broadway big boys are much cheaper the PCM's , why??

[Anonymous]

broadway is going to release a big boy soon ,  its big boys are supposed to be the same as PCM's ,  also a die cast metal construction,   the difference is that DC with new sound but no decoder installed by factory.  the biggest difference is that the price is almost half of  PCM's ,  so amazing!!

[tstage]

Martin,

Is the new Broadway Big Boy from their newest Blueline series?  If so, there will be less detailing and the sound is BLI's own proprietary system rather than QSI.  That would make it cheaper.

Also, the sound decoder will run on either DC or DCC.  If you want to install a motion decoder to convert it to DCC, it just plugs right in.

Tom 

[Anonymous]

Martin,

Is the new Broadway Big Boy from their newest Blueline series?  If so, there will be less detailing and the sound is BLI's own proprietary system rather than QSI.  That would make it cheaper.

Also, the sound decoder will run on either DC or DCC.  If you want to install a motion decoder to convert it to DCC, it just plugs right in.

Tom 

yes , from blueline.  the later the better i think ,  there will be less detailing , why??  at least the same as PCM i think , 'cause they belong to the same owner .

[selector]

The Blueline trains are essentially the same as their Paragon series, but the difference is that their sound system operates on DC....only.  There is no provision for dual or DCC operation with the Blueline locomotives.  They are adverstized on the BLI website as DCC ready.

[cacole]

As they are delivered, the Blue Line locomotives operate on DC only because they have no motor control decoder in them, only an in-house developed sound system.  In order to use the DC sounds, you need a DCMaster Analog Control Module.  Whether that comes with the locomotives is not specified in their advertising.

However, they are DCC ready and when a decoder is installed the sound system also becomes DCC controllable, according to their news releases.

The only caution mentioned on BLI's web site and in their print advertisements is that when a DCC decoder is installed for motor control, the locomotive's sound system should no longer be ran on a DC layout, even if the installed decoder is a dual-mode type.

This is stated, for example, in their advertisement that appears on page 16 of the June 2007 issue of Railroad Model Craftsman, when they state, "Dual mode operation (use on DC when upgraded to DCC) not currently recommended," but they don't say why or what damage may befall the model if you do so.

This statement has also appeared in Model Railroader magazine advertisements in past issues.

[rrinker]

 My guess is that they say not to run it on DC after adding a decoder simply because the sound functions would be uncontrollable once a DCC decoder is installed. You can configure most decoders that can run on DC to have certain functions on when running on DC, but you have to set them up when programming, they aren't controllable.

 It might also have to do with the way the DC sound control works. It's possible that if the loco is operated on DC with a DCC decoder installed, a voltage is applied to the decoders's function ouputs, possibly damaging it.

 

                                           --Randy

[Anonymous]

Skip the stripped down Blue line, buy the PCM Big boy that has everything already in it for a few extra dollars. That is what I would do. Half of something does not add up to savings.

[CAZEPHYR]

broadway is going to release a big boy soon ,  its big boys are supposed to be the same as PCM's ,  also a die cast metal construction,   the difference is that DC with new sound but no decoder installed by factory.  the biggest difference is that the price is almost half of  PCM's ,  so amazing!!

 None of us really know, but since the drawings and tooling costs have already been amortized into the cost of the PCM Big Boy's, the same builder would probably run addtional copies with the less expensive sound board for much less money.   Remember, they blew out the non sound PCM Big Boys's for $325.  They are great models and I purchased two at that price.  The actual cost in China for most of the latest releases is very low.   If the workforce makes less than thirty cents per hour, you can see how low the labor cost really is. 

From the basic description, the model seems to be the same die cast locomotive as a second run with with a different sound board installed.  I reserved one but I am not counting on the model being imported without a major delay.  Most of the BLI/PCM products do not get a sufficient amount of reservations to built them on schedule since many of the large dealers are reluctant to order many, or any in some cases.

  

[Hoople]

Martin,

Is the new Broadway Big Boy from their newest Blueline series?  If so, there will be less detailing and the sound is BLI's own proprietary system rather than QSI.  That would make it cheaper.

[bb4884]

It's basically the PCM big boy with better sound for less because there is no hassle of licencing

 

No, I quote "These DC-Sound equipped locomotives are extremely smooth and powerful runners with sound that packs an incredible punch! Each BlueLine locomotive comes factory-fitted with our own proprietary sound system for DC"  It has no decoder, making it much cheaper. I think there will be less detail or the detail will not be as sharp.

[dinwitty]

I think the question is if the BLI sound would work using the DCC functions when you install the decoder and rewire properly.

[R. T. POTEET]

broadway is going to release a big boy soon ,  its big boys are supposed to be the same as PCM's ,  also a die cast metal construction,   the difference is that DC with new sound but no decoder installed by factory.  the biggest difference is that the price is almost half of  PCM's ,  so amazing!!

It all  boils down to this: you pay for bells and whistles . . . . . or . . . . . you don't pay for no bells and no whistles.  Quality is never actual, it is perceived which is why people still buy MBs instead of Toys!!!

[Virginian]

All we KNOW is that it will have a different in-house sound system, it will come set up to run on DC with sound, and this sound equipped version does not include a dual mode decoder.  I can find no reference to less detail.

I would be willing to bet money that from 3 feet you could not tell the difference except for locomotive numbers.

[Hoople]

Thats what I'd say. I mean PCM/BLI are the same company pretty much, and why waste money for new molds so the locomotive is less detailed? I know I'd just use the PCM big boy molds. They even say it includes lighted number boards, engineer and fireman, working cab windows, smoke genorator, ect. Most of these would be left out I would think if there is gonna be less detail, but yet there here. Anyway, I can't wait for one.