PCM E8 are out

Altoona1223 Jan 9, 2014

  1. Altoona1223

    Altoona1223 TrainBoard Member

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    Just got a shipping notice from favorite E-tailer that the PCM E8 are are being shipped. :)
     
  2. Cajonpassfan

    Cajonpassfan TrainBoard Supporter

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    As are the E7 and E6 rereleases.... Although announced, no PA's yet, apparently.
     
  3. rrjim1

    rrjim1 TrainBoard Member

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    Was hoping for a EL E8 but I guess I will just have to wait.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jan 10, 2014
  4. rogergperkins

    rogergperkins TrainBoard Member

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    I placed a reserve order for two of the undec E8A units on May 18, 2013. About 2 days ago, I sent the e-tailer an e-mail asking about the status of the order.
    I have not received a reply or a shipped notice.
     
  5. BikerDad

    BikerDad E-Mail Bounces

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    I picked up my City of Los Angeles E7 A/B set yesterday. They're out there folks!
     
  6. JoeW

    JoeW TrainBoard Supporter

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    I understand that they are dual mode DC/DCC. I am tempted but its going to take an opinion or two to tip me one side or the other. So how good are they?
     
  7. k-59

    k-59 TrainBoard Member

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    I hope this means the PAs aren't far behind, which they said would be out in October hehe. I am still looking forward to the New Haven engine in that run.
     
  8. rogergperkins

    rogergperkins TrainBoard Member

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    I received a note that my order of two E8A units has been shipped as of January 10, 2014.
    I ordered these based on my previous purchase of two of the E6A-E6B units and two of the E7A-E6B units;
    only the A units of these are powered DC-DCC with sound. Additionally I purchased a powered E6B unit DC-DCC with sound.
    These are the locomotives that really sparked my interest in DCC with sound in n-scale locomotives.
    I have been pleased with the customer service provided by the company.
     
  9. atsf_arizona

    atsf_arizona TrainBoard Supporter

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    Hi, JoeW,

    For what it's worth, I have editions from the previous runs of these locos (both the Paragon2 E8 and the PA1).

    The sound quality on these Paragon2's are really really really good. IMHO the best I've heard from factory N scale sound.

    There were some electrical pickup considerations for some of us (not all but clearly some) who had the very first Paragon2 sound BLI N PA1 scale locos. (2009 or so, IIRC).
    This caused that 1st generation N scale Paragon2 locos who had this issue to occasionally lose contact, stop and the sound to cut out.

    Good news is we certainly know that BLI was aware of that with the PA1s, and when I got my E6 BLI's with Paragon2 in 2012, that issue appears to have been solved through
    improvements in the pickup, Spookshow's web site shows those changes : http://www.spookshow.net/loco/blie6.html I quote:

    "But more importantly, (on the E6s) additional pickup has been provided in the way of wheelback wipers (with current transferred from said wipers to the metal sideframes by way of metal tubes). I'm assuming this measure was taken to help ameliorate the "dirty track" finickiness exhibited by some of BLI's earlier diesels - "

    :)

    Here's my documentation on what some of us experienced with the original BLI Paragon2 PA1s, and the most-of-the-way-but-not-100%-fix for those PA1s:
    http://www.pbase.com/atsf_arizona/bli_n_pa1_wheelset_replace Lots more comments in that photo album, you can read more there if you're interested.

    Based on my experience with the 2012 BLI E6s, I would expect the upcoming E8 and PA1s to be pretty good. The E6 was good enough, and the wheelset modification
    was good enough on the original BLI PA1, that I have one of the upcoming PA1s on order.

    See if you can find a friend that has one of the new runs and listen to the sound, see if they have no problems with electrical pickup. I would think likelyhood is quite high
    that will be the case. Then decide.

    Hope that helps! (and JoeW, *thank you* for your Showcase Miniatures products). :)
     
  10. wmcbride

    wmcbride TrainBoard Member

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    I agree with John.

    The sound on these units (I have the initial releases (PA and E8)) and I am always surprised at the quality of the sound when I run them. I am comparing that sound to HO Tsunami and LokSound (which I think are great). I am not saying the sound is the same but the BLI N engines provide great sound in N. I do not mean they are kind of OK and tinnier imitations of HO sound. They are not. The PA's sound like Alco's, are not tinny in the least, and I was just running mine last night for the sheer pleasure of watching and hearing them run. They provide excellent scale sound, when you adjust the volume down. When they are ten feet away on the layout they sound like diesels at a distance.

    If you're on the fence, I would encourage you to buy one. I am glad I did.
     
  11. JoeW

    JoeW TrainBoard Supporter

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    John
    Thanks for the information on the E's. I really didn't know much about them nor the company that produced them. So the information and links you provide are very helpful. I like the idea of the dual mode DC/DCC. Sound is cool to. I am still committed to DC by my current layout but I bought an NCE starter to learn DCC with. I have used six position rotary switches to control the DC blocks on my layout and I have 3 positions left so I might even try to reserve a position for DCC.
    Oh and Thanks again for the weathering tips on the ATSF 200 class freight F7's and thanks for the web pages you keep. Your enthusiasm for this hobby is contagious.

    Bill
    Thanks for your opinion on the sound.

