I find it amazing that they have that many wheels in guage, but they have 1 low coupler (ok, that could be a freak oversight for this particular item). But to have the other coupler SO LOW that it will not even come close to joining another coupler is unforgivable. It looks like a very nice model, though.
In spite of the issues it has a few good things going for it. All the drivers are in gauge, which are the hardest wheel sets to fix if they're not. It also runs very smoothly without any binding, another thing which can be very hard to fix. Everything else can be fixed, but I still think expensive models would be a lot nicer if they didn't have these little quality control issues. Thanks for watching!
Its a beautiful locomotive and thanks for the great review. I wish you would have shown the hooking up of the tender. It's a real pain in the rear to do. I have a hard time telling which way is up on the electrical plug.
You're welcome! I'll do my best to get shots like that if I review anything comparable in the future. Sometimes it's difficult to shoot things like that. Thanks for watching!
Just been informed of your new channel! This is a very well balanced review, and presents everything in an objective manner which I like. Q: is that whistle sound accurate for this class? I have only ever heard what sounds like the SP 5-chime on the videos I have seen. (Which sounds similar to a Star Brass 5-chime)
So I have to confess that I am not super expert on SP steam whistle sounds so I really can't answer your question. Anyway, I'm glad you found the channel and like the review. Thanks for watching!
The tender is missing a back up light. TBH, that may not have been there as delivered, but surely would have been there by the time it received the 1947 paint and lettering scheme.
The AC-5 details are more of how the engine appeared in the 1930s other than the silver plate underneath the headlight. The AC-4, however, has the more modern detail parts that would have been present on the postwar locomotives. I do not know why BLI did this.
It's odd, because I was looking at some of the other road numbers BLI offers, and some of them have the box above the headlight and the lowered number plate, so BLI has the parts already. If they'd just gone a little further to get the combination right it would have been better. Some other manufacturers these days are doing unit-specific details on models that cost less than this so I don't really understand it either. Thanks for watching!
I get the fact that you subtract points for what you consider defects, but the engine is such a great piece of modeling that I think you might add points for what was great about the engine. If we went through life with people just judging us by our defects, we would all have a grade of F.
I came up with the scoring system I use when I started doing reviews on this channel. I don't know if any scoring system can be perfect. I strive to keep the reviews as consistent as possible, with tests and deductions for the same things. I want to keep it as objective as possible, like taking points for coupler height. I'm not sure how I'd work in some kind of "extra credit" system, or how I'd keep it consistent if I did. Thanks for the input!
I have the Norfolk and western 4664 and the Burlington northern SW7 from Broadway limited and they are both great locomotives. In fact the SW7 is so powerful that the same train that I often have to use two locomotives for I can just use that one. The Athearn GP sevens/GPnine‘s tend to be under powered anyway.
Considering this was a model BLI released in its old Paragon line, and they are still using the same molds, and only since added their new Paragon 3 sound and smoke unit, I dont see why they would charge so much for a model that in all practicality is 10 years old .
Sometimes older models get re-run with state-of-the-art prices. Sometimes they improve the tooling, sometimes not. I would like to see older models get improvements, especially when other manufacturers keep raising the bar with better and better models for similar prices. Thanks for watching!
@@DanielCortopassi agreed. As far as I can see, the only things paragon 3 got from pargon 2 in general is blackened metal wheels on front and rear trucks🤷🏻♂️
I don't really know. I am not overly impressed with BLI's sound decoders in general. I'll likely replace this one with a LokSound at some point. Thanks for watching!
That's unfortunate. It seems like an outdated model(blue line original release), but still has the price point of a paragon 3 engine. That led to many points removed.
I have several BLI engines with the Paragon 3, and I intend to replace them with ESU decoders. I'm just not that happy with the way they work. Hopefully with some improvements and weathering this engine will look good for some "retro" photography on my future Donner layout. Thanks for watching!
@@DanielCortopassi agreed, although I prefer TCS wow steam(I refuse to enter the ESU ecosystem!). Its a shame BLI stopped releasing models in no sound/blueline versions.
Thanks for another video Dan. I agree with your critique on an engine in this price range. Just not a fan of forward cab--older school I guess, so I'll stick with my EMDs. Keep em coming!
Thanks, Dan! Good review......I agree that when you pay a premium price you should expect premium quality. Even the minor imperfections shouldn't be accepted.
It is disappointing to have flaws in an expensive model for sure. Some of the flaws with this one are correctable, thankfully, though it would take a bit of work. Thanks for watching!
