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ellocoloco

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Everything posted by ellocoloco

  1. Thanks for posting. The models do look very nice. I did buy the first two Bachmann DF11s when they were released and they were not a patch on Roco models of the same era so i understand the reasoning in the article. Hopefully there is enough interest to sustain the hobby in China.
  2. I do like the safari-wood wagon, but then I would have to start modelling a different country - or maybe not! 😆
  3. I'm guessing no knowledge of train shops in Sri Lanka, which is no surprise, but over the last few years I have trained Vicky to photograph any trains she sees on her travels. I'm guessing some sort of DMU cab coach?? They pass close enough to where she is staying to hear the horns. Looks chunky. 👍
  4. @Mark Laidlay I do like your thinking there! 👍 But can't help with the question - sorry.
  5. Roco have offered a DCC uncoupling retro fit for years - but its not cheap. I can't see any reason why Bachmann could not offer this feature as a retrofit, but I imagine it would be a challenging instillation.
  6. Loco looks great. I look forward to seeing it with the new pantograph. Are the Lima Mk2s the correct length or were they produced to 1/100 or similar as was the fashion with HO back in the darker days? And do you need to do much with the height?
  7. I'm pretty sure I know the answer to this, but have to ask! My wife is off to Sri Lanka for a couple of weeks holiday and I need to know if its worth sending her on a quest for something for my railway! I know all the South Asian models I have seen on here have been scratchbuilt /kit bashed/printed, but it occurred to me there might be a local supplier along the lines of Frateschi in Brazil offering my toy like models. Something to sit in the corner of the layout next to my Croatian coach, Mexican ALCo and Austrian wagon. Failing that, she is going to the 9 Arches Bridge so I'll get a postcard! Any suggestions would be appreciated.
  8. I don't think we've had Brawa yet? https://www.trainsdepot.org/manufacturers/pdfs/view/1304/brawa_novelties_2024_pdf (Edit: In fact there are loads of catalogues on that website.)
  9. That's a fantastic looking livery, but I don't how long it will stay white!
  10. I'm tempted to wait for the 'washing machine' in Danone. Otherwise not much of interest this year. Still, the 309 should be here soon.
  11. Mabar offered the 432 EMU which was built nearly a decade earlier than the 444 that has just been announced by Electrotren. They do look fairly similar though. I do like the 'Washing machine' version - 444.5XX - but think I'll wait until the model gets released as a 448 (the 500 subseries were reclassified Type 448), hopefully in the Danone livery.
  12. Now that I can finally have a decent 'play' with mine after having been told to put it away after collection I am truly impressed by so much of this model. Sure I can see that the cab numbers are slightly off in both size and colour and the stack looks a little high and certainly these are details that should have been caught in production. But the model feels so good. When lifted together - loco and tender - it feels such a solid bit of kit. The finish is excellent and to my eyes really matches the correct green. The motion looks great and it runs very smoothly. At 50-70% power in a cold attic the smoke really looks the part puffing up about 3" and then hanging over the trailing wagons. It sounds like a pacific to me and the whistle is great. I am limited by my rather antiquated DCC system* so haven't operated all the functions yet but have no doubts what I will get will be good. Only thing I have not tried yet is the closer coupling for the tender drawbar, but I think it should manage R4 at least on the closer setting even though the instructions state this setting is for display only. Most importantly for me, in any view I have of the model that includes the track it looks right. It sits so well and doesn't look like it will capsize at any moment. It is an expensive model, though factoring in inflation I paid more for Roco 310.23 two decades ago and these two are of similar quality though I would rate the Roco model slightly higher in finesse even after all these years**. I hope this isn't the only British offering in HO from Marklin/Trix but I'm not holding my breath. (I can't see a country of manufacture. The box and operating manual have the Goppingen address so I am assuming German manufacture. Wherever it was put together, they did a great job. I have the Trix version.) *Lokmaus 2 and Multimaus. ** 310.23 is handicapped by its 1st gen integrated DCC.
  13. Not a good year for the hobby in Spain. In June 22 it was posted on Forotrenes that Mabar was for sale with the owners looking to retire. It appears that the closure announcement that came in Nov 23 along with the news of the hacking meant that no buyer was found. It was also reported on Forotrenes in September 23 that Ktrain has ceased trading. I have the 308 and three sets of the 4pk hoppers from Mabar. Lovely models. From Ktrain I have a small number of wagons. They are good, but not outstanding, but represent uniquely Spanish models. I will miss both manufacturers. I hope the tooling will not be lost. In January we will see future plans from Electrotren and Roco - if they remember Spain exists and that they have some decent tooling in the back of the warehouse! Hopefully there will be enough to keeping the Spanish outline from slipping into a coma. There is Sudexpress offering a few RENFE offerings and PT Trains with models that operate across the Iberian Penninsular. Mehano's 333 and 252 are also still out there if anyone asks. Lets hope for a brighter New Year.
