lets see i had 2 old riverossi big boys from the mid 90's ran decent sold them
have the new DCC riverossi with sound runs nice but the <weathering> looks like its about to be scrapped !!
i have the bli big boy , nice running nice sounding
next up the athearn big boy , nice detail runs nice
lastly MTH big boy runs great but the same casting as the bli ,both have very nice details,hummmmm my favorite would have to be........................................................MTH
John:
I sent you a P.M.,check your messages.
Mike
All,
Appreciate the feedback from all of you guys --sorry, Im new at the forum stuff
On Tusnami, Im not a big fan of their decoders for Steam. I think QSI has a better product for sound and chuff synch. I had it all explained to me by Steve Gill of Ulrich Models. I have a Lionel Challenger...looks good, runs great , but had a quirky decoder --it would randomly loose the settings. I upgraded the chip and no change. I found Steve, and he expalined that the new QSI's solved that problem as well as their approach to the chuff. Tsunani uses the direct throttle setting and under load it just cant keep up realistically... yes I'm picky.
Steve upgraded the speaker and added a 2nd at the same time. The results were awsome. So, I learned its a combination of the decoder and speaker
I also have a one of those money pit projects that we all have experienced ... a brass Nickel Plate Products GTW U4b. My club models GTW between 1955-1975 era so I snapped it up. I had a vendor bring it up to current standard and he was wedded to Tusnami and I let him talk me into it. Long story short, I have learned painfully, that the older brass (and I love them) present a huge challenge to run reliably on DCC. ( electrical, pulling power, etc)
I now have it with a club member that is a real "artist" who recently started his own business to re-work it. I have so much into it , I just cant abandon it and told him I dont care what it takes just fix it. The jury is out.
Thanks for listening!
John
I diddnt know that about Markliin! Trx and PCM seem to be the best.
Appreciate the feedback
Thanks,
Cuda Ken,
Thanks for the info Trix and PCM seem to be the ones
Hal,
Thanks Trix & PCM seem to be the best
Thanks Tom
Consensus is Trix or PCM
Mike,
I'm impressed! Trix & PCM seem to be the best
Can you share your layout plan?
From my basic experiences; I have owned several Rivarossi "Big Boys" over the years going back to AHM days. Not great "pullers" but they are the most forgiving of a tight radius curve. I had a Key brass Big Boy at one time - terrific model, great runner but it became a maintenance nightmare and I sold it. I haven't ruin my Blue Line or Trix Big Boys very extensively, but they are fine engines! One caveat - they do NOT like tight curves, They will operate on some portions of my 24" radius mainline, but not on other areas, so beware. Both of them have nice weight and seem to be able to pull a lot of my PFE reefers. I haven't (yet) owned an Athearn Big Boy, but they sure do look nice. On the good news, the next (2013) run will have Tsunami decoders instead of the MRC item in early runs. I just learning DCC but I have grown to appreciate the Tsunami decoders. The Athearn model does have a lot of detail that needs a bit of careful handling.
So, depending on your budget, your needs and your layout, you have several good choices. Find the one that you can afford and enjoy the heck out of it!
I only have experience with the AHM (old Rivarossi) Big Boy. It's a great model for those who like to tinker. I've read more than enough about the other models to know them pretty well, but I can't give any actual first-hand experience.
The new Rivarossi Big Boy uses the same shell that's been in production since 1967 or so, but it's a smooth runner from what I've heard (it needs additional pickups added, though). At this point, it's the "budget" model with the least detail (it still looks very good, though) and fewest features, but it's good quality.
The Athearn Big Boy is the only one of the high-end models with a plastic body. The detail is excellent, and they're smooth runners, but early models used cruddy MRC sound (which I did have the displeasure of hearing once). I think the latest production has Tsunami sound, which I've heard is some of the best.
The BLI-PCM/MTH Big Boy (originally made in BLI'S top-end PCM line, downgraded to Blue Line, and taken by MTH in a lawsuit) is one of the best non-brass Big Boys ever made. I've heard nothing but good things about every version, but the BLI-PCM models work better with DCC since MTH prefers to use their own system that no one wanted in the first place (BTW, is there even one person here who uses DCS on their HO layout?).
From what I've read, the Marklin/Trix Big Boy is the best of the best, despite being older than all but the Rivarossi. Heavy construction, excellent detail, outstanding running quality with a coreless motor, and good 'ol German engineering ("Das Eisenbahn"? Sorry, went a little VW there...) make an engine that few can match. The drive wheels are undersized due to NEM standards, but you don't really notice unless you have another Big Boy or Challenger with scale sized drivers right next to it. If I had that kind of pocket change and a choice between any of these, I'd buy this one.
