10-29-2009, 06:27 PM
The Blueline locos from BLI are an excellent value. They are very good-running, well detailed models, and a bargain for the price. They come with a QSI sound decoder, and have an 8-pin socket for a DCC decoder. The steam locos have synchronized chuffing and random steam loco sounds in DC mode - to get the full range of sounds (and bell and whistle functions) requires DCC or the accessory box that BLI and Quantum sell to put between the DC throttle and the track. Unlike earlier versions, you can no longer activate the horn and bell by rapidly toggling the reverse switch in DC.
The Paragon series are also excellent models, but they come fully DCC ready, and the steamers have synchronized chuffing smoke to boot. It looks very good (as long as the air in the room is fairly still - an air conditioner or fan will quickly blow the smoke away and you lose the puffing effect altogether). The Paragon models are also roughly twice the price of the BlueLines.
I've added DCC to several Blueline locos for clients, and they work quite well. Simply plug in a regular DCC decoder (Digitrax DH123 or similar) and away you go - both the regular decoder and sound decoder get programmed to the same address - the sound functions are all in higher CVs that don't affect the operation of the regular decoder.
The only problem some people seem to have is that their DCC systems don't have enough oomph to program both decoders (motor and sound) at the same time. In that case, there is a CV that you can program (15, IIRC) that lets you lock one or the other of the decoders so you can program them one at a time.
The Paragon series are also excellent models, but they come fully DCC ready, and the steamers have synchronized chuffing smoke to boot. It looks very good (as long as the air in the room is fairly still - an air conditioner or fan will quickly blow the smoke away and you lose the puffing effect altogether). The Paragon models are also roughly twice the price of the BlueLines.
I've added DCC to several Blueline locos for clients, and they work quite well. Simply plug in a regular DCC decoder (Digitrax DH123 or similar) and away you go - both the regular decoder and sound decoder get programmed to the same address - the sound functions are all in higher CVs that don't affect the operation of the regular decoder.
The only problem some people seem to have is that their DCC systems don't have enough oomph to program both decoders (motor and sound) at the same time. In that case, there is a CV that you can program (15, IIRC) that lets you lock one or the other of the decoders so you can program them one at a time.