So, Has anyone got their BLI N&W J yet?

[Virginian]

Okay, a more in depth review. Overall it is beautiful to a 'J' lover. I got 613 and it is a real smooth black satin finish. The silver trim around the number boards is not perfect, but better than the one on the website. One day when I am feeling real steady I may try to touch it up a hair. It is a minute thing, but I went over this thing with 3.00 diopter glasses under a spotlight. Running normally I don't think it is a bit noticeable.
The red isn't quite right. I knew when I saw that "explanation" on BLI's site it wasn't going to be. I have plenty of Kodaks and when I take one of those outside and place the model in the sun, the BLI red is just a little too dark. (Lead ain't got squat to do with getting any color you want, but it does affect cured paint hardness.) This is almost funny. About halfway between the last Spectrum Red and BLI's version would be right on. Testor's dark red right out of the bottle is closer than any manufacturer seems to be able to get for trying. It is NOT glaringly off, and goes well with the Rivarossi or Bachmann cars from a while back. The rivet detail is a hair too pronounced on the boiler jacketing, but you have to look hard in good light to notice, and the ends of the axles need painting.
It runs superbly, at least mine does. Haven't had to tweak a thing and running on the close hole connection on the drawbar. Smooth as glass forward and back at all speeds. Bangs thru two #6 double crossovers at speed without a whimper. Rods and all the running gear look great. Mine pulls very well. I haven't even installed the traction tires, and I am a traction tire believer.
For some reason they have a little metal brace under the loco to tender board and hence mine wouldn't lie flat. Took me 45 minutes to figure out how to remove that little worthless gizmo gently. Too much engineering probably. If it was supposed to press gently so the board stays down they got it backwards. Real easy to remove actually.
Sound. Everything but the whistle is fantastic to my ears. I say that because of me, not the whistle sound. On the subject of the whistle I feel I possibly should eliminate myself from further discussion, because between last night and this afternoon mine sounds totally and completlely different. Maybe I ate something. Yesterday is was a very clear tone that was as correct as I thought they could get from those itty bitty components, but it completely lacked the steam overhiss. At a distance it was fine. Now, it sounds exactly like a 'J' at fifty yards, except the whistle tone is maybe a teeny bit too high in pitch. Very heavy steam overhiss like the real thing. Almost a perfect match to a pacing video I have at 50 MPH. Yes, I did play with the settings, but this is like a different whistle (maybe I better read the instructions). The start of the whistle is a hair too abrupt to me, but the ending is perfect. The doppler is also pretty good.
Overall I'd give it an A. I am very pleased. Oh, mine was at least partially lubed out of the box. Rods etc. nicely lubed without oil all over. It looks as good as my brass 'J' sitting on the layout, and they even correctly have one bell.
Mine says made in Korea.

[Anonymous]

Virginia

Thanks for the added input. I will happy when mine gets here and I get to see if it runs like yours.

Can you tell if it was made in China or is it Ajin???

[NZRMac]

Thankyou for the review awesome reading.

Ken.