coupling. The sound is good but not ESU good. On my test track the loco ran smoothly but without a layout currently I cannot comment on tractive effort.
In theory, the Paragon 4 sound includes the Leslie ST5 horn, but I'm too lazy to play with CVs to see if it really does (I did email BLI asking with of the CV 224 settings was the Leslie).
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At this price point I should not have to replace the bell but that's where I'll go. Looking at the model and the diagram, it appears that the "bell" blob is molded into the nose - so looks like I'll have to shave it off in order to replace it.
Trivia: N&W's Hi-Nose SD40-2s were the last hi-nose locos purchased by the railroad. The order for 11 units (1625-1635) was built in September 1973.
Things that are wrong for N&W:
1) the horn on the roof is wrong - N&W used Leslie RS-5T-RF horns on all diesels that it purchased. I'll replace it with the Atlas/BLMA close enough horn BLMA 225.
2) they missed painting the end of the handrails yellow (they got this right in HO).
3) The model should have an all-weather cab window on one side (I don't expect this in N ... yet).
4) All N&W SD40-2s have Triple Clasp trucks, so the trucks are wrong (I'd expect correct trucks from Scale Trains, which they did do in HO!).
5) I have to replace the nose "bell" with something that actually looks like a bell (either the Atlas part or maybe Miniatures by Eric).
6) Oh yeah, I have to remove the ditch lights.
For reference, here is the BLI HO hi-nose - notice that it actually has a bell.
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Mark
