Detailed Review: Broadway Limited Paragon 4 Great Northern S2 4-8-4 Northern + Smoke Unit Discussion

Let's take a look at Broadway Limited's Brass Hybrid Paragon 4 Great Northern S-2 steam locomotive. How is it? Will the smoke unit hold?
Also, a discussion about smoke units...
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Music
Title: Brazil Samba
Music: www.bensound.com
Genre: World
Mood: Inspirational
Download: goo.gl/cBZgNz #modeltrain #modelrailroad #hoscale #hogauge #modeldiorama #modellocomotive #miniaturerailroad #train #locomotive #railroading #modelbahn #modellbahn #modelbahnen #modeltrains #modelrailroading #modelrailways #modelrailroading #howto #howtovideo #miniatures #miniaturerailroad #coupler

[@jasonworden8209]

I just got mine, but I didn't care for the green. So I got the black boiler edition. Beautiful loco

[@UnionCentralSystem]

I agree that is a beautiful steam engine. I would not have the courage to buy anymore BLI smoke units. For the price of that loco, for me at least, I would be outraged and would be going crazy (don't know how you do it). Once again, she is a beauty, but I am not buying that for sure now. Great video, thanks for the honest reviews, keep up the excellent work. - Paul

[@DoctorHobby]

I decided when I started this back up again that I wouldn't get upset over this since it's a hobby and it needs to stay a hobby... but, yeah.. it does get disappointing at times and it's hard to ignore. But, all y'all help quite a bit! Interacting with you fine folks makes up for a lot and to know I'm helping, even if in some small way, makes a really big difference! Thanks tons for watching and for your thoughts!

[@jimtrack3786]

I agree. I would be upset too. For the price one should expect the QA to be top shelf. I have a BLI Hudson, first edition with no smoke. For my money, I can live without it. Happy tracks!

[@billfusionenterprise]

want to see worse? Hear about Lionel vision line issues? I saw a video from a guy who claims after spending 50,000 in last 2 yeats , that he longer will buy any Lionel due to all the issues. My favorite was the CS who said " there toys"

[@TheGhostRonin]

Love it!!!! I want to get my hands on one of these bad boys

[@elijahglasser1421]

Wonderful and excellent train

[@DoctorHobby]

Thank you, kindly!

[@James-Railyard]

Last time I had smoke pour out of the boiler like that is when I misaligned the gasket on my MTH Berkshire’s whistle hole. It looked stunning but I had to tear the loco down and give it a good boiler wash (no water was used, good cleaning cloths were used.) I’ve now subscribed to I’ll probably just remove the OEM electronics from my BLI engines and replace them with Tsunami 2 and put a boiler barker speaker where the smoke generator was. Might hold off on that for my big boy, challenger, and FEF-3 as I do love whistle smoke. I just wish Paragon didn’t sound like junk.

[@DoctorHobby]

I think it might be that a gasket is either misaligned, nonexistent, or misapplied. I think these smoke units, in general, are just ill-constructed and probably need to go through a revision in order to make them more robust.

[@James-Railyard]

@@DoctorHobby I agree. I have found the best smoke units are in MTH locomotives. Easy to access and easy to change the wick if needed. The smoke also doesn’t look toy like, it looks like steam.

[@OriginalBongoliath]

@@James-Railyard I know this is an old comment but ironically it is because of MTH that Broadway Limited has terrible smoke units. MTH patented the smoke unit design they use. BLI copied bits and pieces of it. MTH sued BLI and won forcing BLI not only to hand over certain locomotive designs to MTH but BLI had to start from scratch creating a new smoke unit that was vastly inferior to what MTH had.

[@James-Railyard]

@@OriginalBongoliath yeah I’ve heard something close to that. That’s how they got some of the PCM toolings. By some I mean all but the Y6, Reading T1, and Pennsy I1. I don’t know if the F3’s stayed with BLI or went to MTH but I’m certain the FA/B and PA/B units from MTH were ex-PCM.

[@billfusionenterprise]

I just got one from a hobby shop that is closing (so sad). What makes it weird is the enclosed area from cab to tender , open in most pictures I have seen

[@model_trainfan4853]

I like your Hiawatha over there ;)

[@Makitaization]

"It's green" - Montgomery Scott

[@caseyjones745]

The smoke looked great, before it quit. Are you sure that you did not just run out of smoke fluid? My Paragon 4 2-8-2 ATSF smokes ok, but has never produced that much volume of smoke. Mine would need more fluid after just 8 loops around your loop. I add only 4 drops at a time, because overflow appears to be the biggest cause of burnouts and other problems. Your review and detailed demonstration of the Sound Functions and Performance were outstanding. Thank you.

[@DoctorHobby]

As per the repair sheet the entire circuit blew.. Fun times. Thank you so much for watching and your encouragement!

[@caseyjones745]

@@DoctorHobby I commented too soon. Later I watched your "unboxing from the BLI Service center". Thanks for including their repair notes - very good info, but discouraging.

