The NEW Broadway Limited F-7s.

[AntonioFP45]

Have to admit that I almost fell out of my chair when I saw the $400 tag, but then if you go to BLI's website and look at the different F7 versions offered, it's not "too much of a nightmare. The high price tag is for the powered A & B sets. Notice though that one of the Santa Fe sets goes for $479 while another is $399.[:0][8)]

The single undecorated F-units go for $199. I wouldn't mind owning one, but in considering this, I could buy two HO Proto E units for that sticker price and have enough left over for two MDC freight cars.[;)]

Stands to reason that most of us considering a BLI E or F unit would just buy the powered cab unit. As much as I enjoy sound, I don't think I'm going to bite this fishing hook. IMHO and from my research if you have DCC, equipping HO streamlined or Cowl locomotives that you already own with Soundtraxx sound decoders & speakers is actually cheaper and the sound is just as good.[:)][:p][8D]

Someone mentioned on another thread that inspite of the justifications of trying to recoup on investments, these prices are not going to allow this hobby to expand much or encourage newbies. Prices of the latest technologies in the consumer market are already dropping. Hopefully these manufacturers will pass on the savings to us through "holiday sales" or customer incentives.[sigh][swg]

Guys, BLI reps do read these threads. What are your honest opinions?

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by AntonioFP45

As much as I enjoy sound, I

I exempt from buying all those high tech audio/sounding units, plus I get to save some Big $.

I have a hearing deficiency.[8D]

[tomwatkins]

As much as I like the BLI locomotives I've got, (3 heavy 2-8-2's) I think I'll stick with my Stewart and Genesis F-units with Soundtraxx decoders. It's just more money than I'm personally willing to spend for something I don't really need.
Tom Watkins

[Anonymous]

BLI's price is well worth the DCC decoder, sound decoder, speaker(s) and the quality put into making the actual model. take your two HO Proto E units to any DCC install specialist and you'll end up paying almost as much to get sound onboard them as it would cost you to get 1 better quality F7 from BLI.

Jay

[Anonymous]

To heck with Quantum sound, SoundTraxx has sound-on-sound features too-and I can put those in any locomotive I wi***o have sound. The Genesis "brass killer" F units are still in my mind the best covered wagons in HO. Besides, Broadway isn't being much of a manufacturer for my other favorite road-the GM&O. Although they're manufacturing a reasonable amount of Burlington engines, I'd just as soon buy an udec. P2K E-6, kitba***he thing into an E-5, and paint it in Alklad stainless steel colored laquer than buy an engine I'd never have to do anything to.

In other words, in my mind BLI makes good engines, only I don't care to pay that much for a loco I could buy from a different manufacturer and put sound in myself as my budget allows.

[AggroJones]

I first heard BLI was doing an F7 in the LHS. That is one of the last diesels I thought they'd do. With all the other F units out, this seemed improbable, even with sound. Stewart, Genesis, MRC, Intermountain, and Athearn all have done it. But here comes BLI.

$400 for an A/B set with sound? Okay, but not for me.

[AntonioFP45]

Hello NTDN,

My point was, that if you already own units and decide to equip with them with sound from Soundtraxx it is actually cheaper! Not just P2K units but basically any plastic quality carbodied engines.

If a modeler finds it difficult to be a "do it yourself" and want an installer, check out Litchfield Station's prices. Still cheaper! Top it off, the work is first rate as well as the sound.

By all means I'm not knocking BLI's quality but again, as stated by fellow modelers, the price tag is just a little steep for our average American HO modeler. [;)][:p][8)]

[johncolley]

Curiouser and curiouser, eh? I am going the easy way with my Stewart ABBA Ft's. I plan to convert one B back to a dummy and load it with Soundtraxx wall to wall sound for under $200. The other 3 units I will put Digitrax DH163D decoders in at $30 each. So I cut my power by 25% I am betting I can still pull my 55-60 car freights. Food for thought. John Colley Port Townsend, WA

[AntonioFP45]

NTDN,

Forgot to mention:

