Hi guys, With the arrival of the new E6A and E6B units, I was curious about the UP colors used. A friend had an issue with the Kato City of LA set and some older Kato E6 units, and I would like to know if anyone here has picked up one of the new BLI locomotives and compared it to the newer Kato passenger cars. The COLA set isn't the only one to have issues, as it appears Kato has changed their paint formula on several roads. Thanks.
E6's didn't pull the COLA in its Kato "Domeliner" configuration, but, you can bet the "Armour Yellows" don't match since the Kato COLA E-9's and cars are noticeably too orange. I know this is a little extreme, but I'm stripping my Kato COLA cars, adding separate stainless steel .007" grabs, tinting the domes and windows and repainting them using glossy Scalecoat Armour Yellow and Harbor Mist Gray to match my in-process superdetailed and DCC sound-equipped (to be) E-9's. Truthfully, with a little work, the Kato E's look better (in my opinion) than the BLI E's mainly because of the side-windows on the cab (which are too small IMHO) of the BLI units. If you want DCC sound and performance that's the equivalent of the BLI engines, use ESU Loksound decoders and speakers (with enclosures). Yeah, I agree...lots of work and hassle....but WORTH IT! And...you'll have shiny E-9's which are correct for the COLA Domeliners, rather than who-know-what-color-yellow E-7's to incorrectly pull your who-knows-what-color-yellow Kato COLA cars. Cheers! Bob Gilmore
I too am curious about the BLI E6's colors. I have BLI E7's which I like very much, and would like to run them together occasionally, like Uncle Pete did during my era. Pictures anyone? Thanks, Otto
Hi Guys, Here are a couple of pictures: Santa Fe E6 with Kato Car and Kato F Unit The Broadway E6 is plated giving a shinny appearance looking like recently washed polished aluminum. Union Pacific E6 with Kato City of LA car. The Broadway E6 is a paler and flatter yellow.
Color variations are a fact of life... to a certain extent. I tend to be concerned with color matching because I prefer my consists of passenger equipment appear to be a 'matched' set. I reality the railroads tried to do just that... but could not keep that practice as some equipment faded or was repainted periodically. It is annoying though... and I certainly understand that you'd like to have them the 'right' color... unfortunately... all different shades could potentially be the 'right' color. Having said that... there are some major blunders from a few manufacturers which make me wonder "WHAT were they thinking". One of them was PCM' E8 done as Southern Pacific Daylight scheme. I'm not sure that the sun would fade the colors to be Brick Red and Mustard Yellow... instead of Vermillion Red and Bright Orange. Intermountain/Centralia pretty much blew-it on the Southern Pacific Tavern Cars for the Shasta Daylight... almost seems like they got the same paint as PCM used for the E8'. I was very concerned over the colors PCM would used for the E6'... I got the Rock Island and MoPac engines. They look about right to me... but... perhaps some very picky modelers may say the 'Maroone' Red used on the RI units might be too dark (almost looks brown). I don't see any real glaring color discrepancy on my E6'... so I can't complain.
Post a picture of the Rock Island unit. I'm trying to see if the paint justifies the purchase. I would rather them have put #630 into production with the commuter setup from 1968 and on with the gold leaf wings.
Here's couple of shots, I didn't do the stainless sides any justice, but they are very nice and have a nice shine to them.
Completely agree with ya'... it seems the camara cannot capture the brilliance of the silver paint used to represent the stainless steel sides. It was the most satisfying aspect of these models... though I haven't run them yet... anyone comment on that yet??? I need Centralia to do a Golden State observation car to have a complete consist that will use these as their motive power. I will probably use the Pullman Obs "Muskingum River" as a the tail car for now. While Centralia works on that Golden State obs... they should also do more MoPac cars to go with the other PCM E6 set I have ;~)
The stainless steel paint on my Rock Island E6's is the best I've ever seen - bar none. Cheers, -Mark
I haven't seen any photos of the stainless steel sides of the Santa Fe units yet but I'm hoping mine that are on the way look as good as the E8's and PA's.
Hi Guys, I did a short test video of the new Broadway Limited N Scale E6 running on Atlas and Micro Engineering code 55. The simulated stainless sides look great as did the prior PA's and E Units. [video=youtube;7hbcL_6exd4]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hbcL_6exd4&feature=youtu.be[/video] Our tutorial for embedding videos in posts: http://www.trainboard.com/grapevine...post-a-YouTube-(or-other)-video-on-TrainBoard
Vince, thanks for the video. They look great, but one thing jumped out at me, the diaphragms. On BLI's E8s, the diaphragms just about meet up, so they look like you can really walk between the units. Here, they look like you still have a major leap to get between locos.
I noticed the same thing and it's disappointing. I have BLI E7's and PA's and the sets couple nicely with reasonably tight spacing between units. They are equipped with MT couplers. Do the E6's have MT's? Thanks, Otto K.
Thanks for the video, Vince. Otto, the couplers look like Accumates. Even if they were MTs, I would switch them out for Z #905s.
The couplers on the B units and rear of the A units are Micro-Trains the couplers on the A Unit Pilot are not. Maybe Accumate but the draft gear housing does not look like Accumate. It is a simple fix to put in a medium shank MT 1016. The shorter 1015 trip wire will not clear the pilot.
I told Bendtracker that I wished BLI had done dual headlight shells as many of the roads represented had dual housings from EMC/EMD. The BLI models bug me also in that the nose is a little off compared to the Life Like version which with exception to the pilot, per the Rock Island, is perfect compared to the prototype.
My AB set arrived yesterday and I agree with you 100%. I have noticed the red on the E6's is different though I think it looks better than the E8's and PA's. Now to wait a few years and see if they do a DL109. I'm shopping around for the second A unit, I would have liked an ABA set. I notoced that too, the E8's also had silver diaphragms as well. I would also have prefered a dual headlight version to represent the units later in life but I'm still happy with them. On another note has anyone else noticed the front truck being a little stiff? I'm hoping they will loosen up, I put it down to BLI's stone age practice of using stiff wiring everywhere instead of brass wipers and contacts like everyone else. I haven't had the chance to give them a good test run yet, all my modules are packed away for a show on the weekend.
