Broadway Limited Imports (BLI) is offering a HO scale model of an EMD SW1500 switcher in two Frisco road numbers. Both are Paragon3 Sound/DC/DCC equipped and have an MSRP of $249.99: https://www.broadway-limited.com/5454emdsw1500slsf318orangeandwhiteparagon3sounddcdccho.aspx https://www.broadway-limited.com/5455emdsw1500slsf330orangeandwhiteparagon3sounddcdccho.aspx Rich
Rich, Is this a new announcement? Please see the prior post on the units from 2018 - http://www.frisco.org/shipit/index.php?threads/broadway-limited-sw1500-in-frisco-o-w-livery.11110/ They released a run of Frisco EMD SW1500 units in late 2018 or 2019. The unit numbers in your post are the same, SLSF 318 and 330. With their reputation with decoders and poor sound, the first batch did not sell well. Many were listed on auction web sites that did not move and I know of at least two large vendors that still have some of the old run in inventory. Another issue they had was that they would not change the unit road number SLSF 318. They duplicated the road number which was produced by Athearn years ago. Personally, I will hold out for the three units coming soon from Athearn. Much better light effects, decoders and sound from Tsunami. Please see http://www.frisco.org/shipit/index.php?threads/athearn-ho-emd-sw1500.13866/#post-93608. Hope this helps. Thanks! Mark
Mark is right about the poor sound; BLI/QSI have an electronically generated prime mover sound that is more akin to the imaginary sound of a UFO.
Yes, their proprietary decoders are horrible. Also, for the price point they charge, they should be full on road name specific super detailed and not the generic models they trot out in different colors.
FWIW: Broadway Limited announced they're now offering "Stealth" locomotives. They're DCC ready and come with a speaker from the factory. While that solves part of the issue, they're still much more expensive than the competition, and I haven't seen anything from them yet to convince me they're even an equivalent product, let alone worth the extra price.
