BL-2 Accuracy

I believe the MTH has the more accurate colors than the Williams as far as the demo model goes. I also think the Fuel tank is not so correct on the williams model than the MTH model... however the differences are minimal between the two

Here is my Williams. I like it. 

I have two of the Williams BL-2s.   

I think that the MTH is more detailed than the Williams.  I have a MTH Premier BL2  with PS 2 and like it very much.  I do think though that the prototype BL2 is a little shorter than either the Williams or MTH models portray.  The real life BL2 was built on an EMD F3 frame and of course the F3 was a relatively short locomotive.  Whenever I visit the B&O Railroad Museum in Baltimore and look at their WM BL2 it seems shorter ( more stubby ) than what my MTH scale model conveys.   As a matter of fact, I actually took my MTH BL2 over to the museum and visually compared it to the prototype. The model definitely seemed longer.  Just my 2 cents!

IMO, actual locomotives appear shorter than scale models, because we are looking up at the actual locomotive, but you look down at models.

My personal experience: While at college I road the train home many times. It was SCL that ran EMD E units. Years later I got back into model railroading, but this time it was solely "scale" that I was interested in. When I first saw an HO EMD E unit, it appeared too long. 

Thanks everyone for your replies.  I took rough measurements from a drawing and it looks like the O Scale length from pilot to pilot should be about 13 1/8th inches.  Would those with the MTH and Williams models mind measuring theirs?  Thanks so much again for your inputs.  

If you're really interested in accuracy, you might want to seriously consider 2 rail. The BL-2s were made in phase 1 and phase 2 versions. The pilots were different, among other things. Bottom line depends on what road name you are interested in for the correct phase. Overland did some in brass a while back, and they were very nice. The BL stands for Branch Line. They are a very distinctive looking engine.

Simon

The Williams version is 13 5/8 inches Pilot to Pilot.

I want to get an MTH WM BL2 someday, but my only reason is that I like DCS.  I have seen the MTH model, and whether it is as accurate as others, I like it.  So, I don't think that helped answer your question, but I thought I would weigh in because it seems only a few people like the looks of the BL2.  I wanted to say good choice whichever one you get!

I always like the BL2 even tho they were ugly ducklings. I had a MTH with PS2 repainted in PRR Green shown and another in PRR Tuscan.

Mark Boyce posted:

..... it seems only a few people like the looks of the BL2.

Sort of looks like someone took an F unit and slammed it down on top of a Geep doesn't it! The first generation diesels were pretty much the end of styling with the move being to form follows function/ease of maintenance.

Simon

They were succeeded by the Geep. Only 59 were produced between 1947 and 1949. 

Mark Boyce posted:

I want to get an MTH WM BL2 someday, but my only reason is that I like DCS.  I have seen the MTH model, and whether it is as accurate as others, I like it.  So, I don't think that helped answer your question, but I thought I would weigh in because it seems only a few people like the looks of the BL2.  I wanted to say good choice whichever one you get!

Actually I like either model,  Williams and MTH, as well too Mark.   I'm one of those who enjoys the body styling of the BL2.  I think they look pretty cool.  The BL2 looks great in most liveries except Western Maryland IMHO, which is black.  Of course, the one I own is Western Maryland ,because it fits the theme of my layout, and yet it's still fun to watch in operation!   

I have a 1995 MTH BL-2, which I'm sure was made by Samhongsa.  I upgraded it to PS2.  Like most all Samhongsa, it's a fine loco.

To complete the story, this is what I ended up with.  Started with an MTH BL-2, put Central power under it, added weight and cab interior and modified the pilots for the right height and Kadee couplers.

Looks very nice, Ed!!

A drawing of the BL-2 on page 110 of the Model Railroader Locomotive Cyclopedia (Diesel Locomotives - Volume 2) shows the length as 54 feet over the pilots. My MTH BL-2 measures 13.5 inches over the pilots - exactly 54 feet full scale - so the model is precisely correct. The 54 foot length does not include the footboards shown on the drawing. On the model, the length over the footboards is 14 inches - equivalent to 56 feet full scale. One evident discrepancy on the MTH model is the truck wheelbase which measures 2-1/8 inches and corresponds to 8 feet - 6 inches full scale. The drawing shows the truck wheelbase to be 9 feet. I would say the MTH model dimensions are quite accurate.