I had to go pull the model out of the box again and look at it. To my eye the black on the locomotive and tender look the same. If they look different on video, it might be due to the tender and locomotive catching the light differently. Thanks for watching!
Really don't like how the tender only has 2 pick-up wheels. Thats really cheap.... I wonder if theres a modification that could be done to give all-wheel pick up?
I'm sure it could be done. There are aftermarket axle wipers and such available. I'll need to work on this one some eventually before it's a really viable runner. Thanks for watching!
I don't really know. Most HO diesels don't have them. I really wish that they would at least include spare drivers without the tires so that they could be swapped out, or offer it as an option the way some manufacturers have models with DCC installed and without. I'm sure this model would still pull well without them. Maybe they're thinking of people who want to try to use one of these to pull a really long train up a grade all by itself. Thanks for watching!
Again, no mention of the abysmal eccentric crank motion-none to speak of. WHY DOESN’T THIS BOTHER YOU?!?! HAVEN’T YOU EVER SEEN STEAM LOCOMOTIVE VALVE GEAR IN ACTION?!! Broadway Limited couldn’t care less about adjusting the eccentric mechanism correctly. Will never buy one. 🤮
I think I already answered this question in a previous comment, but maybe I can add a little. Unless I know something inside and out, which in the case of steam locomotive valve gear I confess I don't, I hesitate to criticize something that I don't have definitive research on which to base a judgment. That said, it should be possible to adjust the eccentric crank (within reason) on most steam locomotive models without hurting the running qualities. Thanks for watching!
Daniel Cortopassi, thank you. Maybe now that you’ve been thinking about it you could consider adding your judgement regarding this parameter to your critique. Either way, you arguably provide the best locomotive reviews on TH-cam. Keep up the great work!
Hold up, what's wrong with the eccentric crank motion? I don't know much about steam engines, so I am curious. Is the angle of the eccentric crank off? Is it too long? Is the valve rod angle not steep enough?
I find it amazing that they have that many wheels in guage, but they have 1 low coupler (ok, that could be a freak oversight for this particular item). But to have the other coupler SO LOW that it will not even come close to joining another coupler is unforgivable. It looks like a very nice model, though.
In spite of the issues it has a few good things going for it. All the drivers are in gauge, which are the hardest wheel sets to fix if they're not. It also runs very smoothly without any binding, another thing which can be very hard to fix. Everything else can be fixed, but I still think expensive models would be a lot nicer if they didn't have these little quality control issues. Thanks for watching!
Its a beautiful locomotive and thanks for the great review. I wish you would have shown the hooking up of the tender. It's a real pain in the rear to do. I have a hard time telling which way is up on the electrical plug.
You're welcome! I'll do my best to get shots like that if I review anything comparable in the future. Sometimes it's difficult to shoot things like that. Thanks for watching!
Just been informed of your new channel! This is a very well balanced review, and presents everything in an objective manner which I like. Q: is that whistle sound accurate for this class? I have only ever heard what sounds like the SP 5-chime on the videos I have seen. (Which sounds similar to a Star Brass 5-chime)
So I have to confess that I am not super expert on SP steam whistle sounds so I really can't answer your question. Anyway, I'm glad you found the channel and like the review. Thanks for watching!
great review Dan, i like the model details features
Thanks for watching!
The tender is missing a back up light. TBH, that may not have been there as delivered, but surely would have been there by the time it received the 1947 paint and lettering scheme.
I may add one to mine eventually. Thanks for the info and for watching!
@@DanielCortopassi please do a video of the installation when you do.
The AC-5 details are more of how the engine appeared in the 1930s other than the silver plate underneath the headlight. The AC-4, however, has the more modern detail parts that would have been present on the postwar locomotives. I do not know why BLI did this.
It's odd, because I was looking at some of the other road numbers BLI offers, and some of them have the box above the headlight and the lowered number plate, so BLI has the parts already. If they'd just gone a little further to get the combination right it would have been better. Some other manufacturers these days are doing unit-specific details on models that cost less than this so I don't really understand it either. Thanks for watching!
I get the fact that you subtract points for what you consider defects, but the engine is such a great piece of modeling that I think you might add points for what was great about the engine. If we went through life with people just judging us by our defects, we would all have a grade of F.
I came up with the scoring system I use when I started doing reviews on this channel. I don't know if any scoring system can be perfect. I strive to keep the reviews as consistent as possible, with tests and deductions for the same things. I want to keep it as objective as possible, like taking points for coupler height. I'm not sure how I'd work in some kind of "extra credit" system, or how I'd keep it consistent if I did. Thanks for the input!