I don't know how old you are (I'm 40) but the reason I mentioned sound equipping the Proto E's, in particular, is that they're now affordable on the web and even at LHS's. IMHO to the under 30 crowd, it might not be a big deal. To me the level of body detail is "savory". [C=:-)][dinner]

In the 1970s and early 80s, if I wanted a DECENT HO plastic E unit, I had to save like crazy and purhcase a Model Power unit. NO frills minimal body detail, 8 wheel pickup instead of 12, Big motor with plenty of power, and a growl that could scare alley cats! [:p][:0] I own two of them and am going to spend a lot of effort just to get them looking "almost" as decent as a P2k unit. [;)] As I mentioned on another post, just being able to open the cab doors on P2ks to me is like a kid tasting ice cream for the first time! [8)][:o)][:p][:D] Sound on P2Ks would really be sweet!

Johncolley,

You hit the nail on the head, with a sledge hammer! With this scenario a modeler has choices without unloading his/her savings account..

By the way John, check out the decoders from TCS. They're even cheaper, fewer problems reported and can compete with Digitrax's decoders. Don't take my word for it, just e-mail Bruce at Litchfield Staion. In addition to details he'll give you his professional opinion if you ask him [;)]

[Anonymous]

I emailed Broadway Limited to find out more about the new F7's from Broadway Liminted. I was interested in the Santa Fe units and wanted to know if they would be plated and would they have the proper grills on the side. The following is the answer i received. They will be worth the money.

We fully expect to exceed any product you have seen in the market so far. Yes we will have stainless steel panels and other grills plated. We strongly believe that our customers deserve the best possible models.

Best regards,
Customer Services
Broadway Limited Imports, LLC
601 Shenandoah Village Drive STE #9E

[Anonymous]

IMHO I wi***he BLI had focused on locomotives that are not as readily available as the F7's. I am more of a steamer fan anyway, so I wasn't overly excited for this news. I had been hoping for a 20th Century hudson or a CB&Q, Rock Island or Milwaukee Road 4-8-4.

I agree with most of the replies on this thread that we already have a ton of choices in the F unit category. Even the PA is being modeled by more than one manufacturer now.

I understand that it's harder to sell the specialized models (such as the Northerns I mentioned above), but to me I am willing to spend the extra money (and it's still not as much as brass!) for these "specialty" models. I can get diesels almost anywhere...

Just my .02

[the-big-blow]

Everybody laughs when I pay so much for brass, but the cost of the plastic models are getting quite out of hand. I'd rather pay a lot more and get something prototypicaly unique. (Nobody makes a 3 Unit Gas Turbiune Yet) so I have to buy brass. As far as the F units go, stop it already. I am starting to see the same trends that were in "O" scale a few years back where two different manufactures make the same locomotive. The hobby dollar is quite tight for most people right now( I sell things to buy other things that is how I afford the things I have/custom painting/ebusiness). So when I pay $1600 of my work money I've earned every penny. I understand manufactures have to recoup investments in "tooling". Everbody seems to look at me odd when I pay so much for a model thats only made in brass. There are so many neat loco's that haven't been done, that should be not only the Turbines, but Alco Alligators, the Milwaukee 261 etc a good DDA40X and quite possibly a Little Joe.

I am not a "F" unit hater just someone who would like to see something else done.

[Anonymous]

I posted this on TrainFreak409's thread "The Future" http://www.trains.com/community/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=14247 and I'll post it again (with a few wording changes) here because I think it would bring down loco costs for those that don't want sound...
__________

Along the same lines as computer card slots, I wish mfrs would make one connection standard (NMRA ??) with 2 slots. One slot for the DC*/DCC decoder "card" and one slot for the sound decoder "card". Loco mfrs could mfr locos without cards and we could add the card(s) of our choice. If you don't do sound then simply don't add the sound card. If you want Soundtraxx or BLI's sound simply slip in their card. *If you do DC then slip in a DC card. If you do DCC then slip in the mfr's decoder card of choice. If a 2 slot board was already installed, it would eliminate wiring, re-wiring and soldering issues giving modelers less chance of "letting the smoke out."
__________

I understand that there is more to sound than just a small card, same as there is more to DCC than just the decoder. If you've spent a couple hundred dollars on a Soundtraxx system and buy a BLI loco you could slip in a Soundtraxx card to access the features of your Soundtraxx system. If you buy a BLI sound system (this would be a new item on the market for BLI) you could slip in BLI's sound card in all your locos.