MELGAR

Simon Winter posted:

Mark Boyce posted:

..... it seems only a few people like the looks of the BL2.

Sort of looks like someone took an F unit and slammed it down on top of a Geep doesn't it! The first generation diesels were pretty much the end of styling with the move being to form follows function/ease of maintenance.

Simon

That's exactly what EMD did.  They used the F7 frame and a lot of the carbody design to develop the BL2 to allow for better rear vision for reverse moves.  the reason for the odd shape of the body is the truss style construction of the F and E units.  The body was structural unlike later hood units. 

I built this one with a Williams shell and a 2R P&D drive.

Brother_Love posted:

I built this one with a Williams shell and a 2R P&D drive.

Excellent work!  How did you fabricate the pilot?

MELGAR posted:

A drawing of the BL-2 on page 110 of the Model Railroader Locomotive Cyclopedia (Diesel Locomotives - Volume 2) shows the length as 54 feet over the pilots. My MTH BL-2 measures 13.5 inches over the pilots - exactly 54 feet full scale - so the model is precisely correct. The 54 foot length does not include the footboards shown on the drawing. On the model, the length over the footboards is 14 inches - equivalent to 56 feet full scale. One evident discrepancy on the MTH model is the truck wheelbase which measures 2-1/8 inches and corresponds to 8 feet - 6 inches full scale. The drawing shows the truck wheelbase to be 9 feet. I would say the MTH model dimensions are quite accurate.

MELGAR

I also noticed the truck wheelbase, which is one of the reasons I went with the Central trucks.

Simon Winter posted:

If you're really interested in accuracy, you might want to seriously consider 2 rail. The BL-2s were made in phase 1 and phase 2 versions. The pilots were different, among other things. Bottom line depends on what road name you are interested in for the correct phase. Overland did some in brass a while back, and they were very nice. The BL stands for Branch Line. They are a very distinctive looking engine.

Simon

 

 

There was only one BL1 made, EMD 499, which became Chicago & Eastern Illinois 202.  The only BL1 had no external differences from the BL2s.  The differences were internal- an air operated throttle and no MU connections, so they were soon changed.

Larry

The MTH truck wheelbase is pretty much wrong on all of their B-B trucked diesels.  I think it may be corrected now, but don't quote me on that.

The BL locomotives were actually built using F unit underpinnings.  The odd sloping sides contain a shortened F unit framework to provide the strength necessary to support the prime-mover and hold the locomotive together under load.  

Fred

The Williams pilots are all wrong, they're recycled postwar FM-style pilots.

For the $79 I paid for my WbB unit it is great. The detail may be a little simpler than the MTH but it is a good runner rugged loco. 

With another thread running about USAF GE 44 tonners, did the Air Force have any BL-2's  in that blue? If so, l'd like to see photos, but cringe, for fear l'd then be tempted to conjure one up.

I want to build another one of the BAR BL-2s and I have a MTH shell floating around somewhere in the shop. I may see if I can find it today.

Gene H posted:

I always like the BL2 even tho they were ugly ducklings. I had a MTH with PS2 repainted in PRR Green shown and another in PRR Tuscan.

Gene, I really like the PRR paint scheme on your BL2.  If any manufacturer ever made one like that available, I'd be sorely tempted to spring for one.

Balshis posted:

Gene H posted:

I always like the BL2 even tho they were ugly ducklings. I had a MTH with PS2 repainted in PRR Green shown and another in PRR Tuscan.

Gene, I really like the PRR paint scheme on your BL2.  If any manufacturer ever made one like that available, I'd be sorely tempted to spring for one.

 

Thank you, I have a Williams decorated in Pennsy Tuscan and in the future I want to do a Reading, probably in the Pullman green scheme. 

It has always puzzled me why most of "us" seem to find the BL2 to be "an ugly duckling". Generally, I don't find them to be any more unattractive than most other EMD diesels of that era. Not as practical as, but certainly no uglier than, a GP7. Some of the styling is imaginative. 

I find the BL-2 much more appealing than most diesel's up to the modern era.  I prefer the look of a wide nose and flared radiator sections of the modern to those in between the car body styles and modern.

It's more of an odd duck than an ugly duck.  It maintains it's own style but serves for function as well.  I think certain paint schemes make it look better than others, that Pennsy one shown looks really nice, along with many others in this thread.