I have the Norfolk and western 4664 and the Burlington northern SW7 from Broadway limited and they are both great locomotives. In fact the SW7 is so powerful that the same train that I often have to use two locomotives for I can just use that one. The Athearn GP sevens/GPnine‘s tend to be under powered anyway.
This SP engine has good power. I don't have any BLI SW7s, but it sounds like they're little workhorses. Thanks for watching!
Great review!
Thanks for watching!
Considering this was a model BLI released in its old Paragon line, and they are still using the same molds, and only since added their new Paragon 3 sound and smoke unit, I dont see why they would charge so much for a model that in all practicality is 10 years old .
Sometimes older models get re-run with state-of-the-art prices. Sometimes they improve the tooling, sometimes not. I would like to see older models get improvements, especially when other manufacturers keep raising the bar with better and better models for similar prices. Thanks for watching!
@@DanielCortopassi agreed. As far as I can see, the only things paragon 3 got from pargon 2 in general is blackened metal wheels on front and rear trucks🤷🏻♂️
Why did they exclude the air pump sound ? That’s what the cab forwards are known for
I don't really know. I am not overly impressed with BLI's sound decoders in general. I'll likely replace this one with a LokSound at some point. Thanks for watching!
That's unfortunate. It seems like an outdated model(blue line original release), but still has the price point of a paragon 3 engine. That led to many points removed.
I have several BLI engines with the Paragon 3, and I intend to replace them with ESU decoders. I'm just not that happy with the way they work. Hopefully with some improvements and weathering this engine will look good for some "retro" photography on my future Donner layout. Thanks for watching!
@@DanielCortopassi agreed, although I prefer TCS wow steam(I refuse to enter the ESU ecosystem!). Its a shame BLI stopped releasing models in no sound/blueline versions.
Thanks for another video Dan. I agree with your critique on an engine in this price range. Just not a fan of forward cab--older school I guess, so I'll stick with my EMDs. Keep em coming!
Thanks for watching!
Thanks, Dan! Good review......I agree that when you pay a premium price you should expect premium quality. Even the minor imperfections shouldn't be accepted.
It is disappointing to have flaws in an expensive model for sure. Some of the flaws with this one are correctable, thankfully, though it would take a bit of work. Thanks for watching!
Why are tender and loco colors different?
I had to go pull the model out of the box again and look at it. To my eye the black on the locomotive and tender look the same. If they look different on video, it might be due to the tender and locomotive catching the light differently. Thanks for watching!
Why did you leave T&SG if your still doing train reviews
I'm not commenting too much on that right now, but suffice to say sometimes a working relationship can sour. Thanks for watching!
Excellent review! I've never been a fan of the paragon sound system, it sounds cheesy and like a QSI decoder out of 2004.
It's not my favorite either. I'll probably put a LokSound in this thing eventually. Thanks for watching!
I classify this as a good " toy " train
Thanks for watching!
Really don't like how the tender only has 2 pick-up wheels. Thats really cheap.... I wonder if theres a modification that could be done to give all-wheel pick up?
I'm sure it could be done. There are aftermarket axle wipers and such available. I'll need to work on this one some eventually before it's a really viable runner. Thanks for watching!
Why would they need traction tires with a model that heavy?
I don't really know. Most HO diesels don't have them. I really wish that they would at least include spare drivers without the tires so that they could be swapped out, or offer it as an option the way some manufacturers have models with DCC installed and without. I'm sure this model would still pull well without them. Maybe they're thinking of people who want to try to use one of these to pull a really long train up a grade all by itself. Thanks for watching!
Again, no mention of the abysmal eccentric crank motion-none to speak of. WHY DOESN’T THIS BOTHER YOU?!?! HAVEN’T YOU EVER SEEN STEAM LOCOMOTIVE VALVE GEAR IN ACTION?!! Broadway Limited couldn’t care less about adjusting the eccentric mechanism correctly. Will never buy one. 🤮
I think I already answered this question in a previous comment, but maybe I can add a little. Unless I know something inside and out, which in the case of steam locomotive valve gear I confess I don't, I hesitate to criticize something that I don't have definitive research on which to base a judgment. That said, it should be possible to adjust the eccentric crank (within reason) on most steam locomotive models without hurting the running qualities. Thanks for watching!
Daniel Cortopassi, thank you. Maybe now that you’ve been thinking about it you could consider adding your judgement regarding this parameter to your critique. Either way, you arguably provide the best locomotive reviews on TH-cam. Keep up the great work!
Hold up, what's wrong with the eccentric crank motion? I don't know much about steam engines, so I am curious. Is the angle of the eccentric crank off? Is it too long? Is the valve rod angle not steep enough?