Today BLI gave a sneak peak of their sample of the PRR E6s atlantic.
Honestly, Id dont know why, but I feel a bit sour that BLI would make a model that has been so plentiful and cheap in brass. Those whos owned a brass E6s whove spent hours of work on upgrading and detailing, will run along side fellow RTR E6s that look just as good and were obtained simply by someone spending a lot of money. Atleast they coulda made the G5s (something thats relatively uncommon in brass) or better yet, something that's not PRR.
I dont know, I guess Im just jealous of those RTR modelers and their huge wallets haha.... In any case though, its always nice to see BLI make more PRR stuff.
Gotta love the gimmicky marker lights. I hope its diecast, cause of all things, an E6 needs diecast more than a big boy or 844 ever will.
My guess is that it'll be $399 retail, $499 MSRP along with the other Par 4 stuff.
Charles
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Modeling the Santa Fe & Pennsylvania in HO
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Trainman440 Today BLI gave a sneak peak of their sample of the PRR E6s atlantic. Honestly, Id dont know why, but I feel a bit sour that BLI would make a model that has been so plentiful and cheap in brass.Those whos owned a brass E6s whove spent hours of work on upgrading and detailing, will run along side fellow RTR E6s that look just as good and were obtained simply by someone spending a lot of money.
Honestly, Id dont know why, but I feel a bit sour that BLI would make a model that has been so plentiful and cheap in brass.Those whos owned a brass E6s whove spent hours of work on upgrading and detailing, will run along side fellow RTR E6s that look just as good and were obtained simply by someone spending a lot of money.
Ironic. Brass people complaining about someone else spending money for a good looking model. How the times have flipped in the last 25 years.
Good for PRR modelers. I guess I will be one of the people that you are "sour" with. Ask me how much I care......
An "expensive model collector"
My apologies, I reread my original post and I sound like a bitter old man. I was too harsh in what I had said.
I was just reminded of a guy at my University's train club who recently graduated. His life long dream was to own a PRR S2 turbine. For months, he had spent hand crafting one from various parts, like aluminum tubing, brass stock. He built it from the ground up, using a bowser 4-8-4 chassis. He added a can motor, spent lots of money on brass detail parts. It was his baby.
Granted, he was no master scratch builder. But the piece he made was astounding given his experience. You can see the time taken to make the model. Anyways, a year ago he finally found a good deal on a BLI brass hybrid S2 on ebay and won it. He sold off his original turbine for around $50 on ebay, because as much as he had spent building that model, it never came close to how well the BLI S2s looked. But its a shame that the model he made was instantly seen as worthless in his mind as soon as the BLI model was released.
I was never one to tout brass owners being better than anyone else. I bought brass because for some reason, its cheaper than buying RTR. My Sunset H10s was $150, compared to the $350 selling price of a BLI H10s. My Gem E6s was bought for $90. If you know me, I model on a budget. I manually hardwire 21 pin decoders because its cheaper. I make my own keep alive systems out of 5.5V 1F capacitors because it costs cents to make over a manufactured keep alive. I use cheap mabuchi can motors over the expensive stuff. I am, by all means, cheap. Im not saying brass is better, but rather saying that I have more respect for those who put work into their models. I respect those who do freelancing, or those who go out of their way to superdetail a budget model, more than those who don't. I know it's not fair to those who have little time or interest to tinker with their models, but I guess Im just bad that way. I dont outright dislike such people, (sour was the wrong word in my OP), but I respect the latter more.
At the same time though, I understand that manufacturers obviously should be making more and more accurate and detailed models. Hating these is actively hating the improvement of technology. It can be boiled down to simply envying the new stuff being better than the old, yet so easily obtained via spending more.
Anyways, the E6 is sure to bring more PRR modelers, and I always welcome that. I do look forward to see how they turn out, and how they will manage to cram everything into that 70P66 tender.
Charles, I understand what you were trying to say.
I also do not understand why we keep getting models of the same locomotives, but I am also confident that BLI knows their customers and they have a good idea what will sell to them.
When a good plastic model comes out, brass prices of that model tend to drop. It will be interesting to see what happens to the prices of the PRR Atlantics. As you said, they were already low.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
I have owned a fair number of BLI plastic steam locomotives, including a Paragon 2 PRR 4-6-2 K4.
As for design and detail, I consider BLI steam second to none.
Rich
Alton Junction
Trainman440 Im not saying brass is better, but rather saying that I have more respect for those who put work into their models. I respect those who do freelancing, or those who go out of their way to superdetail a budget model, more than those who don't. I know it's not fair to those who have little time or interest to tinker with their models, but I guess Im just bad that way. I dont outright dislike such people, (sour was the wrong word in my OP), but I respect the latter more.