Some folks would like to have a BLI loco because of the quaility but can't afford the extra $100 you have to pay, because of the integrated sound, when the buyer may not even want sound. With the above stated "card" standards, if you like BLI locos because of their quality but prefer Soundtraxx sound system then you could buy the BLI loco and a Soundtraxx card. If you like BLI's sound but another mfrs loco, or BLI doesn't offer that loco, then buy a BLI sound system and slip in a BLI sound card.

>> [8D] >> Hello, NMRA, BLI, Soundtraxx and other mfrs are you reading this!! << [8D] <<

IMO, BLI would sell more locos if they offered a sound (at current prices), no sound (at a reduced price) option!!

With all said, I do agree with AntonioFP45 - BLI's are nice but very pricey!

[Anonymous]

Now if we could just get one of these F unit manufacturers to do an FP7 that would match the other Fs in their line, we would have a worthwhile addition! What do you say SP, PRR, MILW, NP, UP, SOO, RI, B&O, C&O, ACL, CN, CP, ONT, ARR, AMTK fans?

[daniel1967]

I love my new T-1!!!!! Worth every penny... and I'm saving for a J1... can't wait! but...F-7's 0n my railroad, just like the real thing are a dime a dozen- think I'll skip this one...

[Anonymous]

I'd love to own a BLI E7 and the new UP mountain, but they're out of my price range. The P2K E6s look just as good, and my Spectrum UP mountain looks almost MORE detailed than the BLI.

[Anonymous]

I hear ya 4884bigboy on the BLI UP mountain. I wasn't very impressed with the pictures they posted (especially on the pilot details). For whatever reason (and I can't really put my finger on it) they look really plain.

[M636C]

I've always avoided sound in models, because when I was younger I had very high frequency hearing, and the "white noise" component of older systems, in Lionel O gauge was literally painful, particularly at a show if someone was running them close to a stand I was on.

Have the new HO systems avoided this problem? How do they get a good frequency response with such small speakers?

Peter

[Anonymous]

I own a BLI 4-8-2 PRR steamer and have a BLI Heavy Mike on order. I may give these F units a serious look. Especially they are making them in Western Maryland colors.

[cacole]

A simple solution here, too, is to not be the first kid on the block to own a new model -- wait six months to a year and the price will drop as the market becomes saturated and BLI has excess stock to unload. I also shop around and browse the net instead of paying so-called "MSRP" prices whenever I can. BLI setting the MSRP price at $400 for a pair of these locomotives means that you should be able to find them for under $300.

[Anonymous]

I´m not that real sound fan! Antonio FP45 knows this!

However: BLI use QS-2plus modules. QSI´s Deluxe Sound, Feature and Train Control Systemsound modules. The modules are also available separte.
Take a look into the price list and you say that BLI built cheap models !!!

http://www.qsindustries.com/catalog.htm#LIVE%20ACTION%20SOUND%20UNITS

One module: 189 $ !!!

[AntonioFP45]

Is anyone considering "reserving" or putting a down payment on a BLI F7? Bangert1 does seem interested.

I've had a slight change of heart after thinking about it. [:p][8D]
When my LHS acquires one for customer demos, if the detail level and the sound level do "exceed" what's out on the market, I would consider the undecorated unit as it is the cheapest and on a "layaway plan" it wouldn't take very long to acquire. I would paint it in the SCL "BumbleBee" scheme.

(Wishful thinking) ----- I just hope it has a Wabco horn instead of the same horn we keep hearing on the BLI E7 and now their E6, which uses the same exact horn sound. Yes, I'm nutty in that I'm a locomotive horn wacko! That's why I always consider the Soundtraxx alternative.

Cheers!