BLI Announces Blueline big boy!

[Hoople]

Hey guys, thought I might share this.

BLI is making the PCM big boy (Yeah kinda weird to use the sister's loco, but it saves $$$) in blueline. It says it has been supercharged with more power, and has authentic sounds. The best thing is the price! $428 Retail! $300 FDT!

There due in november, and the weird guage-thing isn't on the page, and it is a definate production.

YAY

Mark

Edit: Whoops... I ment the sound is supercharged. Oh well. It still can pull 8.9 oz.

[Don Z]

In case people want to go to the website for more info:

http://precisioncraftmodels.com/UP-Big-Boy-Diecast,-HO-c3539.html

Don Z.

[jeffrey-wimberly]

If it's a definate production that's ok. The thing I don't like about some practices is that they'll have you order ahead and the then a yerar or two to see if there's any interest. I can't stand that!

[rrinker]

 Great, yet ANOTHER Big Boy. OK, since BLI/PCM already did it they can easily strip some details and make a Blue Line version, but still... 

I don't understand why everyone wants one of these. There have been more variations made then there were actual locomotives. They are too big for the typical smaller home layout, and only one railroad owned them. Oh well.

 

                        --Randy

[Callan89]

I completely agree...why not produce a NEW model for a change...Now we can add BLI to the list of Manufacturers who make the Union Pacific Challenger/Bigboy:

 Bowser, AHM, Athearn, Rivarossi.Not counting the COUNTLESS brass offerings with every variation they ever had. MORE THAN FOUR manufacturers,yet producing TWO locomotives...other than fostering competition over two of the world's larger locomotives, I think it hurts the modeler, because it provides a lack of variety, what we all strive for in our own model railroads.  

 I have to say the same thing about EMD F's.(FT's-F9) Dozens of Manufacturers, yet only 5 locomotives offered. I see a problem. Some have pushed the envelope of what a model SHOULD be by innovating improvements on these 5 locomotive types, however.  

[Hoople]

I do agree that only 1 or 2 companies should make them, and produce other items. I am a serious UP fan, and I want one of these. I'm not sure why everyone wants them.

Oh and BTW, they handle 18" R.

[Callan89]

I like them (Challengers and Big Boys) too, and I agree with our Philosophy. However I WOULD NOT run them around an 18" radius if you have any scenery within 4" of your turns... EEK!

[SunsetLimited]

Im not to thrilled, i have asked them several times a week for the past month to post a sound sample for the SD40 and AC6000 on the site so i know what sound im getting before i buy it. Here we are coming up to release and noone knows what they sound like. So I cancelled my AC6000 (part because of the CSX diversity scheme) and bought a OSI AC6000 instead, at least i know what im getting.

[bb4884]

WTF!!!

I just spent how much money buying 7 of the PCM variant with sound??? Do they have the same amount of detail? Now I have a choice of another Big Boy or atheran's FEF. Such decisons

Edit: Notice in the description of it "Broadway Limited Imports is proud to present the UP Big Boy?"

[csmith9474]

Im not to thrilled, i have asked them several times a week for the past month to post a sound sample for the SD40 and AC6000 on the site so i know what sound im getting before i buy it. Here we are coming up to release and noone knows what they sound like. So I cancelled my AC6000 (part because of the CSX diversity scheme) and bought a OSI AC6000 instead, at least i know what im getting.

What is the CSX diversity scheme, and what is wrong with it? Did they (BLI/PCM) mess up another paint scheme? I model late '50s Espee and Santa Fe, so I am not familiar with the newer stuff (it's mostly zebras and black widows for me).

[grayfox1119]

Like we have Big Boys on every RR in the country.....I agree with all those who have already expressed their disbelief. Bigger is not better in this case for most people. Yes, there are collectors who will buy them, and there are those who model the UP that might want their 16th Big Boy, but for me, I am trying to model the old B&A / NYC in New England, and trying to get the locomotives for that era is like trying to shave a porcupine. Come on Manufacturers get with it!!!!

[AggroJones]

I can't believe this...

 I'll be happy when they get enough 'preorders' for the AC. 

[Virginian]

The Big Boy was the "biggest" steam locomotive.   Therefore, everyone wants one.  I know they were not the highest tractive effort, or most horsepower, and only one railroad ever operated them, and you know it, but a lot of people either don't know it, or don't care.  It sells.

I think we have enough Big Boys.  We need a Blueline Class J and a Y6b.

[Hoople]

WTF!!!

I just spent how much money buying 7 of the PCM variant with sound??? Do they have the same amount of detail? Now I have a choice of another Big Boy or atheran's FEF. Such decisons

Edit: Notice in the description of it "Broadway Limited Imports is proud to present the UP Big Boy?"

[tatans]

WOW ! Another one again.  I'm going to Korea and ordering 10,000 big boys and bringing them back here, seems people here will buy anything as long as it's a big boy.

[MOJAX]

If I may ask, what or where is FDT?

Thanks 

[Hoople]

If I may ask, what or where is FDT?

