Anyone have one of these?
My wife wants to know what I want for Christmas
Before I tell her I would like to know your opinions on if they are worth the $$$$$?
Gary
I have several of the original and Paragon 2 hybrids. They're amazing. I don't have the one you show, but I also don't recall ever seeing one of those offered for sale refurbished on that page of BLI's website. I go to their refurbished page most days to see what's new, and that one may have shown up one time by someone who had to return it, and who ended up with a replacement or something else entirely. My point is, I have yet to read posts or to see other evidence that this model was a problem child for BLI.
I think you're likely to be very pleased with it.
Thanks Selector,
I have 6 or 7 BLI paragon 2 & 3 Steam and Diesel locos and they also run good. I've never had a Brass Hybird so I figured I'd ask since they are a lot more money.
I'll check the referb site too. the one in the picture is from their new selections.
Also, I am selling an Athearn Clinchfield challenger now that I have the B.L.I. Perfect as new, very smooth runner with minimal use. A few other higher end locos will be for sale also. Monmouth county N.J. area.
After reading the thread about BLI RF-16s and problems people are having with Paragon 3 decoders, I'm having second thoughts.
I have 3 (2 steam, 1 Diesel) P3's and 2 of the three needed decoder replacement. However, after they were replaced I have not had any problems.
No one else makes a brass hybrid that I'm aware of and all brass locos have their own problems.
What to do? What to do?
The good thing is that BLI doesn't do things completely screwy like MTH, so removing the electronics from the tender and replacing with a better decoder is not particularly difficult. So if you want the loco for how it looks, might as well get it.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
Maybe I'm wrong but the fact that they have a separate web area to sell their reworked/refurbished engines tells me they must have some serious QC issues.
I bought a BLI Blue Line RSD-15 w/o DCC when they first came out and only ran it a few times but it did well.
Just my 2¢
oldline1
oldline1Maybe I'm wrong but the fact that they have a separate web area to sell their reworked/refurbished engines tells me they must have some serious QC issues.
I buy "reconditioned" tools, housewares and electronics form many sellers. Amazon, Sears, Home Depot and others. Even the A&P used to give you 5¢ off a dented can.
I don't see that it indicates any more or less of "serious QC issues" I look at it more as keeping the revenue flowing. I have bought several engines from the BLI Refurb Outlet and all but one were just fine. The one that had an issue, BLI sent me a replacement decoder (my option) and everything was fine.
Have you ever looked into how many automobile recalls there have been? All the costs of those recalls are rolled into the retail price of a car.
Cheers, Ed
Ed,
Maybe what you say is right and many follow that chain of thought. I won't argue the point or with you and have the wrath of the loyalists down on me.
My point was that they have so many issues and units returned they have a web area for junkers brought back to life. How many other mfgrs do that? The only time I remember anything similar was AHM many, many years ago sold true "junkers" for parts and not redone models.
I've read way too many complaints about BLI products to spend any money on them. I love the Pennsy steamers but I just opt for brass. I've never had any of the issues with them mechanically people seem to have with BLI. Electrically they are pure basic engines and I add DCC sound decoders and stuff. I think they over complicate their engines with all the gadgetry. The smoke is messy and doesn't look real anyway.
Like I said..........just MY 2¢
gmpullmanI don't see that it indicates any more or less of "serious QC issues" I
Even Apple will sell you factory reconditioned Ipad, Iphones and Mac's. I'm not sure I need an Ipad though but I would consider it. Meanwhile, I love my laptop.
This forum is in no way a scientific representations of BLI purchases, but we just don't see the same number of complaints about any other manufacturer on this forum. Maybe Forum member are drawn to BLI locos more than Bachmann or any other manufacturer.
Having just written that, I'm not buying one new or reconditioned.
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
I agree, oldline, that BLI has suffered lately with the electronics — on the Paragon 3 especially. Sometimes, if you can get a BLI engine at a decent price then replace the decoder with a better off-the-shelf decoder you are still below the cost of brass which can have its own set of challenges.
Overall I've been pretty lucky with over 100 Broadway locomotives on my roster. Most of the failures have been in the recent Paragon 3 offerings. To BLI's credit they have made every effort to correct any problems and I like the fact that they will send parts rather than having to ship the entire locomotive back to them.
It seems like others have had problems with motor/decoder/motherboard issues and with increased "gadegetry" things will only get worse.
Just like the automobiles, I can't even find the spark plugs —let alone change them — on most modern-day vehicles. As the electronics get smaller and more complex on these locomotives the simple DIY fixes are going to be a real challenge.
Regards, Ed
a follow-up
I emailed bLI through their website about 2 weeks ago and skied if they have resolved their Paragon 3 problems because I was about to spend a lot of money for one of the brass hybrids. I received an email back that said they would respond in 1 or 2 business days. That was two weeks ago
I have owned both the brass hybrid GN 4-8-4 and the UP 4-12-2...my kids lost interest in steam.
The 4-8-4 had issues with sound cutting out intermittently (always started on but then while running would just cut out), but the 4-12-2 was awesome.
We dont really need sound or smoke here in our house.
John
A cynic would say you got your answer.
BigDaddy A cynic would say you got your answer.
It may have come across as a cynical question, and we don't know what the query looked like syntactically or tonally. However, I tend to agree that, if they have time to respond as they did, they had time to throw some sugar back.
Not a good sign IMO. Alas, my go-to steam supplier seems to be losing sight of their mission.
I like the looks of about five different hybrids I have. One thing I found, tho; some need really clean wheels to operate without stumbling, even on clean track.
The 4-12-2 also does not sync the chuff correctly, due to the 22:1 gearbox. The pickup is from the flywheel, and must be counted down, which is impossible.
Hal