I want to purchase a set of F7A-B-B and because i don't have any experience with BLI and QSI i would like to here your opinion about them.
http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/187-402
I found them used but "like new contition" for about 350$. All 3 units are powered with sound.
If they're the same as two sets that I and another club member have, they run way, way too slow for passenger train use; and it's in their gearing, which cannot be changed. I thought an upgrade microchip might cure the problem, but it made no difference at all in their top speed.
The sound is good and they run smoothly. If I didn't already have too much invested in the BLI models, I'd select Proto 2000 with sound if they have ever made E7s.
I have a set of 4 BLI F units ABBA they run on the QSI. They are perfect for freight service and when all 4 are running as a single engine I dont have enough rolling stock to stall them. Indeed that is the reason I got them, they are the end all in tractive effort in today's small radius and 4% grades.
They are slow for passenger service.
http://s181.photobucket.com/albums/x173/fallsvalleyrr/?action=view¤t=BLIF7ConsistFinal.flv
I will post more of them actually pulling a train when the mainline is completed.
They can be upgraded with QSI upgrade chips, however I see no need to do so at this time.
I have not hit my limits on power consumption but when all 4 are digging in and chanting against a heavy load amps climb pretty high on that meter.
Proto is releasing some soon. Pricing is competitve and they use QSI as well.
I bet you a coupler that BLI will re-release all of thier F units in Blueline.
I dont consider Genesis from Athearn at all because they use the crappy MRC decoders. Until they decide to dump MRC and switch to QSI I will continue not to consider Genesis units. I have moderated my feelings a bit and know that I would certainly consider a non DCC unit and install my own decoders. But that will get expensive.
A few years ago there was very little in the way of F units, now the cup runneths over.
Railroad,
We like our BLI F7 AB set very much. I don't think the detail is as good as the Athern models, but they look very nice. The QSI electronics are top-notch. It is easy to program, runs very well even at slow speeds, and sounds great. As far as low top speeds, I have our set cut back to about 40mph which is plenty fast for our layout. I am not sure how fast it will go uncorked. Overall I give them a 9 out of 10.
Larry
Anything is possible if you do not know what you are talking about.
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
Now, I might be wrong on this point, but weren't the 'F' series of locomotives geared specifically for freight service? I thought the 'E' series were the passenger service locos...
then again I'm not all too familiar with diesel in the first place.
-Dan
Builder of Bowser steam! Railimages Site
riogrande5761 wrote:Haven't bought any because there are none offered in the paint scheme I want (single stripe D&RGW), however, the number boards don't look right to me so its a dilemma I haven't had to face.
That Revolution Decoder looks VERY promising!
I wonder what plug will need to interface with the locomotive, I hope it is one of the common 8 or 9 pin plugs.
electrolove wrote:riogrande5761,Look here:http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/920-40653http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/920-40654
I'm way ahead of you Electrolove! I found those some time ago and posted the heads up on the yahoo groups Rio Grande email list. Those are the 1st single stripe F7's offered in plastic massproduced HO diesel ever! I imagine I'll have to pick up a set.
But as far as BLI goes, the only thing they have made that fits my 1965-1990 time period is the California Zephyr passenger train. No diesels painted to fit my time frame. But I've been reading with interest the various problems and issues people have been having with BLI related HO diesels. The PA ABA sets and others.
It seems BLI has been largely following the tired old pattern of producing only original or early paint schemes for various RR companies, hence the black w/yellow stripes D&RGW, and the Silver w/Aspen Leaf PA's etc. All those paint schemes are for the 1940's thru early 1950's and way way too early/old for me. Way before I was born.
I have an AB F7 set in the B&O colours. I am completely happy with the QSI sound and running speeds, crawls when I want and the top end is all I would want to run on my layout.
My layout is in fact two layouts, one DCC and the other DC due to the rather large number of engines I have. If I ever convert sufficient number to DCC I will likely re-do the layout entirely DCC. In the interim this engine is at home completely on either layout.
As far as detail I consider the BLI superior to the F series Stewarts, almost equal to the new Genesis and Intermountain units. Remember the engine is over two years old now. Have still to see the Proto F series in person, the pictures certainly look excellent.
