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Broadway Limited Imports’ HO scale brass I-5
i might have to pony up for one of these beauts at xmas time!!
Since 1977 there have been 4 imported brass models of the I-5. In 1994 the W&R I-5 set the standard and cost $800. The BLI brass I-5 is almost the same, except that all the hatches, windows, etc. actually work. At the rate of inflation (from a brass perspective) the BLI engine of 2007 costs slightly more than the W&R of 1994 - I guess working windows, hatches, etc. cost more to assemble. However, the hybrid I-5 waiting in the wings for fall release is the one to watch. It will be like many of the other BLI engines on the market; a combination of plastic and cast metal construction; priced around $400. There is no question that the brsss has just about every detail of the prototype, and the buyer will pay $1695 for it. But how close (in terms of detail) will the hybrid come to the brass at 25% of the cost. That remains to be seen, but I am looking forward to the Product Review of BLI’s hybrid I-5. John Pryke