BLI SW7- any reports?

Discussion in 'Diesel Locomotives' started by friscobob, Apr 12, 2010.

  1. friscobob

    friscobob Staff Member Staff Member Frisco.org Supporter

    I was able (read: lucky) to snatch up an HO scale BLI SW7 in Frisco colors (O/W). I'm pleased with the details, but haven't yet test-run it to see how it works.

    The only other Frisco switcher I have is an Athearn blue-box SW1500 (I also have a Bachmann Spectrum 44-tonner, but that's more of a critter than anything), so my switcher roster is kinda small. And, this is my first BLI model.

    Anybody out there own one, and if so, are you satisfied with it?
     
  2. tmfrisco

    tmfrisco Member Frisco.org Supporter

    I took mine out of the box and ran it again to see how it did. It ran fairly well actually. I'm sure it just needs to be broken in some. It is a little noisy, but I imagine that with a decoder installed some of that will go away. Overall, I am happy with the unit. Terry
     
  3. meteor910

    meteor910 2009 Engineer of the Year Staff Member Frisco.org Supporter

    I have the BLI Frisco SW7. It runs OK, not great, but OK. My Athearn "Blue Box" SW1500 runs a tad smoother.

    My main problem with the BLI SW7 is the color - a bit too much gray in the red/orange, and some of the details, in particular the EMD dual sealed beam headlight, are not accurate for a Frisco SW7. Otherwise, it's OK.

    There is a pic of my BLI Frisco SW7 in my album.

    Ken
     
  4. Rick McClellan

    Rick McClellan 2009 Engineer of the Year

    Almost forgot I had a couple os SWs, #300 and #304 and used them in my CTC80 days. They ran fine but I expect them to be better with DCC. I need to get a decoder in one of them sometime.

    They could have done a little more with the body, color, etc. but they are good enough until someone makes a better SW.
     
  5. FriscoFriend (Bob Hoover RIP 4/12/2018)

    FriscoFriend (Bob Hoover RIP 4/12/2018) Passed Away April 12, 2018 Frisco.org Supporter

    I actually operated a coupled pair of these sound equipped (I believe QSI, but not sure) on Jim Senese's KCT and they both ran and sounded good. I do agree with Rick that the color could have been a little better, but they weren't bad.
    If I didn't already have an Atlas MP15 assigned to yard switcher duties at Neodesha I would strongly consider one of these.
     
  6. bob_wintle

    bob_wintle Member Frisco.org Supporter

    I have one of the BLI SW's. It is sound equipped. When I first got the loco it wouldn't stay on the track. It had a problem with the front truck. I wrote BLI an email and to their credit they sent me a pair of new ones. I presently run the unit on my layout on occasion. Both the Atlas MP15 and the new Athearn SW1500 are far superior running units. I have several other complaints on the BLI SW but for this discussion I won't mention them.
    Bob WIntle
    Parsons, Ks.
     
  7. friscobob

    friscobob Staff Member Staff Member Frisco.org Supporter

    Bob,

    Please feel free to send your comments to me via PM. I don't mind. :)

    I did notice that the piece with the exhaust stacks comes off very easily. I wonder if it is supposed to conceal an on-off switch.......I need to hook up a test track & see how well it runs.

    The only other switchers, beside the BB SW1500, are a couple of Athearn BB SW7s pained & detailed for something else, plus an Atlas S2 (which is awaiting a repaint to NEO colors "someday").

    To be honest, this little guy may not fit into my long-range plans motive power-wise, but then again, ya never know.......;)
     

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