[@dominicwroblewski5832]

A GN S2 on an ore drag ? SACRILEGE !

[@DoctorHobby]

I know. I will be punished in limbo, of that I am sure…

[@jimtrack3786]

I appreciate you not going on and on about packaging and other non specific details in reviews. Sorry you are having bad luck with the smoke. I enjoyed your review very much.

[@DoctorHobby]

Thank you tons for the encouragement. I know what you mean-I think I saw one where the host was showing me each piece of foam he removed, etc.. got to be a bit much

[@lyndonfoster1090]

Do you think it is the 19 volts that causes trouble with the smoke units? It seems a shame that you have so much trouble. I am glad that they have a warranty but really they need better quality control; sending ot back is just crazy business I think. nice video, one of my favorite locomotives too.

[@DoctorHobby]

That's my top working theory, and I'll see if I can bear that out. However, there's one more that's going to be a bit more difficult to prove..

[@billfusionenterprise]

@@DoctorHobby it is an issue with MTH locos on 3 rail o scale AC

[@IronhorseRailProductions]

Tommorow my Reading T1 2102 paragon 4 is arriving. And the first thing I'm doing is hitting the switch to the off position for the smoke unit. And activating function 7 immediately. Edit: does activating 7 turn the smoke unit on or off?

[@DoctorHobby]

The F7 is only a soft on and off.. If you want to guard completely against meltdown, turn it off using the hard switch

[@DoctorHobby]

And, I forgot to answer your main question… be default F7 turns the unit off as it’s on by default

[@IronhorseRailProductions]

@@DoctorHobby update. This t1 is an absolutely amazing engine. Probably the strongest engine in my fleet. Love doubleheading it with my 425.

[@billfusionenterprise]

I never really plan on running smoke unless for pictures. I heard too many layout issue with it. Some clubs ban the use

[@kkrices]

Did you take any of these apart to look at it?

[@DoctorHobby]

No .. so as long as they’re under warranty, I’m not going to do that; they’re BLI’s problem until the guarantee expires.

[@kkrices]

Ok but which decoder do u think would be best replacement and give full functionality? Esu? Will they run a smoke unit?

[@DoctorHobby]

ESU is probably the only real choice if you want to run the smoke unit will full functionality.

[@kkrices]

Ok I was just curious and imagining a head to head kind of thing, bli vs esu. Anyway when the smoke unit cooks, it doesn't work again after a cool down period. I mean it's dead but the remaining functionality is intact?

[@DoctorHobby]

The fan often still works but the heating element is usually burned through :(

[@nathanchan4653]

16:25 Then there was trouble Also the way how the Great Northern S2 Northern have smoke unit issue is pretty much like Henry The Green Engine being a “bad steamer”

[@DoctorHobby]

Ah! Very good comparison!

[@jeffreyrule8143]

Sorry for your latest mishap. Beautiful locomotive.

[@DoctorHobby]

Let's see how this latest rounds of repairs go, I suppose. I appreciate you tuning in and comforting me when trials like this happen! Take care over there in the city of sails!

[@silaspennington]

What controller do you use

[@DoctorHobby]

Thanks for watching! I use a Marklin Central Station 3+

[@silaspennington]

K thanks

[@OriginalBongoliath]

Unacceptable for what BLi charges but since they have a virtual monopoly on smoking steam with most manufacturers refusing to deal with steam engines anymore the only options are BLI, Bachmann, Athearn (if you only like Union or Southern Pacific), or messing around with brass. The price of new brass these days with DCC and Sound could buy you several Lionel Vision Line steam engines with all the bells and whistles literally so why bother?

[@DoctorHobby]

I'm not sure why, in 2022, that it's so difficult to create smoke units that work well. It is a bit surprising that so few American modelling companies are providing smoke units when they seem to becoming the norm in all higher end replicas. Thank you for watching!

[@OriginalBongoliath]

@@DoctorHobby I think it is because the market demographic is changing coupled with the fact diesels are easier to manufacture and yes, easier to run/more forgiving of bad track, etc./easier to maintain just like in real life. Most people model what they see/saw. The people who grew up to see revenue steam service are dead or dying. That only leaves diesels left that the people saw when they were young never knowing the steam era. Therefore, most manufacturers will focus on that only reviving steam if its a tourist railroad model because again for what people see.

[@DoctorHobby]

Yes.. the temporal issue really does make a huge difference--no doubt you're right there. A lot of older guys (even older than me) definitely run what they saw when they were growing up.

[@jessebeatty9696]

19 volts is high it should it be at 16 and the lowest at 9… what do you think there’s something wrong with the layout that each engine keeps burning up multiple times…

[@DoctorHobby]

See newer videos…

[@ChargerusPrime]

Thats why i never run engines with smoke on in HO or O scale.

[@rgj8044]

Chinese made products.....sigh!

[@billfusionenterprise]

hard to find products that are not