Before I start my complaint, let me say that I currently own 7 BLI Paragon HO ATSF locos and am very pleased with them. Now on with my story…
A few years ago, BLI announced production of a USRA ATSF Light Mikado. As a diehard ATSF nut, I immediately placed my pre-order. Some months later and it arrived, but it didn’t look right. Yup, it didn’t have the ATSF number boards, or the tube “cowcatcher”, and some other ATSF specific details. Well, I then looked it up in Worley’s “Iron Horses of the Santa Fe” and soon realized - and later verified - that the ATSF did NOT have any USRA Light Mikes. I ended up selling it on Ebay, and did OK.
Soooo, BLI recently announced two more ATSF USRA Mikes, only these are Heavy ones. Well, once again (before I ordered this time) I found that the ATSF did not have any Heavy USRA Mikes. In fact, the two loco numbers (to the best of my search) never even existed!!!
You know, I expect fantasy locos from the “toy” manufacturers, like the old Tyco or Lifelike of years ago. For anything with an ATSF or PRR or NYC slapped on it would probably sell. But, I considered BLI to be above that, and am very disappointed. Yes, I wrote them saying all the above, but I suspect that it doesn’t matter - for they will likely sell all they have.
I hear ya, MM. It must be frustrating to be heavily reliant on the offerings of the various scale engine manufacturers for one’s equipment, only to learn that production run is delayed, cancelled, or going to exclude the very engine you had wanted to see.
It doesn’t help you a bit, but there is something to be said for being a proto-lancer after all. Just get whatever engines jump off the page or the screen at you, and run 'em as you wish. Run a Pennsy Duplex on the Santa Fe. Or a Big Boy on the Atlantic Coast Line.
This isn’t BLI’s only recent major fantasy announcement. Their latest run of AC6000CW locomotives in the Paragon2 line includes AC6000’s painted for BNSF, KCS, and Canadian Pacific. None of these railways actually owned the AC6000.
The only accurate schemes are for UP and CSX, and the BHP and GE demonstrator versions. Yet this didn’t stop BLI from releasing the others, or also releasing SP in the first run a few years ago (which made a bit more sense, since the SP had ordered them before their takeover). Apparently BLI’s logic, when asked, was that the AC6000CW looks enough like an AC4400CW, which those other railways do own. Seeing that the AC4400 is hardly a scarce model, I can’t imagine why anyone would want an AC6000 as a stand-in…
I’m not that bothered by manufacturers offering fantasy schemes, especially for prototypes which saw limited use, where manufacturers don’t expect to sell much of the model unless it’s painted in popular schemes.
However, I AM bothered when manufacturers, like BLI, do not note that the units are fantasy units. Look at Athearn’s newest fantasy releases…they are all specified as fantasy schemes. They’re not the only one’s who’ve done that. BLI does not have mention of it anywhere on the product info…
…at least they don’t say anything about “accurate paint”
This is all a common and “generally accepted” practice in the hobby as I’ve mentioned quite a few times on this forum. Welcome to the world of fantasy and stand-in!
A few years ago, BLI announced production of a USRA ATSF Light Mikado. As a diehard ATSF nut, I immediately placed my pre-order. Some months later and it arrived, but it didn’t look right. Yup, it didn’t have the ATSF number boards, or the tube “cowcatcher”, and some other ATSF specific details. Well, I then looked it up in Worley’s “Iron Horses of the Santa Fe” and soon realized - and later verified - that the ATSF did NOT have any USRA Light Mikes.
Just for the record, ATSF didn’t have any USRA locos of any type. Neither did the SP. In fact the SP built obsolete 2-8-0’s and 4-6-0’s from “spare parts” during WWI to avoid having to take USRA engines… UP had light Mikes and USRA 0-6-0’s.
Gee, I thought this was going to be about an announcement of a “fantasy” model - one that they would produce only if they got enough pre-orders. It would be a year or two before you found out if they would really make it or not. Now, that’s fantasy.
“Real” model railroading is fantasy. Plastic brick and hydrocal mortar. But “Fantasy” model railroading is just that - models that are never made, layouts that are never built, track that is never laid.
I can’t speak for the other lines but I know for a fact that the KCS doesn’t and never has had the AC6000. Now the AC4400 and the ES44AC, that’s different. 125 AC4400’s and 110 ES44AC’s. I’m not much of a fan for fantasy locomotives, especially from a big company like BLI.
It is a proven fact that these fantasy locos sell.You may not like them but somebody does.This puts more money in the manufacturer’s pocket to produce that loco you really want.
So quit complaining about them,nobody is twisting your arm to make you buy them.
As long as the manufacturer advises those are fantasy schemes-Athearn has done that on past fantasy locomotives and they do sell.
