Paragon 4 BLI 2-8-0. Thoughts?

[JDawg]

Broadway limited is rerelasing there classic 2-8-0 in Paragon 4. It looks to be identical to the previous generation with the exception of some decoder improvements with Paragon 4. Last year I bought a Paragon 3 2-8-0 in GN colors, but the decoder gave me fits and had to be sent back. The new Paragon 4 models are 100$ more than their predicesor, so I would expect a near perfect running experience. Does anyone have a steamer with Paragon 4? Any problems, thoughts, critisims or praises?

[JDawg]

If I chose to preorder, what would you reccomend for a hobby shop? I know most run less than MSRP which is a bonus.

[DrW]

I have two Santa Fe 4000 class Mikados w/ Paragon 4, and I am very happy with them. They run very well - they have a stay-alive capacitor. I especially like the Pro Lighting Mode which allows you to set all light functions individually for a more prototypical appearance. For me, Paragon 4 is a full success. I bought the Mikados from Tony's Train Exchange.

Here is my problem with the BLI 2-8-0. The Santa Fe 4000 class Mikados were developed in collaboration with the Santa Fe Railway Historical and Modeling Society and are as prototypically correct as you usually only find in brass models. In contrast, the Consolidation is a Pennsy prototype with a number of other road names slapped on. $549 MSRP for a foobie?

[Trainman440]

BLI modified the original H10s tooling (aka removed the belpaire firebox) to make some generic looking 2-8-0s but still with PRR clawfoot marker lights. They swapped the tender out for a USRA tender. I suspect they destroyed the original H10s tooling in the process because they havent made a PRR H10s ever since. 

They charged a premium price for this fantasy engine back in paragon 2/3. 

They now want to charge you $100 MORE for the same exact engine but with a few dollars worth of capacitors inside?*

I might come off as upset and negative, but I think the generic 2-8-0s is BLI's worst steam model. It's BLI's ONLY completely fantasy model, not just a fantasy paint scheme. 

For a fantasy generic engine which BLI painted in every color under the sun, Id expect it to be cheap like Bachmann's (ICRR prototype) 2-8-0s. Yet they cost the same as their other "top end" models, and (probably) destroyed some perfectly good and prototypical tooling in the process...just to market the engine to more modelers with different roads. 

Save yourself the money, buy a bachmann 2-8-0, modify the headlight to your liking, add your decoder of choice, and paint it yourself. Save yourself like $400. 

The fact that a prototypically accurate and highly detailed factory painted Tenshodo brass GN F-8 class 2-8-0 costs only like $190-250 yet people are willing to pay $400+ for a generic fake GN 2-8-0 just baffles me. But I guess not everyone cares about accuracy. 
https://resourcedrails.com/products/ho-brass-tenshodo-gn-great-northern-2-8-0-class-f-8-fp-minor-foam-damage

That's my $0.02. 

Charles

*Yes, inflation does exist but the used prices haven't increased at all.