Thanks 

[Anonymous]

300 FTD for a Big Boy with sound!? That's less than the Athearn (I think)! SAWEEEEET!!!!!

[SOU Fan]

 Great, yet ANOTHER Big Boy. OK, since BLI/PCM already did it they can easily strip some details and make a Blue Line version, but still... 

I don't understand why everyone wants one of these. There have been more variations made then there were actual locomotives. They are too big for the typical smaller home layout, and only one railroad owned them. Oh well.

 

                        --Randy

How many Big boys do we need??!!!  Why do they keep producing these????!!!  Don't they realize sooner or later people are gonna stop buying them???!!!   This has better be the last big boy.  We need to start seeing different locos other than the big boy!!!!!!

[SunsetLimited]

How about a Blueline T1 Duplex :)

[bb4884]

In keeping with the "bigger is better" mind set, may I reccomend UP's  9000 class. Let's see you get that around 18" radius

[jfugate]

 Great, yet ANOTHER Big Boy. OK, since BLI/PCM already did it they can easily strip some details and make a Blue Line version, but still... 

I don't understand why everyone wants one of these. There have been more variations made then there were actual locomotives. They are too big for the typical smaller home layout, and only one railroad owned them. Oh well.

                        --Randy

Randy, you and me both. I've never owned one, don't plan to own one, and can't see why most people would even want one. Can you say ... "saturate the market"? 

How about something like a decent HO SD9 or GP9? The P2K versions look okay but run poorly, and the Athearn versions have the non-scale width hood. The Atlas version GP9 runs nice, but has the sidesills molded onto the chassis ... what a pain! It does look like some Blueline SD9s may be on the way ... I'm waiting for an SP version!

[Anonymous]

This is one big boy too many.

I wager that BLI is going to strip everything down and re-issue it all without QSI on the Blue Line Series. Next up is my prediction for a Reading T1 in Blueline for 200 dollars flat and 140 FDT.

Any takers?

[rrinker]

 Hmm, I haven't had any problems with P2K diesels other than cracked gears that were promptly replaced for free. But then I don't have anything but neglible grades at this point. But that's nothing a couple NWSL thrust washers won't fix - the binding on grades is due to excessive back and forth play in the worm shafts. Given the high level and quality of detail on the P2K shells, and the fact that since I never bought any of mine the day they came out, and as such never paid more than $40 for one, a couple bucks to tune the drive line isn't a killer. Consider all that used to have to be done to Blue Box Athearns to get smooth runners.

 

                                                   --Randy

[jfugate]

Hmm, I haven't had any problems with P2K diesels other than cracked gears ...

                                                  --Randy

The P2K SD9s are the worst offenders. They run decent when new, but as they age, their power pickup reliability tanks badly. I have several fellow modelers locally and on the net who now won't touch these locos with a ten foot pole their power pickup gets so bad.

I and others have tried everything under the sun to get them to straighten up, but the only thing that seems to be the permanent solution is to replace the guts entirely with a ProtoPower West chassis. The Lifelike shell drops onto the PPW chassis with very little work. So you get the best of both worlds ... a nice shell and a nice power train ... but it's a bit pricey since you have to ditch the P2K guts entirely.

[Kurn]

 Oh,great.ANOTHER Big boy.Well,maybe I could cut it down and make an EM-1 out of it.

[Hoople]

In keeping with the "bigger is better" mind set, may I reccomend UP's  9000 class. Let's see you get that around 18" radius

[cudaken]

 Speaking for my self great news! The more companys that make them the better they will become!  My Genesis has so many problems the Teck at Athearn asked me to ask for a refund at the LHS I bought it from.

 Maybe with BLI making the new Big Boy Athearn will pull the decoder they are using! Decoder is only half my problem I will add. 30 Car drag will bring my BB to it knees.

 I have a PCM with a Lok decoder coming in the next 2 weeks, it will be 4002. But I have loft goals, I want all 25 of the 4000's.

             Cuda Ken

[VAPEURCHAPELON]

I can't see those [swear word removed my Bergie ]  Big Boy and Challenger models any longer! As others stated, every "new" Big Boy PREVENTS variety. Every more of these drops the chance of production of other NICE and MORE USEABLE engines closer to zero. The hype of those big UP engines is breathtaking. Soon the lost world of steam in reality will be lost at model railroads, too. The industry is to suggest us that UP engines of course are the must-haves, and all the others go more and more to history... Many of you could say if I don't want UP then don't post here, but in my eyes the situation is that serious that I hope a little that others will come to my side and ignore these models. I am really angry.

[Bergie]

 Great, yet ANOTHER Big Boy. OK, since BLI/PCM already did it they can easily strip some details and make a Blue Line version, but still... 

I don't understand why everyone wants one of these. There have been more variations made then there were actual locomotives. They are too big for the typical smaller home layout, and only one railroad owned them. Oh well.

 

                        --Randy

How many [swear word removed my Bergie ] Big boys do we need??!!!  Why do they keep producing these????!!!  Don't they realize sooner or later people are gonna stop buying them???!!!   This has better be the last big boy.  We need to start seeing different locos other than the big boy!!!!!!

 

Why must we continue to use swear words to get our point across?

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Bergie