An older release FR freight car painted and lettered for the SBB is this type Xs low side gondola with separately applied brakeman’s wheel with load of new construction roof trusses.
All FR’s releases which are rare; they are either stated limited editions or open editions, but the latter editions are not indefinitely available. This one I purchased from a dealer, but current FR items can be purchased directly from FR’s website.
Careful research and study begins the process of new items by Harald Freudenreich followed by design and manufacturing. Each car or loco is handcrafted with numerous add-on parts and prototypical paint schemes.
This car with load of roof trusses is comprised of 5 prototypical scale trusses and provides an interesting freight load.
The 2005 release of the Marklin T 9 tank locomotive painted and lettered for the Royal Wurttemberg State Railroad (K.W.St.E) featured a 5 pole motor and it was the first of its type for this railway produced in the mini-club line-up.
The 88952 produced in 2005 as a “one time series” celebrated “200 Years of the Kingdom of Wurttemberg.”
The Era I locomotive is appropriately coupled with Wurttemberg coaches: 80105, 8700, 8701, and 8739. Marklin’s recent release 5 coach set is also a very good choice: 87009.
Coach 8739 trails the T 9 with destination boards for Boll-Goppingen, its operating number E4 2733 was produced by Marklin from 1989-1998. Eleven years in production does not make this coach particularly rare, but this open corridor coach has been popular with modelers of early trains. Check out the next section detailing the relationship between this coach and locomotive.
Following years of innovation by modelers of Z one such development proved invaluable: marrying coaches with short locomotives. Locomotives of short length and weight have proven to be less than rewarding to operate on the mini-club layouts with turnouts and crossovers with their slight dip in power, short locos are challenged to pass freely through these track features, but one creative minded individual came up with a solution: wiring the axles of a coach to the leads of the locomotive thereby extending the length of the locomotive. In this case the 88952 with 3 powered axles has been extended with 2 additional axles. Wiring the coach involves some soldering and drilling with micro bits, but it is overall a fairly straightforward and easy repair the second time around, the first time should be counted as a learning curve. Adding an LED light panel at the same time is just a little more work. In this example a draw-bar was installed thus permanently coupling the loco and coach together. Performance for this type of locomotive is improved greatly.
Marklin’s very large laser-cut kit for the Hamburg Dammtor Station was broken into 2 parts on delivery and sold separately: station kit (89792) + bridges and arcades (89793).
The bridges and arcades modeled the elevated approach based on the prototype which includes shops and approach bridges. The shops portion of the kit could be built along one side of the elevation, but it did not include enough solid brick for both sides presumably giving a choice between dividing it 50/50 between the sides. Or the other option leaving one side complete and the second side un-decorated so to speak. If your layout includes 360 views perhaps finding a solution for completing both sides is for you as it is for me.
I have two complete kits including the one depicted that I will be using for a Christmas layout, this kit I divided the walling and shops equally between the two sides leaving large sections on both sides bare card-stock. What to do?
Archistories the company well documented by me on this site came out with a solution: “Masonry Slab Sheet” (ARC 806181), it simulates shaped and tinted concrete or natural slab rock. In the case of the Marklin 89793 in will provide natural stone retaining walls extending past the arcade shops. Installing on a layout will require a smooth transition from masonry built elevation to natural fill elevation. Photos are readily available on-line to view the Hamburg station as it looks today.
Note: my photos show installation of sheet sections directly to the original unfinished sides, but after completion I may redo the attachment after installing a thicker base perhaps 1/16″ inches. Projecting the slab stone out from the sides a little maybe much more natural in appearance.
The height of the elevation is 1 1/8 inches thus one sheet of Archistories ARC 806181. There is a correct orientation to the sheet with top and bottom either end of the vertical sheet, further the vertical sheet has a top and bottom which can be delineated after careful observation.
Faller’s recent release laser-cut kit is a town building which further builds on this company’s foray into high quality building kits: Quakenbruck Town Hall. Texture and color seem more realistic in card-stock versus plastic owing to the popularity of this building kit type with today’s Z modelers.
Featuring fine architectural details including clear-story above door followed by further embellishments accentuating central tower structure, building is further sheathed with terracotta tile roof and patinated copper. The strong structural look of this building results from the masonary construction and simple 4 corner design wrapped by blocks.
