I did put this in another forum about LHS's.
I just picked up a new HO PCM EMD F3 with NYC markings. Quite a heavy A/B combo. Weighs about three lbs. Never seen this brand of HO locos before. Also, it is a Lashed Up type. That is new to me also. $249.95 seems to be a pretty good price.
I see the site comes up as Broadway Limited Imports and it seems now they have a BlueLine and Paragon series. I did not look into the other scales as I only model HO.
I guess they change what they sell at times.
I have not found any reviews yet but have not had the time to look.
Rich
If you ever fall over in public, pick yourself up and say “sorry it’s been a while since I inhabited a body.” And just walk away.
Rich, BLI line of PCM is there high end stuff. On my PCM steam engines they are die cast metal and great pullers. If your engines level of detail comes close to my steamers you got a good deal.
I don't know if they have better motors than there other lines, but my steamers will pull anything I lash up to them. They make my BLI engines look like wimps!
Far as lash up type, you mean there is a draw bar and not couplers? I have heard of that, but don't own any.
Cuda Ken
I hate Rust
richg1998 I guess they change what they sell at times. I have not found any reviews yet but have not had the time to look.
The reviews were made several years ago now since they were imported while BLI was using the PCM name for all products using Loksound. Mine has Loksound in them and they run very well. I picked up several A/B combo sets from FDT when they were blowing them out for give away prices. They did offer them without sound also.
CZ
Rich,
Ken and CZ are correct. PCM (Precision Craft Models) is/was part of BLI and they used Loksound decoders. I also picked up my A-B (both powered w/sound) during the FTD blow out sale back in 2008 for $199.99. As you noted they are heavy and are great pullers. The Loksound decoders have terrific low-speed response to them.
The one thing that bugs me about them is that PCM didn't get the front nose correct. None of the NYC F-units ever came with twin headlights or a Mars light. It was always a single headlight. (Walthers got it right with their Proto 2000 F3s.) Even so, it's kinda fun to run them with both headlights and Mars light flashing.
One of these days I'll probably correct the nose by drilling out the middle headlight and replacing it with another hatch. Till then I'll just put up with the discrepancy. It's a great locomotive otherwise.
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
Just a rant and a mutter about the PCM F-3's. When they were first released, one of the paint schemes was the original Rio Grande black and yellow, that I desperately wanted to head my 1950 "Prospector". However, before I was able to get hold of them, they were sold out, so I settled on Genesis F-3's in the later Rio Grande gold and silver. The Genesis are beautiful and smooth, but I'd sure like to find a pair of PCM's in the earlier scheme.
I do have an A-B-B set of BLI E-6's in the City of San Francisco scheme, and they're just beautiful runners with superb sound. So I would imagine that the F-3's would be very comparable. Everything I've heard about them has been EXTREMELY positive.
Sigh.
Tom View my layout photos! http://s299.photobucket.com/albums/mm310/TWhite-014/Rio%20Grande%20Yuba%20River%20Sub One can NEVER have too many Articulateds!
Thanks guys. I have been in touch with Matt Williamson at Broadway Limited Imports and he told me the decoder is the LokSound v3.5. The printed documentation is minimum. These were released around 2007.
I found out Lashed Up means the B unit has a motor and two speakers but no decoder. It is controlled by the decoder in the A unit and still uses a standard coupler between units. The wires and connector are pretty much hidden by the diaphragms on each unit. My first experience with diesel A/B units.
Below is a link to Walther's that shows what I have. Those numbered locos where freight haulers form a search for NYC EMD F3 diesels.
They will be used to haul about twenty NYC Pacemaker freight cars. I still need a Pacemaker caboose like one of the five NYC had built for the Pacemaker series. I am working on that issue right now.
http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/588-304
Please notice, I am not using this for advertising as these have been discontinued.
I know some people do not like Wikipedia but here is what I found about the EMD F3.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EMD_F3
There was a brass Lambert NYC Pacemaker wood caboose at a train show I was at today for $80. (On sale from $125). I was sorely tempted to buy it but the paint scheme would not have fit my era (early 40s).
tstageRich, There was a brass Lambert NYC Pacemaker wood caboose at a train show I was at today for $80. (On sale from $125). I was sorely tempted to buy it but the paint scheme would not have fit my era (early 40s).Tom
Ooh, ooh, go back to the show and get it. I would send you $100.00 right away if it is the one recently saw on ebay that was the plywood one that is as long as the 40' freight car.
Sorry, Rich. Unfortunately, it was one of the older 17000-series/36' wood cabooses painted in the Pacemaker scheme. Nice looking model though.
tstageSorry, Rich. Unfortunately, it was one of the older 17000-series/36' wood cabooses painted in the Pacemaker scheme. Nice looking model though.Tom
Hi Tom
Yeah, I remembered that a few people have modified the 36 foot wood ones.
BUT, I found a brass one just a short while ago. I have seen a couple brass ones and they look the correct length and have the plywood finish design in brass. Love the search possibilities on the Internet.
Well Rich, how do the PCM's run?
cudaken Well Rich, how do the PCM's run? Cuda Ken
They pull real well. I am pulling up to twenty 40 foot box cars. To get 40 boxcars will be a challenge even for the club layout.
These locos are beast. They weigh 1.2 lbs a piece. They could pull a lot more if the layout was big enough but there is a limit for many layouts. I would love to see this on a large modular layout at a train show.
The LokSound decoder is quite a nice decoder. I started using the LokSound in a couple small Spectrum locos a few months ago.
I use the Tsunami and LokSound decoders. I will not say which I think is better. That can easily start a flame war. Too much Global Warming now.
Does anyone know of the actual builder of the Precision Craft F3 engines that BLI imported?
I think it might have been a German company, almost certain it was nor Chinese??
Brian
My Layout Plan
Interesting new Plan Consideration