A couple days ago, I received a mini-catalog in the mail from BLI. It was a couple dozen full color pages containing their last product offerings. I immediately went to the table of contents and found the page for the Dreyfus Hudson that they announced three years ago. Surprise, surprise, there was a picture of an unpainted brass model which was labeled pre-production. The term pre-production implies that at some future date, this item is actually going to be produced. Frankly, I doubt that is ever going to happen. Why do they even bother listing this. I immediately pitched the thing in the trash can. If they can’t produce the item I want and they promised, I have no interest in anything else they are offering. This booklet couldn’t have been cheap to produce and mail out. They wasted their money sending me one. If they would have taken the money they spent producing this booklet and instead put it into producing the product I want, they would have gotten my business. I guess they don’t really want my money. They should quit throwing theirs away.
The release date is set for July. And it is without a doubt the best one I’ve ever seen in HO!![:D]
http://www.broadway-limited.com/nyc20thcenturyltdhudson.aspx
And only $300 for the DC model? I am so getting one![:D]
July of which year?
Sorry for the cynicism, but I’ve seen this movie before.
Movie?[%-)]
The link shows a fully decorated model. I’m hoping that means they’re close.[:)]
It looks like this one is pretty far along, going by the model pics on the website. I do know what you mean though, I ordered a hybrid GN 4-8-4 many years ago that they still haven’t decided to actually make. It could be the recent release of the MTH Hudson made them speed things up a little??
I also recieved their little catalog, not one thing in there I need or want.
It is interesting that dispite all the “expert” opinions on here to the contrary, there are a number of “unlettered” items and a number of “DCC ready” items offered. Seems something must have told them there was a market for DC locos.
But best laugh of all are the Blue Line SD7’s and SD9’s - $189.00 for a DC diesel with sound? That’s a budget priced product? Glad I bought most of the diesels I wanted from Proto 2000 back when I did - all for less than half that. Oh, but that’s right, mine don’t have sound, how silly of me.
I also laughed at the hype in the intro about the high quality, limited production nature of their products. So high quality I still have one in a box they can’t provide parts for, with no offer of any kind of help other than we “might get some parts later”. Even Bachmann would have offered to replace it with something else for a small service fee.
But what do I know, I’m just a hick with a pickup and some DC powered trains.
Quickly returning to my lone wolf status as the “social” side of the hobby gets even more strange.
Current score:
Proto 52
Bachmann 33
Athearn 20
BLI/PCM 9
Intermountain 7
IHC 2
Mantua 2
Misc Brass 2 (now sporting plastic tenders)
Rivarossi 1
Atlas 0 (a shame actually, Bachmann makes such nice stuff for them, but most of it is out of my era)
MTH 0
Sheldon
I have to agree the Hudson does look like it is going to make it to market this year. I would not hold out much hope for the GN 4-8-4 since the pre-orders probably don’t add up to a production go on the model. They did actually import a brass version of the GN 4-8-4 a few years ago and it was very nice looking. The LHS had it on the shelf for a long time since it was very expensive, unlike the brass hybrid version.
It seems the competition between MTH and BLI is a continuing theme and the Hudson is arriving just in time to keep up the battle. I hope the BLI guys are not counting on the customer buying the MTH cars to match the color on the new BLI Hudson. After looking at the video and pictures, it looks like the MTH hudson is much darker in color than the BLI model.
If you notice the BLI GS4 Daylight is being released after three years of waiting only after the MTH made it to the market recently. And to add fuel to the competition, MTH has now announced the SP AC6 in both early and modern versions. BLI has the AC4 in their line and the AC6 is almost identical except for the location of the airpumps and feed water heater. It would seem logical now for MTH to announce the AC 12 also in th near future since BLI had that on their list for three years now.
The product I can’t imagine MTH making is the NKP Berkshire, but it is now out. This locomotive is a great prototype, but has been done by almost everyone except BLI. How about some new locomotive that we h
Not really any such thing as 'budget sound". All the cost is in the sound part, adding DCC capability is $12 retail, so to be honest I don;t see the point of the Blueline systems at all. They still need a good bit of voltage before the loco moves, just like any other sound system. It doesn’t make a lot of sense to me, the Blueline decoders are the same as the Paragon II DC/DCC decoders just minus the DCC part which is such a minor part of the cost. Cut back on details too to make the model cheaper then add sound at the same price as always - but then you have a Proto 1000 or Atlas Trainman with sound.
–Randy
[sigh] Glad that it’s “strongly possible” that BLI will finally have a NYC “torpedo head” on the market. Looks like a beauty. A bit frustrating that it seems that BLI might be pushing ahead due to MTH’s efforts to get their products to market.
I’m still hoping that BLI will eventually produce a 4-8-4 Greenbrier (C&O 614) or a New Haven EP5 “Jet”; but I wonder now if BLI’s management will be paying more attention to what MTH’s future announcements will be and if they will be playing “monkey see-monkey do”. [D)]
Doesn’t it remind you all of a few years ago when one manufacturer would produce a detailed “F-unit”, and then its arch rivals would produce the same model…and sometimes in the same road names?
I realize I’m oversimplifying this, but at first glance it can make one wonder.
I got the catalog today too. It took about 5 minutes to look through and say “meh” to the offerings, aside from the NYC streamlined Hudson. That I may pick up depending on whether I lean more towards another I1sa, what’s on the market this summer on eBay and some of the brass retailers.
Aside from it, my son loved looking at the pictures. As for the prices, it didn’t seem all that out of line in comparison to other manufacturers these days. I was browsing through Walthers Bargain Depot and noticed they’ve got the USRA 2-8-8-2 on clearance (if you consider $300.00 to be clearance for a DC/No Sound locomotive).
I like the BLI products. Heck, I’ve bought 10 of them I think, a rough even mix of brass-hybrids, Bluelines, and Paragons. I’ve had -0- issues with any of them and I’ve enjoyed all of them immensely. I still consider them all excellent purchases. All in all though, the catalog is not any worse than MTH or Walther’s catalogs for us steam locomotive fans.
I received the catalog today also. I might be interested in the SP car forward. Will have to wait and see. Anyways I’m glad they sent the catalog as I liked looking through it. You never know something might peak my interest. [swg]
I ordered the PRR Centipede almost a year ago. They say it is now going to be July…
It does appear the MTH engine is darker, and the colors seems to match the color drawings of the train in the April 1988 MR…although going by those drawings (and prototype pics) it’s clear the MTH’s tender stripes and lettering are quite a bit too high - perhaps to match the passenger cars, which maybe ride a little high ( a common model passenger car problem)?? Looks like BLI got that right.
It’s hard to say with colors though. I recall when Stewart (IIRC) came out with CB&Q F-units that were painted in light gray that matched a Burlington color chip. However, under model lights, the engines looked way too dark. Could be same here, the lighter color of the BLI ones might look more correct on the layout. I guess that’s a judgment call. I do know the Walthers NYC 20th Century was noted by the NYC Historical Society as having the colors correct, and they appear closer to the MTH colors.
I too got the catalog!
No surprises for me, as I’m a regular to their website, and of course this Forum.
Mobilman44