BLI BigBoys both In-Stock and arriving soon

[robert3985]

To me, it's seems like a whole lot of fan fair to get 4 minutes of smoke out of a full reservoir.  I know they can only get so much in an n scale boiler but stopping every 4 minutes to get more smoke just seems 

I agree.

Cheerio!
Bob Gilmore

[PiperguyUMD]

Spotted one in the wild today!

[carlso]

IMHO,, the smoke makes this a toyish Lionel type loco from the '50's - 60s'. But my real question is for all you UP experts, and I'll admit I have not gone through this entire thread, but did the UP ever paint a Big Boy in the Two Tone Grey scheme ? ? Or has BLI done a ConCor deal ?

[spookshow]

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

[peteski]

That looks like a typical "Kinematic" design for drawbars or coupler mounts.  It is designed for close coupling on tangent track but extend the coupler spacing when on curves.  To work properly it needs to have smooth action.  Sounds like it is binding.

[spookshow]

I'm seeing noticeable wear in the edges of that "^" shaped slot that the drawbar pin moves around in. Maybe if I run this beast around in circles on my layout for another couple of decades that'll all smooth out? 

-Mark

[Chris333]

That injector pin mark (round circle) might be raised around the edge and causing problems. Just an idea.

[wazzou]

That injector pin mark (round circle) might be raised around the edge and causing problems. Just an idea.

Beat me to it, but worth leveling out.

[MK]

Put some dry lube in the "V"?

[MetroRedLine]

IMHO,, the smoke makes this a toyish Lionel type loco from the '50's - 60s'. But my real question is for all you UP experts, and I'll admit I have not gone through this entire thread, but did the UP ever paint a Big Boy in the Two Tone Grey scheme ? ? Or has BLI done a ConCor deal ?

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.

    The question is , should you buy a BLI Big Boy with smoke, or an Athearn Big Boy with sound, the Athearn locomotives are getting harder to find as they have been out (current release) for a while, or do you wait and go for the KATO Sound equipped Big Boy which is only the Excursion Locomotive with Oil Tender. Nate Goodman. (Nato).

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.

[peteski]

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.

While that may be true, nowadays every model is "limited run" and often sold be reservations.  So I doubt we will actually have 4 different Big Boys available for sale at the same time.  You might have to wait several years to get the one you want (assuming that it will be produced again).

EDIT: I should have said 3,  as the chances of the Rivarossi/Con-Cor one ever being produced again are non-existent.  Plus I don't compare product availability of N scale to H0 (they are totally different markets), and I would much rather have larger variety of models from all the manufacturers than multiple of the same model; at least when locomotives are concerned.

[spookshow]

Ay yi yi, it's just one problem after another with this thing. I finally had to pull out my Athearn Big Boy just to remind myself what a good running loco looks like 

-Mark

[peteski]

Ay yi yi, it's just one problem after another with this thing. I finally had to pull out my Athearn Big Boy just to remind myself what a good running loco looks like 

-Mark

. . . but wait til you get the Kato.   
Yeah, I don't recall any operational problems with my Athearn Bog Boys or Challengers. 

[mike_lawyer]

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.

[thomasjmdavis]

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.

I don't know that the hobby is dying.  Manufacturers are, I think, shooting themselves in the foot by (a) only making products "to order" and thereby not having products on the shelves and available and (b) by frequently piling on and producing their personal variation of the same prototypes, thereby competing with each other for a small segment of the market, and ignoring other segments.

Note that the various autoracks available are NOT all the same prototype.  This allows those interested to run a variety of prototypes, and/or more accurately model their preferred roads.

The loco I give BLI credit for- in terms of expanding the hobby and giving us more choices, is the Reading T1.  A small drivered 4-8-4 that has a lot of possibilities for detailing/kitbashing into other road's locomotives. Out of my price range, for the moment anyway, but at least something that was not previously available.

IF you are a UP modeler modeling a freight main line in the early 1950s, having 4 companies making Big Boys may seem great.  But for the rest of us?  No choice at all- just 2 years worth of new product development from several companies that we can't use. I think the N scale portion of the hobby would be much healthier if we actually had choice, like the choice between buying a UP 4-8-8-4 or a couple ATSF 2-10-2s.  If we had good running steam switchers.  If we had manufacturers bold enough to make a steam loco that wasn't USRA, PRR or UP.  And the ability to buy one when we want one, instead of having them available for pre-order for a couple months every 5 years (followed by a year or more of waiting for the actual manufacture, and often suffering disappointment for one reason or another upon delivery).