    I am going to place my order Monday morning E7's A&B SP
     
  12. Calzephyr

    Calzephyr TrainBoard Supporter

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    Hopefully these will be well received and run exceptionally well. BLI/PCM has had a few years of bad press due to their slow delivery, some initially unsatisfactory running locos (early E8 units) and of course the 'vaporware' Pennsy M1a. I purchased their last run of E6's in Rock Island and MoPac road names. I only wish they would have been more 'proto' correct on the MoPac E6's... but I guess it would have been asking for much to have them do the portholes that were unique to the MoPac E6's. I'll look into the CoLA E7's in this run... and hope their color will be reasonably close the Kato CoLA set I have... even though just about every UP modeler claims Kato got the color wrong.
     
  13. Calzephyr

    Calzephyr TrainBoard Supporter

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    I have one of the early E7 A & B from PCM in the Southern Pacific... ummm.... 'rosy red and mustard yellow' Daylight Scheme. So... I was wondering if anyone has taken a chance to order the new E7's in 'hopefully' realistic Daylight Scheme. I'm a bit concerned about manufacturers fidelity to the scheme since most of them seem to have trouble getting it to match any known 'correct' Daylight Scheme.

    I know that PCM/BLI has improved a lot of things over the past few years so I have some confidence their staff will be attentive to getting the paint as close as possible.

    BUT... Your encouraging words might sell some more of these models... or... your warnings might help some one avoid paying a lot money and being upset.

    I wonder if PCM/BLI would trade out replacement shells for those earlier poorly decorated models?

    I wonder if Intermountain will ever do correctly decorated Shasta Daylight Tavern cars to replace the equally unpleasantly decorated versions they released?
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jan 14, 2014
  14. rogergperkins

    rogergperkins TrainBoard Member

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    The following are my comments and observations; they ARE NOT criticisms of the subject model.

    On January 14, 2014, I received the two E8A units. These are undecorated, so some assembly is needed before and after they are painted and lettered.
    My first observation is that the diesel sound was not audible when I placed them on the layout for the first time. I reset CV137 to 250. CV188 to get low pitch for both. I am still trying to determine which setting I want for the headlights. I also found that the bell sound was not audible; by setting CV136 to 250 and CV180 to increase the interval, that was solved.
    Unlike the previous units I purchased, the DCC factory setting on these two locomotives were not the same. I have reset CV2, CV5 and CV6, but the speed match is still not the same which may effect running them in consist as I had intended.
    I will be completing the warranty for both online to get the extended version.

    "I received a note that my order of two E8A units has been shipped as of January 10, 2014.
    I ordered these based on my previous purchase of two of the E6A-E6B units and two of the E7A-E6B units;
    only the A units of these are powered DC-DCC with sound. Additionally I purchased a powered E6B unit DC-DCC with sound.
    These are the locomotives that really sparked my interest in DCC with sound in n-scale locomotives.
    I have been pleased with the customer service provided by the company."
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jan 15, 2014
    Niahtoul likes this.
  15. atsf_arizona

    atsf_arizona TrainBoard Supporter

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    For those who have received their PCM E6/7/8's, some questions:

    - does this run still have traction tire on the rear axle?
    - is there any problem with the plastic front stirrup restricting the swing of the front truck? (i.e. 12 1/2" radius OK or not?)
    - electrical pickup A-OK? (doesn't stop and the sound cuts out)?

    Thx for any experiences you'd like to share. :)
     
  16. rogergperkins

    rogergperkins TrainBoard Member

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    John, The two E8As I just received have traction tires on the rear axle.
    I have not noticed any problem on curves and I am using Kato Unitrack as you do.

    My primary efforts have been directed toward getting the sounds adjusting and determining the operation of the head lights.
    As previously posted here, I have reset several CV values to increase volume, change pitch and adjust bell interval.
    These were not actions I needed to take with the B&O E6A and E7A, two of each, that I purchased in 2013.
    I do not know if this is normal for undecorated locomotives.
     
  17. rrjim1

    rrjim1 TrainBoard Member

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    I just test ran my two unpainted Broadway Limited E8As. These are the first Broadway Limited locos I have purchased. They both ran IMO, perfect out of the box. I placed them about 1 inch apart and they stayed that way from 1 - 20, and F & R on my Digitrax throttle. Very nice slow speed running right out of the box. Sound worked great didn't need to adjust anything. Looking forwared to the PAs.
     
  18. Spookshow

    Spookshow TrainBoard Member

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    Can anyone tell me if these new E8s have the enhanced pickup introduced with the E6?

    Thanks,
    -Mark
     
  19. Texastailboard

    Texastailboard TrainBoard Supporter

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    As with some of your comments we tested a E model today that we finally got in stock. Man there sound in the Paragon 2 is great. I don't have much experience with the N Scale stuff, but it sounded as good as our HO Paragon 2 stuff. I am interested to hear the ALCOs that are coming soon. The deatil is spot on even with the smaller scale, really an eye opener for this HO Guy.
     
  20. rrjim1

    rrjim1 TrainBoard Member

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    Mine has the same axle pickups as a Atlas and Kato, but instead of the strip, they have wires. Looks like a very good design, the wires come straight down so there isn't any flex at the solder joint.
     

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