Im not saying brass is better, but rather saying that I have more respect for those who put work into their models. I respect those who do freelancing, or those who go out of their way to superdetail a budget model, more than those who don't. I know it's not fair to those who have little time or interest to tinker with their models, but I guess Im just bad that way. I dont outright dislike such people, (sour was the wrong word in my OP), but I respect the latter more.
Again, it is ironic on how the hobby has changed. When I was a teenager, I modeled the C&NW. I decided to build a SD50, as there was not a RTR model of it yet. I had my dad take me to Proviso, so I could photograph one from every angle. I bought a Rail Power shell, Cannon Cab, took off the hood doors on the model and replaced them with Cannon parts. Added just about every Detail Associates part you could think of. At the end, I had a pretty good looking model.
I belonged to a club in Elmhurst Il. I was running my model around, when I noticed someone had a brass C&NW SD50 from Overland. It was gorgeous, and made mine look like a Bachmann model at the time. It was a wake up call for me. I learned that had I took the money that I spent on the model, and worked instead of spending time in my basement upgrading it, I could have had a better looking model. That has stuck with me to this day, for things bigger than modeling.
I now just buy the model, and use by free time for things. So, if you have less "respect" for me because I choose to use my free time golfing with my daughter, or teacher her how to wake surf on our boat. Or if because I choose to use my free time walking the beach with my wife, or driving the coast with her in a convertible. I am okay with it. Again, ask me how much I care.
I am not knocking someone who likes to upgrade models, or wants to go down the super detailed route. I have been amazed by what some people can do with a pile of parts. The beautiful thing about this hobby is people can enjoy it going down many different paths. I AM knocking someone who judges someone else for choosing to go down a different path. Especially when that knocking is routed in jeolusy.
richhotrain I have owned a fair number of BLI plastic steam locomotives, including a Paragon 2 PRR 4-6-2 K4. As for design and detail, I consider BLI steam second to none. Rich
I don't want sound or DCC therefore BLI is not for me. I have brass.
Rick Jesionowski
Rule 1: This is my railroad.
Rule 2: I make the rules.
Rule 3: Illuminating discussion of prototype history, equipment and operating practices is always welcome, but in the event of visitor-perceived anacronisms, detail descrepancies or operating errors, consult RULE 1!
n012944Ironic. Brass people complaining about someone else spending money for a good looking model. How the times have flipped in the last 25 years.
I'm not sure if irony is the right term. Maybe it is.
Brass used to appeal to the die-hard-prototype-specific modelers, and some others that demanded a little better detail.
As very well detailed good running USRA models appeared in plastic, the prices of these brass models fell. Now as some popular prototype models are being made in plastic, the brass models are falling on these too.
Brass models from the 1970s-1990s do not have as much detail as current plastic offerings. They are also not DCC ready. Many current modelers prefer the plastic DCC and sound equipped models.
For me, durability is a bit of a concern and that makes brass appealing.
With the problems I am having with control of my right arm/hand, the added robustness of brass is important to me. Fiddly and fragile plastic add-ons are a minus when evaluating a model.
SeeYou190 n012944 Ironic. Brass people complaining about someone else spending money for a good looking model. How the times have flipped in the last 25 years. I'm not sure if irony is the right term. Maybe it is.
n012944 Ironic. Brass people complaining about someone else spending money for a good looking model. How the times have flipped in the last 25 years.
Why not? People used to put a lot of time into making a plastic model look good. Pick up a MR from the early 90's and there are articles on how to make an Athearn blue box look more prototypical. On the other hand, modelers of that era, could often just buy a brass model and skip the detailing for the same, if not better result. The attitude I saw back then, was the plastic guy would look at the brass, and say it must be nice to just be able to buy that.
It is the exact opposite of what the OP was ranting about. Hence the irony.
n012944Hence the irony.
I'm not challenging anything anyone has said. I have always been unclear to the actual meaning of irony.
I have several friends who are English Majors, and they have tried to explain the requirements for "irony" to be the correct term to use, but I have just never truly understood the term.
That is why I said...
SeeYou190I'm not sure if irony is the right term. Maybe it is.
Kevin, irony is found in that bumper sticker that says, "If you can read this sign..."
At least in the verbal case (there are situational and dramatic ironies as well), it is the juxtaposition of something that ought not to be with something that clearly is.
