Although my experience was limited to a single road name (and it shouldn't be difficult to guess which one), I examined 6-7 A units all with similar problems. I heard from other owners of these models who observed the same thing. It is probable that some problems were road name specific - this would certainly be the case with the inaccurate AT&SF paint colors. The Bachmann-like tooling work will of course affect every BLI F7 model and most certainly the PCM F3s too.
Lillen wrote:All I can say is that this description is nothing like the one I got. Which of course doesn't mean that it isn't true. Sometimes one will get a lemon. I like mine so much that Joe at FDT have a second original F7 waiting for my next order. I think they are great. Excellent pullers to. Magnus
All I can say is that this description is nothing like the one I got. Which of course doesn't mean that it isn't true. Sometimes one will get a lemon. I like mine so much that Joe at FDT have a second original F7 waiting for my next order. I think they are great. Excellent pullers to.
Magnus
GTX765 wrote: Well I got the New F7 from the Blue line series from BLI. Out of the box it is a good looking model. Good attention to detail and the markings are all in good order. I put a basic digitrax Decoder in the unit and it was not a hard install, you just need to remove the front coupler from the engine and lift the cover off. The directions say to remove both couplers but I did not need to. Once the decoder was installed I put it on the track and fired her up. The engine began making idle engine noises. I pushed all the sound buttons and everything responded. I did notice my mars light was not on. It said to push the F7 key and I did and still not mars light. So i removed the cover and it was on but was not lined up correctly. I pushed it up gently and put the cover back on and had all my lights working. I began the test run and noticed it accels very fast out of the box. So cv adjustment may be needed to make it more realistic. It runs very smooth.......no engine noise and no derailments on all my turns. I have 18" on up on my layout so it should not give anyone any issues. I tried it on my switches and got no shorts either. So all in all for a little over a c-note one cannot complain, I did not get the b-unit cause it was not nessary for me. I hope others find it to be a nice addition.
Well I got the New F7 from the Blue line series from BLI. Out of the box it is a good looking model. Good attention to detail and the markings are all in good order.
I put a basic digitrax Decoder in the unit and it was not a hard install, you just need to remove the front coupler from the engine and lift the cover off. The directions say to remove both couplers but I did not need to. Once the decoder was installed I put it on the track and fired her up. The engine began making idle engine noises. I pushed all the sound buttons and everything responded. I did notice my mars light was not on. It said to push the F7 key and I did and still not mars light. So i removed the cover and it was on but was not lined up correctly. I pushed it up gently and put the cover back on and had all my lights working.
I began the test run and noticed it accels very fast out of the box. So cv adjustment may be needed to make it more realistic. It runs very smooth.......no engine noise and no derailments on all my turns. I have 18" on up on my layout so it should not give anyone any issues. I tried it on my switches and got no shorts either.
So all in all for a little over a c-note one cannot complain, I did not get the b-unit cause it was not nessary for me. I hope others find it to be a nice addition.
That is one good looking engine.
thanks to all for their replies. I will continue to monitor this for awhile, before I make my final decision. I remember either E or F units passing by my grandmothers house back in the early to mid 50s. I think it was Missouri Pacific RR but dont remember for sure. Was in Corpus Christi area at the time.
Thanks again
Charlie
TwinZephyr wrote:I ordered a set of BLI F7s when they were first announced - this was before the Blueline re-run. The models were a mess. Graphics were flaking off. Some small detail parts were missing. Other detail parts were installed crooked with obvious excessive glue. On one engine, one truck was overflowing with grease while the other was bone dry. Another model lurched as it ran down the track. Overall, these models looked like they were made by Bachmann. BLI's F7s do not compare to the Genesis or Proto2000 F7s. Intermountain's F7s are more accurately detailed, but the assembly quality (which looks like it was done by a grade school kid) is on-par with BLI. While I might buy one of BLI's other products, I would never buy a BLI F7.
novicerr wrote: got an email from fractory direct trains. They are selling the blueline F7 a-b w/sound for $190. Just wondering if these engines (a unit powered w/sound, b unit dummy) are any good. Fairly new at railroading.Thanks in advance
got an email from fractory direct trains. They are selling the blueline F7 a-b w/sound for $190. Just wondering if these engines (a unit powered w/sound, b unit dummy) are any good. Fairly new at railroading.
Thanks in advance
I got a non blueline BLI F7 AB(both powered) and it works like a charm. One of the engines that I use the most and I have no complaints. The blueline is suppose to be like the regular ones only with different electronics so I say go for it.