BLI ATSF E1??

Looks pretty good to me! 

But, then, I'm hyperventilating and doubled over in anguish...

because it's HO.....and not O scale.

I've cajoled Scott Mann (Sunset 3rd Rail) enough to do this particular model in O2R and O3R, AND it's kissin' cuzzin'....B&O's EA.  (I'd buy both!) 

Given up, in fact. 

Were it not for my age, eyesight, manual dexterity, etc., etc., blah, blah,  and investment in O, this new BLI model would be a reason to return to 'The Dark Side'......HO.

KD (a.k.a., Lucas Gudinov)

I'm with KD, I'd buy the Santa Fe version if someone built it.

With that said, I think the windshield issue looks to be more of an issue of too much curve, especially on the bottom. I think it should be more straight. That might make up for the illusion of the too high windshield, just my opinion.

Other then that, and the goofy coupler, it looks pretty nice.

Charlie

In looking at photos of the real E1a I think that the problems are that the windshield isn't raked steeply enough, and the top of the nose is too curved.  The edge of the curve of top of the nose should be at the level of the bottom of the side windows, not below it.  It is a similar mistake that Life-Like made with their Proto2000 E7a.

Stuart

Yes, I can imagine that intersecting contours of hard-to-describe two- and three-dimensional curvatures....especially when viewed from different angles in comparison to two-dimensional photos taken through lenses of some distortion of their own....can create illusions of questionable accuracy.  Kind of like the ubiquitous arguments over paint color fidelity.

OTOH, even though there is no remaining 1:1 version of the Santa Fe E1, there resides its production sibling....the B&O EA....at the museum in Baltimore against which such nits could be compared.  Besides, it's hard for me to imagine that actual EMC erection drawings of this body do not exist and are accessible.   In fact, I seem to recall that there was an actual patent filed/granted for this body style defining the contours.  Coupled with computer-controlled tooling that can translate such complication to a very accurate die, I'd sleep well at night owning a model like this.......in O scale, of course!

Now, mind you, as a retired mechanical engineer from the product design section of an automotive company, I was once abruptly made aware that engineering drawings may not represent the final product.  At a meeting convened by the plant manager of the manufacturing facility struggling to meet customer requirements...as stipulated on the engineering drawings/specifications...of a particular component, I (and everyone else in the room, I'm sure!) will never forget that manager's pronouncement after an hour or two of wrangling: "I need to remind everyone here that engineering drawings are but a suggestion of how a part is to be made!"......  He, of course, was later promoted to a less contentious role.

FWIW, I wholly agree with the disdain for that bodacious coupler protruding from the pilot of the BLI model.   As I write this I'm looking at the cover picture on the 2016 Kalmbach publication "Great Trains West", featuring the beloved nose of our ATSF E1.  There is simply a small, discrete pair of doors on the pilot covering the coupler access.  Sure there are several photos showing a filthy belching steamer ahead of this engine going over Raton Pass, et al, but more the exception than the rule for its 2,000+ mile journey at the point of Santa Fe's finest.

You HOers.....you are SOOOOOOOO lucky to have this 'reasonable facsimile' available!  

Daisy, one of our two Goldens, is presently whimpering for her breakfast.  I think I'll join her in a whimper-duet!

Lucas Gudinov

I'm with you guys, a r-t-r E1 in O would be most welcomed. 

Be careful using manufacturer drawings.  Apparently some have been misled by Alco PA drawings.