Broadway ES44AC

[ljudice]

Anyone have these?

They got the NS dynamic brake vents right.....   No paint on handrails though.   Spookshow gave them a positive review...

[MetroRedLine]

I had one demo'ed for me at a local hobby shop a couple months ago. The dim, almost non-illuminated ditch lights, the off-color handrails and the hideous gap (between the top of the trucks and the bottom of the body - yes, all N scale locos have The Gap Problem, but this one was especially egregious) were a major turn-off. Dare I say it looks like a Bachmann Spectrum rendition of the GEVO. Other than that, the sounds seems to be nice.

I prefer the Fox Valley ES44s personally. I have three of them.

[rrjim1]

I own a LV ES44AC and the only problem is the ditch lights, but not all are that way. The paint is good and the hand rail color matches the body. It runs great with very good slow scale speed running, much smoother than any of my FVM locos. I have to disagree with the Bachmann Spectrum comment above.     

[daniel_leavitt2000]

Metro, Both the FVM and BLI AC units have frame rails and the body sits correctly off the trucks. What gap are you talking about?

[MetroRedLine]

Metro, Both the FVM and BLI AC units have frame rails and the body sits correctly off the trucks. What gap are you talking about?

BLI ES44:



FVM ES44:



All N scale locos have *THE GAP* but some manufacturers deal with it better than others.

[tehachapifan]

Hmmm....judging from these pics, it looks to me like it's more of a smaller gear tower assembly on the BLI unit allowing more space to be visible as opposed to an actual increased vertical gap....no?

[MetroRedLine]

Hmmm....judging from these pics, it looks to me like it's more of a smaller gear tower assembly on the BLI unit allowing more space to be visible as opposed to an actual increased vertical gap....no?

That is true, but like I said certain companies deal with the gap better than others. FVM dealt with it in a way where it's not really noticeable.

[Mark5]

Lighting is vastly different in the photos - I think this has an impact here.

Mark

[MetroRedLine]

Lighting is vastly different in the photos - I think this has an impact here.

Mark

I would be glad to take a new pic of the FVM in similar lighting conditions with a white background. This is not an attempt to deceive people.

[daniel_leavitt2000]

Rail to foot step height: about the same.
Rail to jack pad: about the same.
Roller bearing to jack pad: the same.
Rail to bottom of fuel tank: FVM is HIGHER.

[MetroRedLine]

Lighting is vastly different in the photos - I think this has an impact here.

Mark

You probably think I'm some mole from FVM trying to ruin BLI's reputation, but here's a pic of the FVM loco with a white background:

[MetroRedLine]

Rail to foot step height: about the same.
Rail to jack pad: about the same.
Roller bearing to jack pad: the same.
Rail to bottom of fuel tank: FVM is HIGHER.

In scale modeling, so the saying goes...looks are everything.

[CR4100]

Nobody as mentioned that the radiator wings of the BLI model are sloping upward toward the rear of the unit. Is it a bad photo or is the radiator wing "off"? 

[daniel_leavitt2000]

The radiator wing is a separate part and can be knocked loose. You actually have to remove the section to take the shell off.

[MK]

It's a spoiler!  The faster the loco goes, the more down force it exerts on the wheels thereby increasing traction.