just got an email from a vendor with this announcement. Locos will be available DCC ready, no sound. Supposed to be a good price reduction. Any thoughts?
I saw that announcement on one of the online retailers I frequent.. I emailed BLI the other day to find out what type of interface is used to connect a decoder. Maybe the info is there on their site but I didn't see it. I've read elsewhere that it comes with a 6 pin connector. This means no separate circuity for lighting effects other than directional lighting. I was hoping for something like Rapido who use a next18 connector allowing ditch lights, etc to be kept and programmed separately. Their stealth F3 is showing $209... ouch! I have seen a pre-order price of around $155 at other places but still that is kind of steep for DC ready. If you want to do your own sound/DCC then another $90 or so for the decoder but at least one has options especially if they are like me and not real happy with the performance of the paragon system. It's nice for those though who want BLI locos to run on their DC layout and not have to pay more for a sound option that they do not want.
The bottom of the Stealth N scale T1 Duplex page says 21 MTC, not 6 pin: https://www.broadway-limited.com/9020prrt1duplex5500no-sounddcc-readyn.aspx The models come equipped with speakers installed for those that want to install a different decoder. I think the return of DC models in the Stealth line originates in the HO world. It seems like the intention is to cater to people who dislike the Paragon sound system, not necessarily DC modelers. Broadway expects modelers to put in an ESU or Soundtraxx decoder, not necessarily keep the model in DC mode. There have been a lot of complaints over the years about the reliability of Paragon decoders, especially for diesel modelers who want to standardize on one or two decoder types. Paragon was always the odd one out, so it seems like the intention is to boost diesel sales with the new Stealth series. There are already 3 HO diesel models available on the website. I know multiple modelers who fully expect to rip out the decoder when they buy BLI models. BLI is still the go-to manufacturer for steam, but the reputation of their diesel locomotives is not as good as similar brands like Athearn Genesis and Scaletrains, I think Stealth is designed to correct the complaints on the electronics side.
Thanks for the info on the 21mtc trainiac. I swear that info wasn't there the other day but I miss things like this all the time 21mtc seems like a less than optimal choice for n-scale. The only time I've used decoders with that setup is in HO and larger scales. The boards are typically a bit too large to go in a narrow hood although I guess in the F3 and T1 there'd be enough room there. Good news is that this likely means the lighting effects are separated out.
I believe they are going to use NEXT18 for N Scale but depending on what literature you read on their very own website, a 6-pin is also mentioned. So....the jury is still out.
Correct......... I am not a DCC user. One of the things that always annoyed me about many BLI products is their tendency to stall and die. You must then wait for it to start up again. On most power, it happened frequently enough to be annoying. Still, four hundred bananas for an A-B pair of F-units is a bit much. The Katos are every bit as good and do not cost half that. My IMs, what few that I have, also are every bit as good. My one B-mann SPECTRUM A-B pair of F-7s might not be as good, but the difference in performance does not justify paying seven times as much. It is a good thing that I pretty much have all of the F-units that I can run and a few that I can not.
BLI replied back to me and stated that for the N scale the motherboard uses a Next18 connector. I'm back to being very interested about upcoming products. I'll likely pick up a stealth narrow hood should one in a road I want become available just to try a different decoder to see how it changes performance. Attached is their stealth brochure they included with their reply. It shows an illustration of their "N Scale Next18 Diesel motherboard". Website still says MTC21 for their N scale T1 and F3 stealth locos so I've asked them to clarify if that is a misprint or if in fact they use a different interface for their wide-body/steam tender applications. If the announced F3 uses a next18 I might even try an A and B unit in the UP livery.
