When I bought an SD40-2 with a broken sun shade, BLI did send me two new sunshades. It took a while to get a hold of their parts representative, and communication was not always great, but he did send the parts to me for free. So kudos to him for that.
I've been working with them to get a replacement number board that was missing on a locomotive I purchased at a train show. They suggested I take it back for a replacement but that wasn't an option. They've been real nice and helpful but so far they haven't been able tog et it for me. They say they have a very long turn around time from China on parts. I don't know why they don't stock some in the US to avoid this but it is their business. I expect that it will eventually come in. Right now I just tell folks that the kids on the layout broke it out with a rock.
Engineer Jeff NS Nut Visit my layout at: http://www.thebinks.com/trains/
Ky Rambler wrote:Have any of you had success getting replacement parts from Broadway Limited? I have an older E7 that needs a truck and possibly a Decoder. I really just want to replace a melted truck and use a DCS decoder for the time being but BLI keeps giving me the run around. They want me to send in the model and get an estimate. When I asked them if they do not sell parts I still didn't get a straight answer. I have noticed a tendency to import "runs" of models that are not supported by parts for any length of time. If the hobby is moving into a "non-tinker-friendly" phase, I think we need to send a message that this is not acceptable. This hobby was built on people who kitbashed, modified, parts-built, etc. I hope that the industry doesn't decide to totally ignore those of us who still like to get inside our models!
I have contacted BLI about four times in the past two years and received replacement parts within a week all four times. These parts were replaced free. Parts like marker lamps and handrails and a sound chip was replaced for free even after I told them it was my fault for bending the pins on the chip. They have been very cooperative at least for me. I had to send the sound chip to them before they sent the replacement, but it only took about ten days.
You may be asking for a part that simply is not in stock. If they have it in stock, the truck should be available for sale if you talk to the right people.
They sold me one of the plastic tender shells for my N&W A also. They do sell parts.
Good luck on getting it fixed.
Auto manufacturers generally make parts for seven years after a model is released and make no trouble about purchasing parts as long as you have the dollars in your hand. My BLI loco is 2 years old. After market manufacturers continue to support popular autos indefinitely. I can buy parts for a 1913 Ford if I want to. Also, if you will look at my original post, I made a comment about this hobby being built on builders and tinkerers. The auto companies do support such activity, as you can buy hop up parts from Ford and Chevy, but it seems that model companies are beginning to discourage this kind of activity by not supporting their products with parts. I had this problem with Athearn on their Mikado which was made by Samhongsa, but they were very helpful in helping me find a replacement gear from NWSL. Even gave me the part number. To some extent we have ourselves to blame as we are far too willing to plunk down cash for ready-to-run products. In my club, very few kit-build or kit-bash. They are even willing to salivate over recent offerings that do not represent any particular prototype, just because they have paint and decals to match their favorite road. So, my comment was not just about BLI, but also about the hobby in general.
CurtMc wrote: Broadway does not stock parts Arent they closing up shop and reopening as precision craft anyway?
Broadway does not stock parts
Arent they closing up shop and reopening as precision craft anyway?
It is hard to say exactly why the two names are used, but it seems to center around the use of Loksound for PCM and QSI for the BLI. It must be a legal or contract issue with the sound supplier to isolate the product name for the sound products.
The last catalog I received had both PCM and BLI models in the same book. That is interesting since the models were listed in separate catalogs until this latest catalog and might indicate a name change or different marketing strategy in the future.
BLI has replaced parts for me four times in the last two years, but it takes about two weeks. The most recent was a sound chip I messed up, but they replaced it at no charge after I sent it in for verification. It would seem that the days of available parts like Athearn used to stock is over since most of the new models are made in China. Even Athearn will not sell parts for the Challenger or Big Boy, but will replace an item or part after you send it in
Ray Breyer
Modeling the NKP's Peoria Division, circa 1943