BLI Alco RSD-15

[basementcalling]

I am struggling with the price point just to say I have one!  I could get two more FP45 for almost the same money.

The FP45s are not exactly cheap. Given the new prices on the SD45s by Atlas, the price difference might not be too bad.

Glad BL't seems to have a hit. That model is a long way from Yugoslavia.

[mark.hinds]

Damn; but those are pretty!.  I always liked RSD-15s, but they're slightly beyond my layout's era... 

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Unpainted handrails? Lame, but an easy fix.

Otherwise they do look pretty nice.

[Mark5]

Unpainted handrails? Lame, but an easy fix.

Agreed. Very common in N scale these days though ... (specifically, the blue handrails don't match the paint) https://katousa.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/176-8914-2.jpg

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Agreed. Very common in N scale these days though ... (specifically, the blue handrails don't match the paint) https://katousa.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/176-8914-2.jpg

It's a disappointing trend.

[C855B]

Interesting, the BLI delivery schedule page still has these as "In Production" and it was updated not even 2 weeks ago. ...

And they are still on the BLI schedule page this way. HOWEVER, the RSD-15s are also on the "in stock" list, so BTSOOM why their left hand doesn't know what their right is doing.

Deepening the mystery is why we have two reports - with pix! - of having received them from their pusher hobby shop, yet N Scale Supply and M.B. Klein don't have them listed for sale as of 12/14. Even more mysterious is MBK doesn't even have them on their "coming soon" lists, yet the BLI Big Boy and a couple of other anticipated models are.

Anticipation is making me late, is keeping me waiting.

[rrjim1]

BLI might have only received part of there order, so they are still in production.

[Spruslayer]

Any one looking to save a few bucks,there are some RSD15 Long nose listed in the referb section at BLI. im jonesin for the SP version.

[kiwi_al]

Any one looking to save a few bucks,there are some RSD15 Long nose listed in the referb section at BLI. im jonesin for the SP version.

Now look what you made me do 

[Spruslayer]

Now look what you made me do 
[/quote
Yer preachin to the choir,i have a BLI Big Boy on preorder thats supposed to hit this month with all the other Christmas expenses,but im gonna try and do some fancy economic shananigans to see if i can hit the order button

[C855B]

[...sigh...]

Embarrassment of riches... I took advantage of BLI's refurb discount program and ordered two in Santa Fe blue. They are on the way. I just received notice of two more I ordered from my favored supplier from the announcement. They are on the way. So my Christmas present to myself this year is a brace of four ATSF RSD-15s in blue and yellow, both pair due in my mailbox by Friday.

OK, the challenge now is renumbering one of the sets. Go to the trusty Microscale Decals catalog for the period decal sheet. So far so good. Plenty of numbers. The factory numbers are 830 and 829. Decal sheet number jumbles to make an 8xx number have... well this is odd, there are only two possible 8xx numbers without piecing individual numbers, 807... and 829.

*%#@!!! 

[learmoia]

Any one looking to save a few bucks,there are some RSD15 Long nose listed in the referb section at BLI. im jonesin for the SP version.

... Thats not a good sign...

[rrjim1]

I'm guessing something simple to fix like the cab sun shade damaged in shipping. Way to many to be something major.

[bobdobbs]

I have 2 of these in my possession now, an SP unit I bought through my dealer, and one (SSW) I bought from BLI's refurbished page.  I will try and post some pix when I get a chance.  The sound is wonderful, I don't have a rolling thunder system, but the in-unit sound is pretty rich and very loud out of the box.  Lighting effects are Function controllable, Cab light, F/R headlights, Numberboard lights.  You must engage the Rear headlight with F3 each time you reverse the unit, I assume there is a way to get these directional with the F0 button, will work on it.
Units both run smooth out of the box, the wheel gauge was a bit off on some of the axles, it can be adjusted by wedging a tiny flat screwdriver between the wheel and the axle shaft.  May not be needed for code 80 and less finicky track.  I use Atlas C55, and wheel gauge must be pretty accurate through turnouts.  The keep alive capacitors are a Diety-send, no hesitation in operation or sound. 
Odd for this price point is that the grabs on both units are not painted white, everyone seems to have gotten on that bandwagon 10 years ago.  Nothing a 000 brush and some reefer white cant fix.   havent set them up in consists yet, but BLI makes that easy.  I would recommend them, especially the refurbished units while they last, they are a much better deal and BLI shipped mine super quick!  There was no discernible damage or reason the SSW was a refurb.

[wes_sutton]

Embarrassment of riches... I took advantage of BLI's refurb discount program and ordered two in Santa Fe blue. They are on the way. I just received notice of two more I ordered from my favored supplier from the announcement. They are on the way. So my Christmas present to myself this year is a brace of four ATSF RSD-15s in blue and yellow, both pair due in my mailbox by Friday.

Did BLI email confirmation of your order and despatch?

They took my money a week ago via Paypal for a Cotton Belt RDS-15, and so far have heard nothing.

Have followed up online with them - waiting for a reply.