12-30-2008, 11:08 AM
Can you get to a train show where modular layouts are operating? Particularly ones using either large scale trains or Lionel and MTH hi-rail? If you stand next to an operating layout with numerous smoke units in operation you can smell the air pollution first hand, and then ask yourself, "Do I really want that in my train room?" You can also talk to guys trying to run ho or n-scale next to the "smokers" and see what they have to say about the track cleaning problems they encounter. I would also be very wary about installing a Suethe smoke unit in a BLI locomotive. As I mentioned in a previous post in this thread, one of the modular club members melted the smoke box on a BLI steam engine when he tried to use the smoke unit. BLI replaced the locomotive for him under warranty. The fact that they are not offering the locomotive with a Suethe unit installed may be a way to avoid warranty issues if you install the Suethe unit in your locomotive and have the smoke box melt down.