Here is a video of them.
http://s181.photobucket.com/albums/x173/fallsvalleyrr/?action=view¤t=BLIFUnitsKato6Switch.flv
The reason the facing unit is not displaying headlight is because the "Top" loco is actually facing away from the camera and is the lead engine.
I am debating improving the consisting on the bit level and calming down the volumes a bit.
IF I recall the history on these units, one of the A units have already been at BLI shop for replacement of a dead speaker some months ago. The other three have what I call "Stik tack" from Tony's Trains filling in the gaps around the speakers which improved the sound volumes quite a bit.
The metal grill you see along the roofs are flexible and respond to temperature changes in the room. We keep it between 74-80 year round and so far they have not gone out of shape.
In the video they usually dont move until after a value of 6 is put on the throttle (DT400) and they are hungry for power.
The current QSI chips in them as they were from the factory allows either throttle wheel operation or "Notched" operation and Function key airbraking.. those are not active at this moment.
I have an AB in B&O colours. The only complain I got is that the B-unit sounds a lot when backing. Otherwise they are fine. After I built my new layout I used them for testing. Now that was a problem since they tracked so well and pulled so strong that I had a tough time finding problem spots. I really really underestimated a 2% grade when I used these, they never lost the footing.
Magnus
Yes, Stewart F's don't have the detail but considering the shells are what? almost 30 years old in some ways they still beat BLI. Look at the number boards in the following link:
http://precisioncraftmodels.com/B967-(NS)-F7A-1466-(powered)-&-F7B-1466B-(powered),-UP,-HO-i31311-c3384.html
The number boards don't look dimensioned quite right and they are even lifting off the body! Even though this is a "small" detail. For me, windshields and number boards are pet peeves.
Now you should be able to get Stewerts for lower prices and anyone wanting a bargain should shop for them because they run very sweet (KATO or KATO based drives) and the shells still hold up very well. Add some details and you have a pretty darn nice engine. I do own some 20 Stewarts and 8 Genesis F units. The Genesis are lovely and come out of the box with alot of nice detail. I don't own any sound units so if your into sound and don't mind some other things, BLI is probably a little better in that department.
Yes, I own that exact set in the UP color scheme from BLI. The number boards don't look like they are glued on they are glued on, and not too well, as their own photo shows. They are also about 25% too large compared to the prototype. The anti-glare panel on the A unit is way off in color. It should be kind of a dark green and this one is kind of a...well, for the lack of a better word, puke green. The UP Harbor Mist Gray doesn't seem to match any of the paint I have. A small but irritating detail is that they were delivered with gray trucks. It's not that hard to paint them silver but any UP modeler knows that all F units had silver trucks. Seems like a big detail to overlook. Several of the handrails had come loose from their mounting holes and one was obviously too short with a distinct bow in the handrail. All in all, I'd never spend the money on these locomotivesagain
[Edit]: Another thing I forgot that was already mentioned was the extremely low top speed. Sue, I think you were the one that asked about F's in passenger service. Both the Santa Fe and Union Pacific used F units for passenger service and both had their units geared for 90 mph. I think the standard freight F unit was geared for 65 or 70. My BLI units would do maybe a scale 45 mph tops. On the plus side, they were good pullers and ran smoothly. The sound was first rate. If the Genesis F untis had a decent sound system, they'd blow BLI out of the water.
It is my understanding a number of units were in error and probably have been taken care of by BLI.
A related but not too far off comment I will make here is my distate for "B" units that are left as dummies without power, sound or dcc for the E units and other types of Desiels. I dont mind spending a few extra dollars for these "Pax" desiels to carry both A and B units powered.
They're nice F-Units, but my advice is to stay away from the Santa Fe passenger sets
The painting is perhaps some of the worst work done on a high end present day release. The photo on their website does not show the off centered front cigar band and haphazard black outlining that is common to most of the BLI Santa Fe Fs. I saw a recent offering on eBay that clearly showed the bad paint. I wish that auction was still up so you could see it too.
However things may have changed (so I have heard) with newer batches, but with this bad history...you should not purchase these sight unseen. And if it is an online auction request photos of the nose/front of the loco.
Of course if this doesn't bother you, go ahead any buy some. The QSI sound sure is top notch.
Matt from Anaheim, CA and Bayfield, COClick Here for my model train photo website