BLI BigBoys both In-Stock and arriving soon

[peteski]

I don't think anyone would be complaining about the numerous Big Boys being produced, if manufacturers were also making multiple versions of other steam locomotives.  My problem is that it seems like right now, everyone is all in on Big Boys, which have a limited road appeal.  Give me some USRA Santa Fes (2-10-2s), which virtually every road had some version, and I would be happy as a clam.

It is sad when you compare US market with European market.  There, not only they have much, much larger variety of steam engines produced in the past, the manufacturers usually come out with few new models every year.  Or re-run some older model, usually making some improvements. Yes, there is some duplication between manufacturers, but the variety is still much larger than what is available in American steam.

[nstars]

I'm still trying to figure out why my tender keeps derailing and I'm starting to think it has something to do with this rather byzantine drawbar situation -



What I'm seeing is that the cab will swing way out when the loco enters a curve (and note that my tightest curve is 19" radius). Then, when it re-enters a straight and the cab swings back over the rails, there is an audible click accompanied by a noticeable jump in the tender. At this point the tender will more often than not run crooked with one of its wheels derailed until it hits my double x-over and then rerails itself. So, it seems like that drawbar is getting a bit hung up in the curve-to-straight transition, building up pressure, and then breaking loose with excessive force.

Anybody else seeing this? Anybody else actually running one of these things?

Thanks,
-Mark

This is indeed a kinematic drawbar, very common on European rolling stock. But the way this one is done, doesn’t look very good. Having this kind of mechanism in the cab area of the loco is most likely causing the problems due to the big overhang in curves and vertical motion of the cab.

Marc

[peteski]

This is indeed a kinematic drawbar, very common on European rolling stock. But the way this one is done, doesn’t look very good. Having this kind of mechanism in the cab area of the loco is most likely causing the problems due to the big overhang in curves and vertical motion of the cab.

Marc

But it's a "smoker"!!
Sorry, couldn't resist . . .   

[draskouasshat]

UP only used the "Greyhound" scheme on steam locos that pulled non-Streamliner passenger trains. The Big Boy, as designed, operated as a freight loco and did not pull any revenue passenger trains. So this is a certified foobie livery.



Well here's the thing: If you want a highly detailed model, go for the Athearn. If you want smoke, go for BLI. And (judging on their reputation only), if you want a smooth runner, go for Kato.

Some N scalers are complaining, "Do we really need another Big Boy?"
I disagree! Being a former HO scaler, having competing models of the same prototype is not only common, but expected, and I feel like N scalers have long been conditioned to just settle for what's offered. NOT ANYMORE! N scalers once had to settle for Con Cor's crappy toylike autoracks. Now there's 4 or 5 different manufacturers putting out those models. The N scale market is more resembling the HO market now. We have this thing called choice now, and it's not only great for N scale, but great for the hobby in general. You don't have a dying hobby when there's more choices.

Yeah, but unlike ho, we haven't had every model of every locomotive and car produced in plastic and brass multiple times. It's kinda hard to attract more modelers to N when all you can buy are the same damned big boys, gg1s, f-units, or anything modern.
The amount of steam models produced since 2005ish is dismal. Why limit what we can buy with four manufactures making the same model. That's what makes people switch to ho.....

[nstars]

But it's a "smoker"!!
Sorry, couldn't resist . . .   

I don’t smoke and don’t want to start smoking, not even in N scale. 

Just serious, burning oil doesn’t look very convincing. Maybe the system shown in this video becomes available for N. Looks more convincing and it’s only water.

/>
Marc

[up1950s]

I applaud BLI for doing a smoker in N scale . It was a something here before not done in N . It is not their fault that smoke generators don't last for as long as we want given the size restraints . The fact that we have one to capture in a photo or a video now is cool IMO . Maybe in the future , one of your favorite locos will feature a longer lasting SG . BLI was the company that did it first . Would I buy another smoker ? It would have to be in a model not yet produced for the Union Pacific .

[nickelplate759]

I applaud BLI for doing a smoker in N scale . It was a something here before not done in N . It is not their fault that smoke generators don't last for as long as we want given the size restraints . The fact that we have one to capture in a photo or a video now is cool IMO . Maybe in the future , one of your favorite locos will feature a longer lasting SG . BLI was the company that did it first . Would I buy another smoker ? It would have to be in a model not yet produced for the Union Pacific .

Smoking steam engines were done in N scale in the 1970s.  Even at least on US prototype (a Y6B, if memory serves).

[up1950s]

Smoking steam engines were done in N scale in the 1970s.  Even at least on US prototype (a Y6B, if memory serves).

You are correct Sir
https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=14920.0

[Nato]

      I broke down and ordered a BLI No.  4023 after having a long phone conversation with Robert 3985 (Bob Gilmore) who has just received  two of these locomotives and hopefully will do a review soon. Mine has shipped from Hog Trainz and will arrive next week. This is to run on the Wasatch N Scale layout at shows. Yes I still have a KATO Sound Equipped 4014 on order to pull excursion cars. Nate Goodman. (Nato). Salt Lake, Utah.

[spookshow]

Arnold's 4-6-2 and 4-6-4 were both available with smoke generators back in the late 60's -



-Mark

P.S. My apologies if you can't see the picture, my website is not https and some browsers don't like that.

[spookshow]

I sent mine back for a refund before it was too late (and before even trying to take it apart). Gave it a well earned "F" rating, what a piece of junk.

-Mark

[Jbub]

I sent mine back for a refund before it was too late (and before even trying to take it apart). Gave it a well earned "F" rating, what a piece of junk.

-Mark

I'm really curious if others have experienced this as well? So far, the reviews on it have seemed to be good. Maybe you got a lemon, which isn't good for BLI considering the work you've put into your database review system.

[peteski]

I don’t smoke and don’t want to start smoking, not even in N scale. 

Just serious, burning oil doesn’t look very convincing. Maybe the system shown in this video becomes available for N. Looks more convincing and it’s only water.

Marc

I didn't realize that those larger scale locos with realistic "smoke" do not use standard boiling oil smoke generators, but actual water.  Probably something similar to cool-mist humidifiers. Now it makes sense why the imitation steam/smoke looks realistic - that is because it is the same stuff as what comes out in 1:1 locos.

Here is another excellent example  of excellent smoke simulation in a larger scale train.

Unfortunately from what I see, realistic "smoke" doesn't  scale well.  Then there is a problem with finding space in a N scale loco for the  mechanism, decoder, smoke generator with fans,  while still having some weight - enough to make the loco pull a decent size train.  Even just the smoke generator (with a reservoir) and fans would be pretty much impossible to fit in N scale.  I don't know, maybe some day there will be nano-fans small enough to make this viable, but I still think that it will not look very realistic because like I mentioned, smoke (or water vapor) doesn't scale well.

[mike_lawyer]

I sent mine back for a refund before it was too late (and before even trying to take it apart). Gave it a well earned "F" rating, what a piece of junk.

-Mark

For the price tag on these, the Loco should be flawless.  I bet Kato's Big Boy will run like a Swiss watch.

[robert3985]

I applaud BLI for doing a smoker in N scale . It was a something here before not done in N . It is not their fault that smoke generators don't last for as long as we want given the size restraints . The fact that we have one to capture in a photo or a video now is cool IMO . Maybe in the future , one of your favorite locos will feature a longer lasting SG . BLI was the company that did it first . Would I buy another smoker ? It would have to be in a model not yet produced for the Union Pacific .

Yeah...like a TTT or a real UP MacArthur.   

And, I agree about the smoke possibly adding to the ambiance in a photo or close-in video.

Cheerio!
Bob Gilmore