BLI doing another re run of California Zephyr Cars

[duckdogger]

Do we reserve through our LHS or directly with BLI?  In the Trainworld email, I could not find a link to reserve (nor at their web site).

[twhite]

Tom:

Looking forward to a photo when you get them.  My only complaint about the MTH Daylight set is that the coupler spacing only allows for either a 22" or 40" radius (close-coupled) but nothing in between without replacing the coupler boxes entirely.  Otherwise, the cars are gorgeous!

Tom

[tstage]

Just placed an order for the '40 version of the MTH 5-car set of the NYC 20th Century Limited passenger cars and the 4-4-2 Sleeper car.  And I'm hoping for no delays between now and May.

Tom

[AntonioFP45]

Respectfully,

I thought that BLI did a remarkable job on the CZ.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gU5LxpzZDuM

My primary critique is that the metalized (plated) finish was too "warm" in it's tone (too much red/yellow tint).  However, still realistic. I wonder if they're going to continue with same tone or go with an adjusted formula in which the tone leans closer to gray ss.

A reply from a modeler suggested that BLI was trying to capture the look of brass models.  However, in looking at many prototype photos I wonder if BLI's researcher was looking at the many western terrain/desert shots where the CZ's cars reflected the yellowish/brownish terrain of a good portion of the terrain it ran through.  Hence, the finish that resulted. Polished stainless steel reflects whatever is near it.

Just my thoughts.

[tstage]

Just a quick change of channels.  I got a confirmation from MTH today via e-mail that the 20th Century Limited passenger cars are indeed slated for May release.   Looks like I'll be hunting for some deals coming June or July.

Okay...back to our regularly scheduled program.

Tom

[Texas Zepher]

Heritagefleet1

The only flaw with that run was that the window glazing had the venetian blinds printed on one side and all of the window material were installed with the blinds on the 'outside'. I never caught it until Ken Silvestri pointed it out to me on the announcement of the second run.

I don't know that anyone in general will notice that without it being pointed out.   My issue with it is that the blinds are in the same "position" in the same windows of all the same type of cars.  That is the first window will have the blind all the way up, the second window will have the blind 1/2 way down, on every dome coach......   I noticed that long before I noticed the blinds were etched into the outside of the "glass".    

As you said they are still my favorite set of passenger cars.  I like them better than any brass set I've ever owned.

[Heritagefleet1]

The Zephyr Passenger cars from BLI are arguably some of the best passenger cars ever produced in HO. I had a Dealer Presentation of the WP cars (13 car set) up until medical considerations resulting from an accident, has prompted me to sell off that set, alomng with the Precision Craft F units that went with them.

The only flaw with that run was that the window glazing had the venetian blinds printed on one side and all of the window material were installed with the blinds on the 'outside'. I never caught it until Ken Silvestri pointed it out to me on the announcement of the second run.

Still they were and are beautiful cars.

But, compared to the MTH Daylight cars, they are definately 'dated' in terms of quality and lighting. Since I have owned the BLI Zephyrs and do own the MTH daylight cars, I've been able to compare the BLI SP cars to the MTH  and frankly, there is no comparision - from the paint finish, to the interior lighting and chassis details MTH  simply nailed it. The BLI cars don't quite have the look and feel of brass-quality that the MTH cars enjoy, the paint colors are not what I would consider correct, and lack the finer details of the MTH. And I'll say the same for the N&W Powhatten Arrow train set- absolutely awsome.

Since BLI has only released 2-3 cars, since the inception of the series, I don't know if they will continue the program. I know of only a few dealers that have stocked two of the passenger cars from BLI and nobody wants to buy them because they're concerned that BLI will not complete the series, due to a lack of reservations. I even toyed with the idea of buying the rear observation car from BLI but when place in consist with the rest of my Daylight set, it stood out like a sore thumb.

BLI seems to be a company that can't quite get over the hump with expanding their line of products and they continue to re-run older product over and over - which is fine within the limitations of those products market appeal.

But its clear that BLI has and continues to struggle in the market,  probably due to its own practices of undercutting its own dealer network in the past.

I hope they can turn it around but that's going to be a daunting task in the market they face. Announcing a run of a product and then having it 'dumped'  a week after the release thru a certain Internet Retailer at 20%-30% less than the LHS can offer it, and well, you have a ongoing recipie for failure.

I've never understood Gruba's business model -if you want to call it that.

I'd like to see them get back to the basics and focus on what they seem to do best - affordable steam with emphasis on PRR prototypes, that Q2 they just re-run is living proof of what they are capable of - but that's just my view.

 

 

[Texas Zepher]

riogrande5761

I'm glad to see the announcement of the CZ reruns from BLI.  While I have a complete mixed CZ set, I didn't buy the last 2 Rio Grande Zephyr cars from the last run so hopefully those will be re-run.  Need the 2nd flat top coach Silver Pine and the last dome-coach Silver Colt. 

If my pre-order sheet is correct both of those cars will be in this run.

By the way, my eariler post was incorrect.   All of the cars on the pre-order sheet I got have been run at some time before.    I saw the stock number of 1547 and jumped to conclusions.   My prior list ended with stock number 1530 so I ASSUMED there were 16 new cars in between those.   Nope, I was wrong (once again if my pre-order sheet is accurate).  It is just a gap in the stock numbers.