I believe the majority of us draws a line on what is acceptable and what isn’t based on our modeling style and not that of others so,while many of us may not like (say) a PRR DD40X some will enjoy it and that’s their right…
I have plans on buying 2 fantasy CR GP60s from Athearn only because I think they are sharp looking locomotives in the CR scheme.
You must have missed the news—“kvetching” is the newest hobby[:D]
It would make a lot more sense to research the purchase BEFORE one buys the thing. Then you would find out it is a “foobie” and you could save the $$$$ for something better. Read up on the model you are considering----
Not to mention that sooner or later they’ll show up on ebay for 10% of their original price and you can scoop 'em up and repaint 'em for whatever road suits your fantasy… er, fancy.
I think the point here is when you preorder, you are buying blind based on sketches. Major details like types of pilots do not really show up until the manufacturer shows off a prototype version. Then it is much too late to cancel the order if you do not like it.
As someone mentioned, the fantasy scemes do sell. If it was not for them in a preordered limited run, the model may never be produced.
Perhaps I used the word “complaint” in error. May I substitute the word “disappointment”???
When I pre - ordered the BLI light Mikado 3 or 4 years ago, there was no picture available of the ATSF model. As I had other BLI ATSF steam locos that were pretty well in line with the prototype, I figured that the light Mike would be as well. I did not know at that time that the ATSF did not have USRA light Mikes. I guess my error of judgement was “assuming” that a high priced loco, from a quality manufacturer, would be closer to the prototype. Of course, I was wrong.
With this latest announcement for a USRA ATSF Heavy Mike, I was able to get a picture of it. As I got bit once before, I did the research to find out if the model was a fair representation. It is not, and I won’t be ordering any. And, I continue to be disappointed with BLI, and will be very wary of making future loco purchases.
You know, I really don’t care if the manufacturers put out fantasy or “what if” locos or “whatever”. I only wish they would identify them as such - and allow the buying public to make a more educated purchase.
Hey, for those of you that are critical of my posting, I apologize for taking up your time and energy.
Soooo, BLI recently announced two more ATSF USRA Mikes, only these are Heavy ones. Well, once again (before I ordered this time) I found that the ATSF did not have any Heavy USRA Mikes. In fact, the two loco numbers (to the best of my search) never even existed!!!
Wouldn’t it be more appropriate to say that BLI has released a “Fanta Se” locomotive? [(-D]
Incidentally, they numbered the USRA Heavy’s the next two digits above the last of the 3160 class Mikes (3160-3287)
Perhaps, just perhaps, BLI didn’t know ATSF never had any USRA locomotives, either. It was news to me, and I’m sure to more than Mobilman44 and me, about the ATSF and SP never participating in the USRA lcoomotive program. BLI’s very name implies a Northeastern interest.
There sure seems to be a movement to hold manufacturer’s accountable for having absolutely no holes in their research prior to production. It’s not quite as easy as folks think, especially as one goes back in time. As an example, D&RGW narrow gauge fans are divided about whether and which of the narrow gauge engines ever received green boilers. There is conflicting authoritative information, and the lack of color photographs from the era when it would have occurred means there is no trump photo. Many of th
With this latest announcement for a USRA ATSF Heavy Mike, I was able to get a picture of it. As I got bit once before, I did the research to find out if the model was a fair representation. It is not, and I won’t be ordering any. And, I continue to be disappointed with BLI, and will be very wary of making future loco purchases.
Why? What with the Internet, doing a little research is a snap compared to the “good old days”. You could have asked on this very forum whether or not ATSF had any USRA’s and a number of people would have told you NO.
If one is going to get really picky, the Santa Fe 3800 class 2-10-2’s that BLI produced are only accurate for early in their lives and even then, not for all examples of the class as the later ones came from Baldwin with slant front cabs.
BLI’s not the only guilty party. MTH’s PA’s are based on the Santa Fe version with the small side numberboards and the Santa Fe style number board above the windshield. From what I’ve seen, the only thing MTH has done is to paint that version into different road names.
Athearn/Roundhouse is supposedly releasing USRA light 4-6-2’s some time in the future and they have a couple of Santa Fe numbers. The numbers are legitimate, the models are not. If you want a Santa Fe 1226, 1337, 3400 or 3500 class, you’ll have to go with brass. Same with 3700 class 4-8-2’s, 900 and 1600 class 2-10-2’s. Same with any class of Santa Fe 2-8-0, although the Spectrum 2-8-0 can be modified to represent one of the ex-KCM&O engines that Santa Fe inherited. You also need to be mindful that shoppings and rebuilds changed the appearance of a lot of engines during their lifetimes.
