Here's a link to BLI's 2014 catalog. Looks like the brass hybrid is still alive and well.
It is a big file so click the link then go prepare a beverage of your liking
http://www.broadway-limited2.com/2014productguide/BLI2014ProductGuide.pdf
Happy Modeling, Ed
I just recieved their Email and took a look. I found it most interesting that they are coming out with a "generic" Baldwin 2-8-0 and lettering it for a bunch of different roadnames. Just like they have done with their USRA 2-8-2 and a 4-6-2's.
So what happened to all this prototype accuracy the market was demanding?
Is this not exactly what "everyone " criticizes Bachmann for with their 2-8-0, and some of their other models?
Seems Bachmann is getting better while BLI moves backward.
And the total offerings list seem rather limited? Nothing in there I want.
Sheldon
Sheldon,
I thought you were going to carefully limit your time on here and "spend more time actually modeling"???
Anyhow, so what if BLI decides to offer a more "generic" locomotive. Like Bachmann, it's their prerogative and it will fit someone's wants and needs. And, no - not "everyone" criticizes Bachmann for that.
Oh! - And FYI: BLI locomotives move both backward and forwards. I really like that in a locomotive.
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
I tend to favor prototype accuracy, so I probably won't be interested in the new BLI generic Consolidation. However, I took a look at BLI's illustration today and noticed a few interesting things. First, they seem to be using the same mechanism and cab as they are using on their new PRR H10s. The tender looks pretty much like a stock USRA tender, probably using the same tooling they use for the tenders on their USRA 4-6-2's and 2-8-2's. The only new item is the boiler, apparently. I'm sure there are a lot of modelers who would like a good generic 2-8-0, but can't justify the H10s with its obvious PRR heritage. Look how popular Bachmann's generic 2-8-0 was (although based on a modified Harriman/I.C. design). This will allow those folks to get a Paragon-quality 2-8-0 without having to answer embarrassing questions like how a PRR H10s got to Western Canada, or Arizona, or Utah, or wherever their model railroad is located. It allows BLI to increase sales of the basic 2-8-0 without a complete redesign. If it means that a new model of a freelance design will be available, then I see nothing wrong with it. If BLI follows this general policy, they could release future H10s models with their PRR I1s short tender, or with a new PRR L1s 2-8-2 tender. That could open the door to the production of a new L1s loco. Of course, they could produce an H9s by simply using a different cylinder block on an otherwise unaltered H10s. On balance, I see this as a potentially very good thing
Those 2-8-0's are the only things in the catalog that I can use. I'm planning on getting two or three.
Sheldon,You know, I could make the opposite claim here using the same catalog. BLI is also making NH I-4's, NH I-5's, and PRR turbines in 2014, which are all just about as specific as one can get. There's your proof that the market is still demanding prototype accuracy.
Not "everyone" criticizes Bachmann. You don't.
As for Bachmann getting better, they had a long way to go to get better. If BLI, starting as a quality company, has just a tiny slip from only quality, then they are going to get "worse".
Paul A. Cutler III
Paul3 Sheldon,You know, I could make the opposite claim here using the same catalog. BLI is also making NH I-4's, NH I-5's, and PRR turbines in 2014, which are all just about as specific as one can get. There's your proof that the market is still demanding prototype accuracy. Not "everyone" criticizes Bachmann. You don't. As for Bachmann getting better, they had a long way to go to get better. If BLI, starting as a quality company, has just a tiny slip from only quality, then they are going to get "worse". Paul A. Cutler III
Paul, I think we have covered this before, but personally I do not measure "quality" solely based on detail level or prototype accuracy. "Quality" is how well does it run?, how well is it designed?, is it assembled correctly?
In the very early days of original Bachmann Reading 2-8-0, and the earliest Spectrum, they still had a number of "quality" issues. Prototype accuracy is only a quality issue to the extent the seller claims the model to be accurate - you can have a "quality" generic model.
My personal "quality" experiances with Broadway have been mixed, so I'm not sold on their "quality" regardless of prototype accuracy, which they abandoned rather readily with the USRA Mikados and Pacifics, two drives, two boilers, one tender, mixed and matched for a ton of roadnames only a few of which are reasonably close.
And that's OK with me, they are what they are, and I own a few of them. But two of them were junk I had to rebuild from the ground up, with no warranty help from Broadway and no real parts support even on my dime.
Never had that problem with Bachmann. In fact, if I compare the percentage of my Bachmann locos that have had defects, with the percentage of my BLI locos with defects, BLI has much worse track record at my house.
10 BLI locos, two with serious drive line problems, one delivered with missing parts, two with minor agjustment issues - average cost of the ten locos $200 each.
34 Bachmann locos, 4 defective locos returned and replaced with perfect runners, 3 others with minor adjustment issues I fixed - average cost of the 34 locos $100 each.
And this new one from BLI, over $400 - too rich for my taste, their sound decoders don't sell as well as Bachmann decoders on Ebay.