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Post by cpr4200 on Nov 28, 2023 12:42:25 GMT -8
At least one supplier (Trainz) is advertising BLI GP35's. I think they're using stock photos. Would be interesting to see photos of the actual goods. Considering a Stealth CP and maybe NYC if they're decent, although the consensus seems to be not to expect too much.
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Post by jonklein611 on Nov 28, 2023 12:53:59 GMT -8
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Post by Mr. Trainiac on Nov 28, 2023 12:54:44 GMT -8
At least one supplier (Trainz) is advertising BLI GP35's. I think they're using stock photos. Would be interesting to see photos of the actual goods. Considering a Stealth CP and maybe NYC if they're decent, although the consensus seems to be not to expect too much. The Broadway Limited website has multiple shots from around the perimeter of the model. I'm not sure what else you expect from them: broadway-limited.com/products/7539-emd-gp35-cp-5012-multimark-w-5-stripes-paragon4-sound-dc-dcc-ho |
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Post by gevohogger on Nov 28, 2023 13:06:52 GMT -8
I see some attempts at specific prototype detailing.... And some swings-and-misses.
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Post by hudsonyard on Nov 28, 2023 16:13:34 GMT -8
not enough of a GP35 expert to nitpick through the shell but like all of BLIs diesels, something just looks "off"
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Post by fishbelly on Nov 28, 2023 17:55:10 GMT -8
Just a quick look.
- The air reservoirs are WAY to low off the side sill.
- The inertial filter intakes appear to be small.
- Trucks look really weak. Not much body to them and spring hangers are not supposed to be straight up and down.
- Roof top fans are a bit squatty.
- It could be just the photo angles, but the handrail stanchions look a bit short in height. Most likely just a photo anomaly.
- Wrong rear cab steps. Should be a block and a step.
- Cab windows appear a bit small.
More observations
- Just saw a top view and they are using their pretend GP30 36" radiator fan. So that is wrong.
- Something is wrong with the clean air room. The inertial intakes appear to be for a phase Ia1, Ia2 and Ib1. Meaning the short inertial intakes, but they look too long. Or the blower chute is the wrong size. Nothing appears correct there. If it is truly a short inertial intake, then most of their models are wrong.
It is an attempt and I am sure they will sell well to most of the BLI fans. Never expected it to replace the Kato model. There is ONE detail that is better than the Kato model. The jack pads. Right shape and size. It does have a nice looking frame slope at each end of the fuel tank. On a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being high marks. I give it about a 4.5. It might be usable, but I know a Kato IS usable. I guess it might be a good abusable club runner.
I bought their GP20's and I have a set of NYC sharks on pre-order. That is about as far as I will go with BLI. Seeing this model and their GP30 and no thanks. Thumbs down.
Brian
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Post by Baikal on Nov 28, 2023 18:17:08 GMT -8
Just a quick look. - The air reservoirs are WAY to low off the side sill. - The inertial filter intakes appear to be small. - Trucks look really weak. Not much body to them and spring hangers are not supposed to be straight up and down. - Roof top fans are a bit squatty. - It could be just the photo angles, but the handrail stanchions look a bit short in height. Most likely just a photo anomaly. - Wrong rear cab steps. Should be a block and a step. - Cab windows appear a bit small. More observations - Just saw a top view and they are using their pretend GP30 36" radiator fan. So that is wrong. - Something is wrong with the clean air room. The inertial intakes appear to be for a phase Ia1, Ia2 and Ib1. Meaning the short inertial intakes, but they look too long. Or the blower chute is the wrong size. Nothing appears correct there. If it is truly a short inertial intake, then most of their models are wrong. It is an attempt and I am sure they will sell well to most of the BLI fans. Never expected it to replace the Kato model. There is ONE detail that is better than the Kato model. The jack pads. Right shape and size. It does have a nice looking frame slope at each end of the fuel tank. On a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being high marks. I give it about a 4.5. It might be usable, but I know a Kato IS usable. I guess it might be a good abusable club runner. I bought their GP20's and I have a set of NYC sharks on pre-order. That is about as far as I will go with BLI. Seeing this model and their GP30 and no thanks. Thumbs down. Brian
I bought a BLI NdeM as-delivered paint Centipede because its the only choice in plastic. Test run only, runs fine. When I get around to it all electronics will be gutted & replaced with a non-sound decoder & keep-alive. But I knew that was the plan going in, as well as minor (in my opinion) documented shell shortcomings. My only BLI although I'd get an SP RSD-15 if the price was right. Again gutting the electronics.