It could be someone arguing about too much arguing, as an example. If what the person saying it is correct, then....why........ see what I mean?
I can recall quite a few times that I've invested time, effort and money on a modeling "quest" only to have a commercial product come along and make my efforts, well, all for naught.
One example was my work in making Hulett ore unloaders from styrene masters and cast in resin. A year into my efforts and Walthers came along with their excellent styrene models in HO that were vastly superior to the scratchbuilt models I was making. No worries, I shrugged my shoulders and moved on. The four Walthers Huletts now in place look fantastic.
In the matter of locomotives, being somewhat of an NYC modeler, I was buying several makes of Hudsons, Niagaras and Mohawks in brass from Sunset, Key and LMB mostly. Along comes Broadway Limited and offers these in plastic which were good, but for the streamlined Hudson and their Mohawk in "hybrid brass" these models were very good and they didn't have the inherant "fussiness" that many brass engines suffer with as far as shorting or running problems.
The other day I was doing some routine maintenance on my BLI hybrid Q2 and was reminded of just how good of a model this is, expretly painted, DCC sound and an excellent running engine and, if I recall, I bought it for somewhere just under $500. Their NYC streamlined Hudson, also a brass hybrid, is equally impressive.
Today I have about sixty BLI locos and I'm pretty satiisfied with all of them. A few have had their share of QC issues, mostly related to wiring or a decoder problem but BLI has been very good at working with me to cure these glitches. As far as mechanical "defects" I have only had two split axle gears on a pair of older PRR I1s and BLI pressed new gears on these wheelsets for me at no charge.
Broadway has certainly filled a niche for locomotives that, as far as I can see, no other manufacturer would have tackled in all probability. The P5a, Baldwin Centipedes, PRR Q2, even the T1. They do seem to be "Pennsy-centric" as I'd sure like to see some engines from other roads (NYC K-11 or a Nickel Plate Road L-1a Hudson) but they have also made fine models of say, C&O, Santa Fe, Milwaukee and others.
Nickel Plate Hudson 175 by Edmund, on Flickr
So for the E6 Atlantic I can see at least one in my future. I'd like to to the Lindbergh Special 460 and perhaps make up the special train (only two cars!) that had the film processing equipment in the baggage car. I used to work at a film processing lab so it would have special meaning in that respect
I'm glad Broadway continues to market new locomotives and sometimes rolling stock for the MR market. I firmly believe the hobby is better off with them than without.
Regards, Ed
n012944 I am not knocking someone who likes to upgrade models, or wants to go down the super detailed route. I have been amazed by what some people can do with a pile of parts. The beautiful thing about this hobby is people can enjoy it going down many different paths. I AM knocking someone who judges someone else for choosing to go down a different path. Especially when that knocking is routed in jeolusy.
Less respect as a modeler, not as a human being. I totally understand that people invest different amount of time into this hobby. Some people only run trains in circles under the christmas tree, but they still deserve respect. Also, its not like I got zero respect for RTR modelers, but rather that I am more impressed, and therefore have more respect toward those who do spend more time with their models. Maybe respect isnt the right word to describe this...
Also, I have no issues with BLI models either. They are making and continue to make some amazing models. I just wished they could make a more obscure prototype thats harder to obtain (both in rarity and price) than a (relatively) very cheap and common brass loco, the PRR E6s. That, and also I wish they would sell locos in DCC ready mode, but that's never happening. Trust me, I will always support manufacturers making NEW tooling (ahem, BACHMANN) for a new model. It brings more people into the hobby and promotes growth!
I am glad BLI is doing & tooling this locomotive to be the newest in their lineup, along with the newly tooled UP 4-8-4 FEF class. When I first saw reveal inage son the BLI collecters Facebook group, it reminded me of when I first discovered and learned what the PRR E6 was, and what the atlantic 4-4-2 steam locomotive wheel arrangment was. Three years ago when I was 24 years old (I am now 27 as of making this post) I saw this special issue of Classic Trains magazine called "Steam's Lost Empire," whiched showed PRR #198, an atlantic 4-2-2 type on the turntable at PRR's 46th street engine terminal in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in the late 1930s. Photo is by a Harold M. Lambert.
I was a bit puzzled when I first saw it as I thought it was a 4-6-2 K4 that was shortened, but realized it was a 4-4-2 atlantic, something I hasd never heard of or saw before. I became facinated by this older wheel arrangment type, and three years later BLI revealed they will make this a new, upgraded reality for model railroaders to have.
Engi1487I was a bit puzzled when I first saw it as I thought it was a 4-6-2 K4 that was shortened,