BLI UP Challenger reveal...

[robert3985]

This is good news for me.  Although I like my Athearn Challengers, the BLI models are much better detailed...even though I prefer the Sountraxx Tsunami decoder.

I'll definitely be saving my nickels and dimes for three or four of these when they come out.

I see they're not offering a Challenger in the "white" scheme...the TTG scheme with the light grey stripes...which was the last TTG scheme before being painted back to gloss black.  Hey BLI!  You need to rectify that omission!

Now, if I could just get a clear view of the oil bunker...hopefully it's the original, in-service version and not the restored 3985's version with all the safety appliances.  Knowing BLI, it will probably be correct, along with no ash pans on the oil-fired versions!  Very nice...

Definitely a well thought out model, much like their excellent Big Boy.

(Edit) Good news!  BLI has provided both the original oil bunker and the later excursion safety-applianced oil bunker for their excursion 3985 version!  Ash pans on the coal fired Challengers, and none on the oil fired Challengers...That's going the extra mile and adds more than a mere "touch" of authenticity to their models. 

Cheerio!
Bob Gilmore

[draskouasshat]

But it makes you wonder why is there a large demand for a model from more than one manufacturer? You should think one of them would be the superior version and therefore have the most demand. Maybe it's just playing off of peoples' brand loyalty? I wish I had the luxury of choice for models I want. In any case the stagnation is concerning. Manufacturers need to make money for sure but they should at least show some innovation with that revenue.

Exactly. This isnt HO where we already have a manufactured model of every locomotive know.n to ever ride the rails. Bring out new *****, gain new customers...........

[cfritschle]

Both engines have very sticky traction tires, so there should not be any slippage, even under load.

I am not sure why, but the lead "motor" apparently starts at a slightly lower voltage, so my Kato Big Boy always has some slippage before it starts pulling a train.  And, I don't know if this is prototypical, but it looks kind of cool.   

[nscaler711]

How do you get them to go out of sync?  Both engines have very sticky traction tires, so there should not be any slippage, even under load.

Actually "out of sync" is not a very accurate description.  Most of the time the engines would be out of sync. It would be more like "changing degree of sync".  Only time the engines would be in-sync would be if the siderods were visually in identical position of both engines.  Then you would expect to hear only 4-chuffs per driver revolution. Otherwise, you get 8-chuffs per revolution, with varying degree of uneven chuff spacing.

Of course even if they do go out of sync, this would not result in the chuffs of a sound-equipped model to also change sync, since both motors are driven by a single motor driver (and combined BEMF is sensed).  Even if chuff cams were to be used on each engine, the decoders themselves  are not equipped for dual cams.  Maybe if 2 separate decoders were used (one for each motor) the effect would be audible.

It's not so much that I get them out of "sync" they just kind of do it on their own. I'm not sure if you recall the situation that mine is going through were one will lose power and then stall, I think one engine isn't getting proper power and so the flywheel keeps it spinning but slower than the other which causes them to go out of sync. Either that or they were not a speed matched pair. I had that on an early HO P42 where one truck was a fair amount faster than the other. Overall I am not too worried about that Big Boy as it will most likely be a display as it has the correct marking as when I saw it in Jefferson City.

[mike_lawyer]

Exactly. This isnt HO where we already have a manufactured model of every locomotive know.n to ever ride the rails. Bring out new *****, gain new customers...........

I don't really have a problem with BLI releasing a Challenger, as long as they release some new models as well.  It seems BLI is the only one willing to make new N scale steam in large numbers, so hopefully we get some new models. 

[reinhardtjh]

How do you get them to go out of sync?  Both engines have very sticky traction tires, so there should not be any slippage, even under load.

So, there doesn't need to be slippage for the front and rear engines to get out of sync.  Since they have separate drive trains all it takes is for the circumference of the drivers to be slightly different and eventually they will drift. It might take a while though.

[nscaler711]

Exactly. This isnt HO where we already have a manufactured model of every locomotive know.n to ever ride the rails. Bring out new *****, gain new customers...........

While I do agree with you, there are some cases like this, where we need competition. I had an Athearn Challenger, I hated it. If you looked at it wrong it'd throw it's drive rods.
In the case of F units though... I'd say we are over saturated. I'm fine with manufacturers releasing locomotives that haven't been produced by another manufacturer in well over a decade *looks at intermountain and Kato* or models that have prototypical features like what Scale Trains is doing. 

[nickelplate759]

...
In the case of F units though... I'd say we are over saturated. I'm fine with manufacturers releasing locomotives that haven't been produced by another manufacturer in well over a decade *looks at intermountain and Kato* or models that have prototypical features like what Scale Trains is doing.

I'll note that the latest run of BLI F7's (just arriving) has road-name-specific details.

[Jbub]

I'll note that the latest run of BLI F7's (just arriving) has road-name-specific details.

With details like this as well as doing 'stealth' versions of their locos, they are really making it hard for me to not buy something that I don't need from them. I've been having thoughts about switching modeling eras, from current modern to late 40's early 50's transition and this just adds to that temptation.

[mike_lawyer]

Well, that was fast.  Pre-production photos of the sample N scale Challenger are on BLI's Facebook page.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

I'll note that the latest run of BLI F7's (just arriving) has road-name-specific details.

Do they have painted handrails?

[nickelplate759]

Do they have painted handrails?

If you trust the pictures on their website,  then yes.  I ordered a NP set but they haven't arrived yet.

[nickelplate759]

Do they have painted handrails?

Oops, double posted