But when it comes to GP35s there are better values. In addition to your list the exhaust stack looks too big and the unit looks like it rides a little high. That could be a combo of the trucks and low air tank?
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Post by wp8thsub on Nov 28, 2023 22:05:22 GMT -8
BLI's truck sideframes and draft gear boxes are truly awful.
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Post by sd80mac on Nov 29, 2023 7:22:39 GMT -8
While still not great, this and their recent SD40 seem to be a big step in the right direction for BLI.
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Post by 12bridge on Nov 29, 2023 8:07:43 GMT -8
BLI's truck sideframes and draft gear boxes are truly awful. The draft gear looks like a 100% Kato clone. |
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Post by gevohogger on Nov 29, 2023 8:11:21 GMT -8
NYCs and Burlingtons should have a solid end handrail w/o safety chain and drop steps, although obviously those are subject to change eventually post-mergers. On the PRR, they have correctly re-located the nose access grabiron to the conductor's side (because of the signal box) but they forgot to move the nose top grab there also.
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Post by cera2254 on Nov 29, 2023 8:35:47 GMT -8
BLI's truck sideframes and draft gear boxes are truly awful. The draft gear looks like a 100% Kato clone. Exactly, and I just don’t understand it. |
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Post by kentuckysouthernrwy on Nov 29, 2023 8:51:17 GMT -8
I have a friend that maintains a fleet of GP35s, made by EMD.
His HO GP35 of choice is a Kato.
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Post by fishbelly on Nov 29, 2023 9:32:53 GMT -8
I have a friend that maintains a fleet of GP35s, made by EMD. His HO GP35 of choice is a Kato. Still the best GP35 model. It has its short comings, but still the best. Brian |
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Post by gevohogger on Nov 29, 2023 10:18:50 GMT -8
I have a friend that maintains a fleet of GP35s, made by EMD. His HO GP35 of choice is a Kato. Still the best GP35 model. It has its short comings, but still the best. Isn't there also a Walthers Proto GP35 on the market? I have never seen one but I think I would choose it sight-unseen over the Kato. |
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Post by riogrande on Nov 29, 2023 10:38:28 GMT -8
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Post by TBird1958 on Nov 29, 2023 10:44:15 GMT -8
In the side elevation photo it really looks like the engine sits very high on it's trucks, a lot of dead air between the top of the truck side frame and the bottom of the sill.
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Post by cpr4200 on Nov 29, 2023 11:20:58 GMT -8
Thanks for the input, all. It does appear to sit too tall on the trucks (So does the SD40), yet the bottom step looks about right, if a tad low, relative to the journals. The stepwells look a little off; too big? I was prepared to pop the fans off and replace with Cannon, same for stack and grills if needed. I have a couple of Katos on hand, was hoping to avoid having to carve off the fans and replace the stepwells. Guess I just need to suck it up and dig in.
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Post by fishbelly on Nov 29, 2023 11:31:12 GMT -8
Still the best GP35 model. It has its short comings, but still the best. Isn't there also a Walthers Proto GP35 on the market? I have never seen one but I think I would choose it sight-unseen over the Kato. You can say it looks like a 35. It is a stand in for a phase II 35. No different than if you faked a Kato 35 to be a phase II. The deck should be 0.023" higher off the rails than a Kato and the pilot plate should also be 0.023" taller than a Kato pilot plate. I have one and they are the same. I can only imagine that Walther's used the Kato model as a base and just made the necessary visual changes to make a phase II. Highly unlikely they found a phase II unit to measure or even bothered to go measure one. Brian |
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Post by sd80mac on Nov 29, 2023 13:05:36 GMT -8
Isn't there also a Walthers Proto GP35 on the market? I have never seen one but I think I would choose it sight-unseen over the Kato. You can say it looks like a 35. It is a stand in for a phase II 35. No different than if you faked a Kato 35 to be a phase II. The deck should be 0.023" higher off the rails than a Kato and the pilot plate should also be 0.023" taller than a Kato pilot plate. I have one and they are the same. I can only imagine that Walther's used the Kato model as a base and just made the necessary visual changes to make a phase II. Highly unlikely they found a phase II unit to measure or even bothered to go measure one. Brian You would be incorrect on that last assumption. |
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Post by cera2254 on Nov 29, 2023 13:17:57 GMT -8
I have three of the Walthers GP35s and I really like them. The helical drive is just as smooth as a kato, and I think detail and overall presentation is better than the Kato, but that’s just my opinion.
