maico

Have another dose of Ho Meta-Microkit. Fotos by Fitz Osterthun

Doesn't look like it....

I don't think there are any tender driven Marklin-Trix locos in the modern era. I have quite a large collection.

That tender connector looks fragile. Does the Dapol version work ok with use? I've got a Trix DMU with plug in connectors but I'm not sure the company has faith in plugs. All of my Trix tender locos are hard wired into the tender. There is no easy way to separate them. Here is the electrical connection on an older Bachmann Lilliput BR05 I used to own. A sliding brass track system with kinematic connector.....

It's also a MOT failure, they do look at the date codes if the tyre looks suspect. Road salt corrodes everything on a car. I try and hose the underneath down in the winter if the gritters are out!

I use Trix C-track which has live frogs which change polarity depending on how they are switched. Pick-up is not a problem with anything I have be it DJH kit standard class 4 , Ho Trix, Brawa, Roco ,Piko, Hornby, or Bachmann Liliput. With pick-ups on front and rear bogies, tender and all but one driven axle with traction tyres, juice is not a problem with these Trix steamers!

I've found the Marklin-Trix traction tyres last many years and are available in various sizes to fit most wheels. The scrap man came and towed away my old Peugeot 406 V6 coupe recently which was made in the Pininfarina S.p.A factory in 1999 with components supplied by various manufacturers. I know the cars history from new and do my own wrenching. Not a single rubber part ever needed replacing. The window rubbers, CV gaiters, water and fuel lines were all original. So was the Michelin full size spare. Not being exposed to UV and water it was still soft. I think the plastic bumpers became more brittle with age and cracked easily and the leather seat piping was made of PVC. A poor choice of material by Recaro. Synthetic rubber blends can last a very long time.

Correct, I ran out of fingers!

Other brass RTR makes like used Swiss Lematec can be picked up much cheaper than Metakit. None of them can do what my rare 2001 model year German made Trix K.W.st.E K1 class 2-10-0 can: go around R1 curves from a dead crawl to medium speeds !! Note the large axle articulation, 4 axles directly gear driven and all metal construction of boiler, cab and tender. The close coupling tender uses a metal kinematic system. The front bogie is sprung and uses a milled metal slot and pin. It has a large German made Faulhabor coreless motor. 8 pin decoder in the tender. Removable plug in directional LED lamps from 23 years ago. 1 screw body removal Trix later made a green version (foto Fitz Osterthun) and an Austrian all black version of this but dropped the expensive gear drive train.

Here's a more mainstream Micro-Metakit the BR03 in photographic grey

That's right. I had one back in the 80s when they were winning world championships before going bust! Restored ones like this fetch good money.

The traditionalist, or Luddites depending on your point of view, must be horrified at this loco which has water based smoke system, sound and LED lamps...!

I posted a photo of a loco made for the British market with lights more than 80 years ago not 50 as you said. Here is the Marklin 1938 British catalogue. Not really British outline of course but more toy like.

More on the Erzbergbahn mountain railway here https://manager.ladormilona.com/ebay/ad/view/id/s2-h0-brass-micrometakit-95700h-zahnardlokomotive-br-1973-29603-die-bboe-ovp

Longer than that. This Pre-War Marklin Ho 3-rail has running bulbs. The Chinese factories are well versed in LEDs they must be puzzled Hornby don't normally specify them! If someone doesn't want the Black 5 ones pull off and replace with lamp irons has shown on YouTube...