[riogrande5761]

I'm glad to see the announcement of the CZ reruns from BLI.  While I have a complete mixed CZ set, I didn't buy the last 2 Rio Grande Zephyr cars from the last run so hopefully those will be re-run.  Need the 2nd flat top coach Silver Pine and the last dome-coach Silver Colt.  This will be sweet payback to the scalpers who are trying to take the rip out of decent modelers by charging double MSRP or more!

[Texas Zepher]

twhite

Texas:

I'm with Tom about the locomotives, myself.  Especially being DC and not being able to get their DCS locos to move more than 25SMPH on a full 12 volts.   I personally think that MTH is missing out on a great deal of the HO market. 

That said, comparing the MTH Daylight cars with the BLI CZ cars--they're put together almost identically.   Same lighting pickups and same directions on how to get into them to 'populate' them.  I'm wondering if the two importers use the same factory in China?   It's almost weird how similar they are.

Ah and you've uncovered the source of my hatred for MTH.   Remember all those lawsuites a decade ago.   Totally oversimplifying it MTH won the rights to much of the BLI (and other companies) tooling and technology.   Have you noticed how closely the MTH line is following the old BLI products,  Alco PA,  GG1, etc.   They also brought DCC development to a grinding halt for about three years while it all worked through the courts.  Find an old BLI model with the legal notice in it stating that back EMF was disabled due to this action.    And , oh by the way, Lionel also fell victim.   And I don't remember how many others.   Things in common useage for years and years suddenly became property of MTH.    Stupid judges.....No that's the Homer expression.  Stupid isn't the right word because I doubt any judge is really stupid.   Ignorant.  Thats the word.  They really did not understand technolgy.     I spurn  MTH not due to the quality or technology of their products but for past "sins" of what I consider frivous law suites made to the detriment of the entire hobby.   On the other hand it was good fodder for my Marketing class where I used their original 4-6-2 HO advertisement as an example of "bad" marketing.

[twhite]

Texas:

I'm with Tom about the locomotives, myself.  Especially being DC and not being able to get their DCS locos to move more than 25SMPH on a full 12 volts.   I personally think that MTH is missing out on a great deal of the HO market. 

That said, comparing the MTH Daylight cars with the BLI CZ cars--they're put together almost identically.   Same lighting pickups and same directions on how to get into them to 'populate' them.  I'm wondering if the two importers use the same factory in China?   It's almost weird how similar they are.

Tom

[tstage]

Texas,

I won't buy their locomotives because of the proprietary DCS system and how limiting it is with DCC.  I also don't think their versions are quite as nicely detailed as identical offerings from other manufacturers like BLI, Proto 2000, or Athearn.

However, I don't have a problem buying a set of their passenger cars.  It's probably the only viable option I have of getting the '40 version of the 20th Century cars outside of brass.  With that said, I'm all for standing behind principles.

Tom

[Texas Zepher]

twhite

Texas Zepher:

tstage:

And I'm still hoping MTH will be releasing the NYC 20th Century passenger cars in both the '38 & '40 schemes.  The web site has it for May/June 2012.  Hoping that sticks...

Bummer, another set I would like to have, but I still am not able to convince myself to buy any MTH products.   

Texas:

I was the same way until I got the MTH Daylight set.  They're very cool.  I run mine behind my Balboa GS-4. 

Yeah I know they are cool.  All the harder to stand by ones principles.  If they were junk it would be easy not to buy them.  

[twhite]

Texas Zepher

tstage:

And I'm still hoping MTH will be releasing the NYC 20th Century passenger cars in both the '38 & '40 schemes.  The web site has it for May/June 2012.  Hoping that sticks...

Bummer, another set I would like to have, but I still am not able to convince myself to buy any MTH products. 

Texas:

I was the same way until I got the MTH Daylight set.  They're very cool.  I run mine behind my Balboa GS-4. 

Tom

[Texas Zepher]

tstage

And I'm still hoping MTH will be releasing the NYC 20th Century passenger cars in both the '38 & '40 schemes.  The web site has it for May/June 2012.  Hoping that sticks...

Bummer, another set I would like to have, but I still am not able to convince myself to buy any MTH products. 

[tstage]

And I'm still hoping MTH will be releasing the NYC 20th Century passenger cars in both the '38 & '40 schemes.  The web site has it for May/June 2012.  Hoping that sticks...

Tom

[Texas Zepher]

John,

You beat me to it.  I got the same e-mail and was going to post the same message.   I see some of the names are the same as prior runs and some are different!   That means I can add a few to my collection without duplication.

Of course this should be an easy thing for BLI (a re-run), unlike the daylight cars (new tooling).  I expect the Zephyr cars to show up, I'm not hopeful of other pre-ordered things from BLI.

[Left Coast Rail]

Hopefully they'll be releasing the Daylight cars soon too!  They owe me an observation car  which was part of their package deal on the GS4.  I placed orders for the other cars almost 2 years ago.  I hope the wait is worth it.

[johngriffey18ca1]

Well it's official, I called BLI today because of a strange email I received from trainworld.  They are doing another run of the California Zephyr cars and it's due July of this year.  All of you ebay price gougers better hurry up and get your cars listed before the general public catches on.  Those cars have been selling for 2-3 times their value on ebay, those days are about gone.