NP2626 Since one side is not 180 degrees; but, 90 degrees out of sync. with the other, the chuff is not going to be symmetrical! My not be as out of sync. as BLI's is; but,the reality is, the two sides can't be symmetrical and have to be asymmetrical.
Since one side is not 180 degrees; but, 90 degrees out of sync. with the other, the chuff is not going to be symmetrical! My not be as out of sync. as BLI's is; but,the reality is, the two sides can't be symmetrical and have to be asymmetrical.
Not exactly - since steam pistons apply pressure in both directions, a steam locomotive has four power strokes per revolution, one every 90 degrees of rotation - two pushing, two pulling. While one side is pushing, the other side is half way though a pulling stroke and so on.
In theory they are perfectly symmetrical. However, valve timing, engine wear, and other factors can throw it off a little bit.
As for BLI sound, I'll stay out of that, since all sound locos sound like a nine transistor radio between stations to me.
Sheldon
The chuff may be out of sync, but I would be just as unhappy with the awful whistle sounds on these locomotives. Doesn't sound anything like what the NYC put on those engines to me.
Two of us locally received our GS-4's some time back, and both have the irritating off-sync chuff. I've seen and ridden behind the 4449 several times, and it certainly didn't sound like that.
Hal
Actually, the engine I'm talking about which I just purchased is the J1e. The video I posted is just an example of someone else's loco, but as you said the chuffing is much worse on my J1e than in this video. Sorry for the confusion.
I don't visibly see the binding occuring in this video. The delay occurs on every revolution as you stated. I will have to upload a video of my actual engine. I don't think that "good enough" is acceptable after spending nearly $400 on an engine, imho.
Compaired to my BLI J1e, your steam chuff is far more symmetrical than mine. As I watched the rotation of the wheels the chuffs always seemed to occure at the same spot in rotation. This is a much better model than my 1st production lot J1e, which has been a problem from the get go!
NP 2626 "Northern Pacific, really terrific"
Northern Pacific Railway Historical Association: http://www.nprha.org/
I was really looking for the asymmetry, but I didn't notice any until the bind.
Pluses: good looking loco, chuffs symmetrical (enough)
Bads: bind, some of the other sounds sound too loud. Or too "something"
With a little work, looks like a keeper to me.
Ed
I understand that it's not perfectly symmetrical, but I've never seen a prototypical engine with this noticeable delay. Does this look prototypical to you guys?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8KSTB62kCqk
None of my other engines do this, only the BLI.
Well guys,
I just received the new Class J1 BLI Hudson 4-6-4 and unfortunately, I was correct about the timing. It's still a problem, even on these newer models. Extremely noticeable at yard speed. Very disappointed, because otherwise the model is very well done. The idle steam sounds with air pump are 2nd to none imho. The detailed piping and the back head are amazing. However, unless someone can direct me to modify a CV that will fix this, back it goes. I don't want to drop another $100 on a chip to fix this. For the amount of money I spent, this thing should be perfect and it's not. I've sent a message to tech support but will probably return it before they get back to me. If I wanted to get picky, I would also say the LEDs are too blue and should have more of an incadescent hue, but I wouldn't kick it to the curb because of that. The chuffing issue just bugs me too much.
Thanks
Agreed, CD. If the drivetrain is smooth, and operating at a constant rate under a given voltage setting, the revolving driver with the tiny magnet, or the cam lobe if it is that type, should actuate the sensor within milliseconds of the right time, a variance that would be undetectable to the ear. However, even if there were a delay for some mechanical reason, there would not be a pronounced and detectable change in amplititude or pitch to the sound of the delayed chuff because the decoder ought to have just the four chuff sounds, every one the same as the one preceding it, and sounding only when the cam or magnet cycles. If the decoder produces an altered 'fourth chuff', it has to be a digital sound recorded by someone and meant to play that way.
Crandell
That's really "odd" Because the BlueLine locomotives from BLI that I have use the Chuff Cam on the wheel. There's no way for it to get out of sync unless there's binding on the drivers (out of quarter) and the driver slows down.
Don - Specializing in layout DC->DCC conversions
Modeling C&O transition era and steel industries There's Nothing Like Big Steam!
Thanks guys for your input. I asked someone on youtube about their posting of a BLI Dreyfuss Hudson and they claimed that the delay was due to a problem with the actual drive train. They told me that the unit was sent back for service and after that the delay was no longer pronounced. I guess I'll wait and see if the new Hudson exhibits such behavior. It seems that an awful lot of BLI engines have to go back for serivce, so I'm a bit concerned about that. The engine just looks gorgeous, however.
Thanks again guys, much appreciated!
I'm with CZ on this. If you listen across the various videos of steamers on youtube and other sites, you'll hear a lot of variance. Those in good condition and properly timed sound the same four chuffs equally.
When you hear the pronounced chuff, you should also detect that the fourth chuff is delayed just a wee bit. The delayed expulsion of steam is that much more explosive because the piston has closed down the volume of the cylinder that much more, increasing the pressure of the used steam. Since the pressure rises before the valve clears the leading edge of the exhaust port, you should expect a louder, sharper chuff.
Of all my steamers, the only one that has the pronounced 'fourth' chuff (an arbitrary perception) is the Platinum series all-metal PRR K4s.
cruelcracker Hey guys, I've noticed through some youtube videos that the BLI steamers seem to exhibit an asymmetrical chuff pattern... specifically between the 4th chuff of one revolution and the 1st chuff of the next revolution. I was going to pre-order the new Hudson but find this to be really annoying at slow speeds. I tried an internet search on this but wasn't able to find any info. Anyone have any experience with this? Thanks!
Hey guys,
I've noticed through some youtube videos that the BLI steamers seem to exhibit an asymmetrical chuff pattern... specifically between the 4th chuff of one revolution and the 1st chuff of the next revolution. I was going to pre-order the new Hudson but find this to be really annoying at slow speeds. I tried an internet search on this but wasn't able to find any info. Anyone have any experience with this?
Thanks!
All steam locomotives exhibit a slightly off asymmetrical chuff when hooked up in the company notch, but the BLI sound is way off. It would be correct for some out of time locomotive or a problem with the valve cage or damage to the valve movement. It is not correct for any main line steam that was maintained like most railroads did their maintenance. Even the ex C&O 614 on its first trip in 1980 with the problem in the valve cage sound correct when starting slowly with the reverser in the full position. That locomotive had an lubricater problem that messed up the valve cage and it sounded way off like the BLI sound until they fixed the problem.
They insist on using their own sound and I have personally stopped buying their products. I did purchase the GS4 Daylight and removed the sound they installed and installed a Soundtrax. It is good now!!
CZ