  14. I doubt there is a licensing issue as Jouef HJ6261 in HO is available with ONE containers. I know from experience that the Hornby website is not always accurate - one of the Electrotren MMC wagons was missing for most of last year from the website and when I contacted Hornby CS to ask they told me it was a commission for a Spanish model shop and only available from them. I ordered two through Gaugemaster and eventually it did turn up as free order on the Hornby website. HN9738 is still showing as preorder on a couple of German websites so I would suggest get in touch with Gaugemaster (other Hornby Int'l stockists are available) and Hornby CS and see what they say. I don't think there is evidence it has arrived yet.
  15. A quick glance at the Hornby Int'l brands on their website will show most items as either preorder or last few. My interest is Electrotren and certainly when a new product comes in, Hornby seem to supply their retailers and preorders and keep relatively few to themselves for the e-shop. The last three items I had preordered were immediately down to 'last few' at the time mine was dispatched. Of course the Arnold flats now have much more potential interest with the launch of British outline and I have the feeling that Hornby TT120 and Arnold thinking isn't as joined up as it really should be. If you ordered them, you'll get them. If not, and they have proved popular, then there will be another run on the way - maybe in a start set with a 66!* *I have absolutely no evidence of this! 😉
  16. I've got mine. The photographic evidence above suggests the cab numbers are a little small but its looks fine to me. The model runs superbly, the colour and the detail looks great, sound is good, the lights are excellent*. I even enjoy the rather gimmicky smoke. But most importantly, the axles are the correct length and next to my NKP Hudson, KPV S10 and OBB 310, it looks so right. Once yours gets across the pond I'm sure you will enjoy it. *Read about how many people are having strokes regarding the lights on Hornby's new 5F and Turbomotive on their respective threads,
  17. Thank you. Enjoyment is what its all about. I too went to Continental HO many years ago once I could buy my own trains rather than waiting for Christmas or Birthdays. The difference was unbelievable at the time. Once I found out OO and HO weren't actually the same the die was cast. Unless any suitable coaches come out RTR, my Scottie will take my Rhinegold set although I do have two Sachsenmodelle Eastern European sleeper sets which are almost a matching shade of green! I have a side interest in British HO with three repainted 66s. My main interest is Spanish HO but lets not talk about the (broad) gauge! My Scottie can make itself useful with some Cargowaggons in the meantime.
  18. Picked up mine yesterday. What a model. It looks and runs superbly and is up there with Roco 310.23 in terms of finish. Alongside my repainted ESU 66, these two are a couple of diecast beasts. As these were sold out relatively quickly on the Mrklin/Trix webshop, my fingers are crossed that British HO has been good enough for them to offer something else! My pictures do not do either of them justice.
  19. I enjoyed reading your post and completely agree. It may have passed by most British outline modellers that Hornby International have released a number of models in the last couple of years branded as Hobby/Loisir under the Lima, Jouef and Electrotren brands. Of interest to me were the Electrotren 596 diesel railcars. 21pin, AWD, front and rear directional LEDs, interior detail and a crisp colour scheme. These were newly tooled and although more expensive than the ex-Lima RR models still represent good value (to me) and are cheap compared to many European manufacturers, many of whom also have hobby ranges. I would be happy if future releases were to this standard. But we drift further away from TT120.......
  20. Fred, If you right click and use google translate (or the drop down menu on a tablet) you can translate to English. Thilo gives a good explanation of which locos he is using to illustrate the relative differences between OO and HO and their merits when next to the coaches.
  21. I fully understood the first time. Very clear and no reason why anyone should have difficulty with your comments. 👍
  22. My last selection, until my next holiday in Spain, as you all must be getting bored by now! As mentioned my apartment had a great view and it was like having a train set in the background all day long. The level crossing meant all trains announced their presence with a horn blast which on a still night sounded pretty loud. A great selection of trains through out the day and although the lighting and focus may be off in a few pictures, most of the time there was a glass of wine in my other hand. Just to give an idea of how close we were. The last one is a shot of (I think) the last operating 592 3/5 from the balcony. This shows the bridge and trackside that the previous pictures were taken. Over all a fantastic holiday.
  23. It does seem to be a problem and what surprises me is the cost. 'Decorating' one of those TRAXX can't be cheap and there is a decent amount of effort and time put into it along with a relative amount of skill as opposed to the scribbles on the front of Logitren 335 which show no amount of ability. That said, there are reports of prosecutions and the RENFE passenger trains seem to be better than in the past but trains aside it is all over the place and a very sad aspect of a lovely country.
  24. Imon have produced a number of items including the C57 Pacific in 12mm 1/87 known locally as either HOj or HO1067. They are very expensive and made of brass but look fantastic. https://www.imon.co.jp/ Yoshihiro Imon's explanation of Japanese model scales/gauges makes fascinating reading - with google translate. https://www.imon.co.jp/pages/180ho
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