_________________________________________________________________
jbondIm thinking of buying one in HO w/ DCC & Sound. Does anyone have experience with this model from the following manufacturers? TRIX Markliin
TRIX
Markliin
jbond:
I have three of the MTH Bigboys,and am happy with them. They run well and sound great,with the one caveat that you can't adjust individual sound (horn,bell,etc.) volumes.As tstage mentioned,the number of CV's you can adjust in DCC is very limited. Momentum and overall sound loudness is about it,but as I said,they run well,and when the volume is adjusted,the whistle and chuff sound great. The bell is comparatively very loud. MTH has another run of Bigboys coming in 2013,and if they have increased the adjustable CV's,as they have with their diesels,I would recommend them.
I also have two Athearn Genesis BIgboys - these are from the newer run,with the Tsunami decoder,and are a far cry from the mrc equipped version. They run very well,and have a wealth of CV's you can play with.I have had no trouble with them whatsoever.Another run is scheduled for 2013.
I have three of the BLI Bigboys (same tooling as MTH,but with loksound decoders). With the exception of a flickering headlight on one,which I think I finally traced to a loose connection,these are great engines. Their low-speed performance is exceptional. These can sometimes be found on auction sites.BLI gave the tooling for these to MTH as part of a legal settlement,so there will be no more runs.
While I have heard that the Trix engines are beautiful and run well,I would be put off by the 63" scale drivers (unless Trix has retooled the engine). The Athearn,MTH,and BLI models have the correct 68" scale drivers. With that said,I have never heard anyone who owns a Trix say anything but good about them.
I am not familiar with the Rivarossi model.
Whichever you choose,I think you'll enjoy seeing this big engine on your layout.
Edit: Here's a video with an Athearn and a BLI that shows what great low speed control the loksound(or lokpilot,in this case) decoders have.
watch?v=uD9EYd7hiA
Hornby/Rivarossi does pretty much like all the other manufacturers. Batch production is the new normal. From the announcements and ads Rivarossi has a new run coming out early 2013- not as detailed as Athearn but not as high priced either. You may want to check it out.
Hornby sells the Rivarossi version which is still available...I'm pretty sure. I don't know anything about the BB, but I can give you every assurance that the Rivarossi 2-6-6-6 Allegheny is a spectacularly good model. If their BB has the same design for the drive train and electricals, and if the detailing and scaling are anything close to the H-8, you won't be disappointed.
Crandell
I believe the latest info we have at the hobby shop is Genesis and MTH versions due out in 1st quarter 2013 in the low $500 range. I know the Trix is about 2X that price point.
Big Boys, I love Big Boys but they can be a pain.
I have bought 3 Big Boys and only own 1 right now.
On Athearn's I bought 2 of them and they where nothing but problems! So both where returned for refunds! Besides the JUNK MRC Decoders both had mechanical issues. First one tender would not roll freely is a understatement! On a test track it took a 10% grade to get the tender to roll!
Second one, it like to do this when turning left only?
It was not only on that turn (the solder looks sloppy but it was not the problem). I was getting it to track better, then the MRC decoder got silly, so back it went.
Current Big Boy is a PCM version.
It would rate this one a 7 out of 10. Great detail, sounds great and pulls great with out any traction tires! But it as well has had issues.Current one is the headlight will not come on, Mike (site member is having the same problem. Need to contact Larry at BLI and see what he thinks.
Next one will be a Trix with some luck $ wise. Or maybe another PCM.
Cuda Ken
I hate Rust
I have a Trix/Marklin and find it to be an exceptionally finely made engine. It not only looks good, but has a very smooth drive, even at lowest speeds. I also have an Athearn, which is good-looking, but more delicate, and not as good at low speeds. I put Tsunamis in both of them.
Hal
jbond,
Of the three, I would go for the Trix. MTH will run on DCC but you'll be limited as to what CVs (configuration variables) you can change and what sound functions you have access to. The Marklin is identical to the Trix but is the AC version of it. It will not be incompatible with DCC.
Athearn also made a Big Boy (that came out about the same time as the Trix) that would be worth considering.
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
Im thinking of buying one in HO w/ DCC & Sound. Does anyone have experience with this model from the following manufacturers?
MTH