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Post by fishbelly on Nov 29, 2023 13:40:02 GMT -8
Well then I am incorrect. Maybe they do not know how to use a tape measurer then. I do not know. Their model is not correct.
Brian
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Post by riogrande on Nov 29, 2023 13:45:31 GMT -8
I have three of the Walthers GP35s and I really like them. The helical drive is just as smooth as a kato, and I think detail and overall presentation is better than the Kato, but that’s just my opinion. If Walther's offered D&RGW GP35's, I'd get some. |
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Post by gevohogger on Nov 29, 2023 14:22:14 GMT -8
I have three of the Walthers GP35s and I really like them. The helical drive is just as smooth as a kato, and I think detail and overall presentation is better than the Kato, but that’s just my opinion. If Walther's offered D&RGW GP35's, I'd get some. It might boil down to if D&RGW had any Phase IIs, or not. I don't know. |
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Post by riogrande on Nov 29, 2023 14:27:58 GMT -8
If Walther's offered D&RGW GP35's, I'd get some. It might boil down to if D&RGW had any Phase IIs, or not. I don't know. I'll have to check my books. But from UtahRails.net:: oad Number Builder Date Builder Number Date Retired Notes 3029 May 1964 29260 Dec 1993 1 3030 May 1964 29261 Dec 1993 2 3031 May 1964 29262 Dec 1993 3 3032 May 1964 29263 Dec 1993 4 3033 Jun 1964 29264 Dec 1993 5 3034 Jun 1964 29265 3 Oct 1991 6 3035 Jun 1964 29266 Dec 1993 7 3036 Jun 1964 29267 Dec 1993 8 3037 Jun 1964 29370 Dec 1993 9 3038 Jun 1964 29371 Dec 1993 10 3039 Dec 1964 29964 Dec 1993 11 3040 Dec 1964 29965 Dec 1993 12 3041 Dec 1964 29966 Dec 1993 13 3042 Dec 1964 29967 Dec 1993 14 3043 Dec 1964 29968 Dec 1993 15 3044 Jan 1965 29969 Aug 1995 16 3045 Jan 1965 29970 7 May 1996 17 3046 Jan 1965 29971 Dec 1993 18 3047 Jan 1965 29972 Dec 1993 19 3048 Jan 1965 29973 Dec 1994 20 3049 Jan 1965 30022 Dec 1993 21 3050 Jan 1965 30023 Dec 1993 22 |
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Post by fishbelly on Nov 29, 2023 16:24:51 GMT -8
I think though for folks that do not want to "model" and simply want RTR models to run. The BLI and Walther's 35's are probably a good product. The paint is definitely crisp and they do come with some road specific details.
Brian
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Post by unittrain on Mar 9, 2024 15:30:43 GMT -8
Anybody purchased any of the GP35s or the just released GP30s from BLI? I was contemplating getting a B&O sunburst 30 I got a couple ST B&O GP30s on preorder.
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Post by edwardsutorik on Mar 9, 2024 17:23:49 GMT -8
If Walther's offered D&RGW GP35's, I'd get some. It might boil down to if D&RGW had any Phase IIs, or not. I don't know. I think the first phase II's were built for SLSF in April of 1965. The last DRGW GP35's were built in January of 1965. But the new Walthers are supposed to be phase I's. Ed |
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Post by tony on Mar 10, 2024 11:57:39 GMT -8
Are parts of this just a copy of the Kato model, but updated here and there. The coupler pocket detail looks similar.
The snow plow appears to be a hack job - looks way off. At least Tyco left them off.
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Post by tony on Mar 10, 2024 11:58:40 GMT -8
I'm going to wait for the Arrowhead Models version.
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