BLI Decides to go “Stealth”

[Lemosteam]

“Happy Friday and Happy St. Patrick's day everyone!

Yes it is true, we are bringing back our Stealth Series to our new run of Paragon locomotives! We know you have many questions so we are going to make an official announcement one week from today answering those questions. This will include prices, which models will it be offered in, features, etc.

….

Have a great weekend and thanks for your patronage!”

In response to a query:

“ Kieran Connolly, Stealth means no sound system, no DCC.  HO models come with 21 pin sockets for a DCC or DCC/Sound board if you decide to add later.  N scale comes with a 6 pin socket.  Same details.  Same motor.  Same paint.  No smoke.  Lights are constant on.  Front and rear lights are directional.  $100 less for steam, $50 for diesel.”

[mu26aeh]

Can we send back decoders for a credit ? 🤣

[peteski]

H0 
I guess it's a start.

[thomasjmdavis]

Sounds like I might someday buy a BLI locomotive...if they decide to do a "stealth" ATSF steamer.  Will they still sell it to be if I forgo the "stealth" nonsense and order it as DCC ready?  I would also buy a GTW 4-8-2 or 4-8-4, but I figure that's a lost cause. But then, they are doing a Reading T1 instead of an ATSF 2900 (or any of a half dozen other common ATSF locos), so who knows....

[Lemosteam]

H0 
I guess it's a start.

Suppose you didn’t finish reading the response to a query…

“ N scale comes with a 6 pin socket.  Same details.  Same motor.  Same paint.  No smoke.  Lights are constant on.  Front and rear lights are directional.”

[lock4244]

Sounds like I might someday buy a BLI locomotive...if they decide to do a "stealth" ATSF steamer.  Will they still sell it to be if I forgo the "stealth" nonsense and order it as DCC ready?  I would also buy a GTW 4-8-2 or 4-8-4, but I figure that's a lost cause. But then, they are doing a Reading T1 instead of an ATSF 2900 (or any of a half dozen other common ATSF locos), so who knows....

GTW 4-8-2's and 4-8-4's are essentially CN pattern if I'm not mistaken, so there's a larger market for them than just GTW fans.

[C855B]

Hallelujah.

[Point353]

Stealth means no sound system, no DCC.  $100 less for steam, $50 for diesel.”

At MSRP, an Atlas or Athearn "stealth" diesel loco costs about $100 less than the DCC/sound-equipped version.
BLI should rethink their pricing.

[peteski]

Suppose you didn’t finish reading the response to a query…

I was so happy about the H0 Stealth thing that my mind wondered off.
Yeah, I'm really getting bad. I guess I deserve that down-vote.    

Well then, there is hope!  Seems that BLI really listened to our collective kvetching about having their decoders rammed down our modeling throats.  That is a great news!  Happy days are here again!  While not a Next18, I'll take 6-pin NEM socket instead of a ParagonX decoder any day!

[CBQ Fan]

I have so many CB&Q E units that don’t always play well together in DC, and can’t play with Kato at all that I have contemplated stripping one down to a dummy unit. A very expensive dummy unit.

[jdcolombo]

Got to say that I never would have believed it, partly because I do realize it is much easier for a manufacturer to just have one SKU and avoid stocking multiple versions of the same model.

But if they do a "stealth" version of the Mike in N, there may be a few more headed to my layout . . .

John C.

[C855B]

Wow. I just had a thought. Maybe wishful thinking, but maybe knowing a thing or two about production. What if this new option is implemented by a simple board substituted for the stock Paragon 4 board that has a 6-pin socket on it. Rest of the loco is unchanged. I thought about designing a board to do exactly that for the RSD-15s I have, but I don't have the means to produce one. If BLI made such a drop-in board available as a part, it would save me hours of tedium (and potential mistakes!) rewiring for non-sound.

One can dream, can't they?

[CBQ Fan]

Wow. I just had a thought. Maybe wishful thinking, but maybe knowing a thing or two about production. What if this new option is implemented by a simple board substituted for the stock Paragon 4 board that has a 6-pin socket on it. Rest of the loco is unchanged. I thought about designing a board to do exactly that for the RSD-15s I have, but I don't have the means to produce one. If BLI made such a drop-in board available as a part, it would save me hours of tedium (and potential mistakes!) rewiring for non-sound.

One can dream, can't they?

If they sold the boards I would buy them.

[oakcreekco]

Never thought that I would see an analog, DCC ready product, called "stealth." LOL

[Glenn Poole]

I hope this is true---I really wanted their RSD-15s, Big Boy, & 2-8-8-2 but just couldn't go with DCC.  I run DC and most of these DCC engines (especially those with sound) just do not run well on DC so I have had to pass on getting any of these.  I did actually try the Big Boy but it ran terribly so I sent it back.