At the RPM meet last Saturday, I talked to Curtis Kock, the representative for Broadway Limited Imports. He recognized the coonskin logo on my hat, and offered that his company is in the initial stages of designing a model of the Frisco 1522 Mountain type steamer. It will be 2 or 3 years before we see this model, if they follow through with this project. Rich
If they don't have Don Wirth involved as a consultant, I have concerns about accuracy, and I would not want their crappy sound and toyish smoke generators.
If they put out a good accurate model, I'll happily break my Paragon boycott for one. Or if they offer it in stealth that kills 2 birds with one stone
They should go straight to the source. St. Louis County Museum of Transport. She is there to take photos and measurements. Details and all.
I was told they spent a day at the Museum taking hundreds of photos. I have the package that I provided to PSC with drawings, photos, etc that they can use.
I think that Broadway Limited Imports, for the most part, produces good products. Their accuracy and fidelity of their steam locomotives to the prototype are second-to-none and they run well right out of the box. I'm aware that there are issues with their Paragon DCC system and that they are expensive. I also agree that BLI goes overboard on gimmicks like fantasy paint schemes, goofy sound functions and smoke. But they also tackle projects like the Pensy S-1 Duplex. I look forward to Frisco 1522 and hope that it arrives sooner than later. Rich
The BLI Blue Goose is my favorite loco that I own. My next fav is the S2, so I can not wait for their Frisco 1522. Currently on my bigger layout my three mainline freight pullers are a BLI powerhouse 2-8-2 Hvy Frisco 4212 (QSI replaced with WOW). BLI 2-8-0 1272 (Paragon3), And a Bachmann 4-8-2Lt 4424 with a TSU2.
Working on gathering all drawings, photos and diagrams. Keep in mind that a project like this takes plenty of time from start to finish.
Don, What's your opinion of the PFM / Toby brass 1500 class 4-8-2? My layout is DC and I've already got two of the Toby models. Thank you, Paul Moore
The Toby 1500s are a great, solid model. You can add some detail to them or not and they look and run great. Can't go wrong! I've had many through the shop here, in fact have one which will be either 1501 or 1508 when (if) I get it finished. Lots of projects down there and dealing with essential tremor so after a while I have to quit til the next day. No layout any more, but still enjoy building.
Thanks for the input, Don. Anything you say is valued and taken to heart. These two models are keepers!! One of these days I'll take some photos and post them. The last couple of years I've noticed that I have to brace my left wrist (I'm left handed) while doing up close and detailed work. I'm just not as steady as I once was. Keep up the modeling!!!! By the way, something that seems to be helping is resistance exercise. I do a routine (pushups, pull ups, dumb bell weight exercises, etc) three times a week. I'm getting some strength back and it seems to be helping with the steadiness.
You can lay that to rest. They are interested in the 1520-1529 series. The only "Streamstyled" 1500 was the 1503 from the 1500-1514 series and they were considerably different from what they are interested in. When Precision Scale had the project, they intended to model all 3 series, plus the 1503. The project was ready to go to the builder when Mark retired and the project died. They would have been expensive models.
A couple of photos of my two PFM / Toby 1500 class 4-8-2's. They're pretty poor cell phone photos, but all I have right now. 1527 was purchased on ebay several years ago. It's not the greatest paint job in the world but it's not bad enough to strip. 1522 was purchased bare brass and painted by my friend Gwynne Burch. Gwynne reminds me of you, Don. He scratch builds and re-details brass locomotives; is a spectacular modeler; and a painter who is one of the best. Tom Marsh (founder of Overland Models) said that Gwynne painted over 2000 models for Overland. Gwynne actually went to China and set up their paint facility at the Cheyenne facility. Just for kicks, photos of two of Gwynne's scratch built L&N Pacifics are attached.
Good point, I forgot how different the series were. I'm just happy that they are even considering to produce a proto Frisco steam loco that's not a 3+k brass model. And thank you for sending them the "Care Package". When I was a kid we use to drop by the Museum of the Great Plains after hiking in the mountains, I got to see the 1526 quit a bit. Hmm, maybe this is way I model Frisco.
