Which Is The Better HO-Scale EMD SD45 Model: BLI or ScaleTrains?

[pmpexpress]

Notwithstanding any differences between the Paragon 4 versus the ESU LokSound 5 DCC Sound decoders that are factory installed, insofar as the accuracy of the paint schemes, the overall body details, railroad specific detailing, and drive mechanism, who produces the better HO-Scale EMD SD45 model, Broadway Limited Imports (BLI) or ScaleTrains?

[samusi01]

I feel that a forum with more HO modelers might yield a better response... I'd be happy to opine on N but what you are asking is outside of my wheelhouse. If it helps, I do eye up larger items on occasion - and even purchase some of them - but when doing so BLI has not popped up on the radar for any of those events.

[pjm20]

Scaletrains by far. BLI's detail is about at Kato's level, just a little finer. Not a complete knock on BLI as they do tool road specific details, they are just a little chunkier than what modern tooling is at.

[Mark5]

I would say both of those exceed Kato's detail (Kato often doesn't bother to get basic things like the correct truck sideframes).

The definite winner to me would be the "Rivet Counter" ScaleTrains version, but I was impressed that BLI got the trucks right and even maybe the correct horn on this N&W SD45:

BLI: https://broadway-limited.com/products/4287-emd-sd45-n-w-1792-black-white-paragon3-sound-dc-dcc-ho-high-hood (I do see that BLI omitted the all weather cab window)

ST: https://www.scaletrains.com/rivet-counter-ho-scale-emd-sd45-phase-iib2-norfolk-western-large-block-lettering.html

Mark

[pmpexpress]

While I conducted an extensive search for reviews of these models on several different HO-Scale forum boards, nothing conclusive was garnered from my efforts.

Having also viewed some YouTube reviews of previous runs of each model, without any side by side comparisons, it is really difficult to ascertain which is the better model.

With this being said, I have found Railwire members to be much more discerning than most.

Based upon my experiences in N-Scale, I had a feeling that the ScaleTrains Rivet Counter models would prove to be the better choice.

As I am acquiring HO-Scale Clinchfield diesel units and rolling-stock for a potential modular layout build, your comments are greatly appreciated.

On a side note, I'm also wondering how late run Athearn Genesis models with factory installed SoundTraxx Tsunami2 sound decoders compare to similar Rivet Counter offerings with ESU LokSound 5?

In HO, are the ESU sound decoders still the better choice for diesel units?

As the ScaleTrains models come with factory fitted ESU PowerPack capacitors, also wondering if the Athearn and BLI models have factory installed stay-alive capacitors?

[jargonlet]

While I do not have a BLI SD45, I do have their SD40-2.  I would assume from prior comments and for sake of this conversation they are about the same beast. While the BLI does run well, I agree with the prior posts that the details are a bit dated. 

As for my SD45s,  I have a small fleet.  Five to be exact.  Two Scale Trains and three Athearn Genesis.  All of these are EL and this is how they get run:
Bicentennial set (SD45 ST, SDP45 Genesis)
SDP45, SD45-2 both Genesis
I also have another SD45 ST.  This loco floats around between the lashups or gets run by itself.

Further, both bicentennial units and the sd45 have loc sound and the two Genesis have Tsunami 2.  While they stay lashed up by decoder for the most part, I do mix and match the locos.  For that matter sometimes the Genesis units get lashed up with the Rapido E units which have Loc Sound.  I don't have a ton of issues with this although I could use a good session to speed match them.  There is a little bit of play between them. 

As for which is better, that's a hard question.  All of the mentioned locos do run really well and look good although the BLI doesn't look as good close up.  I guess it comes down to which company does a better job with your prototype.  One more thing, all of mine came factory with keep alive/power packs accept the two I put decoders in and they have them also.  I'll also say that the ST have working class lights.  When I bought my Genesis, they did not offer that feature.  The newest runs may but I am unsure.  In my consists, the ST is always the lead loco due to this feature.

[pmpexpress]

While I do not have a BLI SD45, I do have their SD40-2.  I would assume from prior comments and for sake of this conversation they are about the same beast. While the BLI does run well, I agree with the prior posts that the details are a bit dated. 

As for my SD45s,  I have a small fleet.  Five to be exact.  Two Scale Trains and three Athearn Genesis.  All of these are EL and this is how they get run:
Bicentennial set (SD45 ST, SDP45 Genesis)
SDP45, SD45-2 both Genesis
I also have another SD45 ST.  This loco floats around between the lashups or gets run by itself.

Further, both bicentennial units and the sd45 have loc sound and the two Genesis have Tsunami 2.  While they stay lashed up by decoder for the most part, I do mix and match the locos.  For that matter sometimes the Genesis units get lashed up with the Rapido E units which have Loc Sound.  I don't have a ton of issues with this although I could use a good session to speed match them.  There is a little bit of play between them. 

As for which is better, that's a hard question.  All of the mentioned locos do run really well and look good although the BLI doesn't look as good close up.  I guess it comes down to which company does a better job with your prototype.  One more thing, all of mine came factory with keep alive/power packs accept the two I put decoders in and they have them also.  I'll also say that the ST have working class lights.  When I bought my Genesis, they did not offer that feature.  The newest runs may but I am unsure.  In my consists, the ST is always the lead loco due to this feature.

Thanks for your very useful insight.

As the prototype Clinchfield Railroad regularly mixed F-Units, GP7, GP38, SD40, SD45, SD45-2, and U36C locomotives in their consists, like you have successfully done, I will eventually need to create lashups of different types locomotives from Athearn Genesis, Atlas, Intermountain, ScaleTrains, (possibly) Stewart, and (possibly) Walthers.

As my Genesis models are not factory decoder equipped, I'll need to install ESU decoders with ESU PowerPack capacitors in them.

Having postponed any BLI acquisitions (i.e., except for a pair of SW7 switchers that were previously acquired), from what I'm hearing from several different sources, I'll pass on the BLI SD45s and stick with the ones from ScaleTrains.