Included with the building is a very nice accessory statue made of cast resin which sits atop a card-stock pedestal. The statue depicts a rather familiar hero of liberty with sword in one hand and flag in the other.
Putting the kit together is a rather quick and easy affair with few visible seams in the finished building. One odd exception should be made with the kit: the finished roof is attached to the finished base versus building the structure up and attaching roof sheathing at the end. This method of assembly does not allow gluing within the building, it must be applied along the outside seams: not a big deal except the two pieces required a bit of wriggling to attach.
The lovely statue arrives attached to its casting sprue with a dark red natural color. It was easy enough to cut the statue away from the sprue and gold metallic paint worked well to paint it. The pedestal could be a candidate for painting as well.
Overall a very good new building kit by Faller which features their signature window masking plus excellent packaging and instructions.
Marklin 88627Marklin 88626 (only 46 prototypes were produced of the E8 ‘B’ unit)Marklin 88628
The post war General Motors E8 diesel locomotive was built by their Electro Motive Division (EMD) in Illinois, it boasted a power reserve of 2250 hp for passenger service. Some units remained in service into the late 70’s pulling freight trains. Significantly longer than the F7 with significantly fewer produced than the latter, the E8 was designed with 2 – 6 axle trucks with 450 ‘A’ units produced versus more than 2000 F7 ‘A’ units.
Several prototypes were modeled in Z for the PRR, UP and SP railroads as a joint venture between Marklin and AZL, but aside from Marklin trucks/couplers and box the collaboration seems limited in scope with majority partnering coming from AZL.
Crisp graphics and accurate paint schemes plus detailed shells and trucks are equaled by what’s inside: heavy ballasting and robust brush-less motor.
Taking a look inside these locomotives reveal several unique design features of AZL versus Marklin including a heavily ballasted two-part frame. Holding the frame together are 3 pairs of phillips head screws which all but conceals the motor and transmission except for the circuit board which rests on top.
partial disassembly of E8 ‘A’ unit with showing skirting replacement part and extra truck included with loco
Servicing either of the trucks requires popping off the fuel tank thus revealing the middle set of screws: loosen only. Service one truck at a time by removing its designated pair of screws followed by gently prying the frame apart thereby allowing the truck to pop out. Repeat for other truck and test on track before reattaching fuel tank cover and shell.
one end of frame slightly pried apart allowing removal of truck, worm gear and pick-ups run length of framefuel tank and truck removed from frame, truck is held in frame within the recess in frame’s casting, two sides of frame secured with screws closes the space around top of truck frame thus securing in place1 traction tire per truck and 2 powered axles per trucklocomotives come with Marklin couplers installed which can be replaced with provided skirting, also included is an extra truck, photo shows location of 3 screws per each side of framecircuit board and LED light panel at one end are visible without shell, photo shows correct gap between two frame sides, drive mechanism is held within frame
Note: AZL gearing is comprised of nylon gears versus Marklin machined metal gearing, and AZL factory lubrication is grease versus oil.
brass worm gear and plastic skirting mount at frame end, frame is pried apart to allow truck removal
A full disassembly of the chassis and motor entails removing all 6 screws that hold the frame together with all components smartly fitted within. It should be noted that proper assembly of the frame leaves a consistent gap between the two sides: two frame sides do not touch. Transmission is properly fitted with plastic intermediary part positioned with prong ends down and engaged with holes in frame. Parts comprising motor and transmission must be seated properly for reassembly of frame, it is very important not to force these parts together.
truck gearing is permanently installed versus the take apart nature of Marklin trucksinside and outside view of frame sides: worm gears held in place with nylon guides seated prong side down in designated holesInside view of the frame sides reveals a straightforward design concept underside of frame shows normal gap between frame sides
The 3 ‘A’ units come equipped with prototypical skirting to replace the Marklin coupler which is simply installed following removal of shell, un-clipping coupler and spring, and sliding new skirting part with prong ends into frame recepticle.
LED light panel sits in slot with skirting bracket held in place with pressure from frame sidesskirting bracket is a two outlet plug which accepts the 2 prongs from the replacement skirting part, coupler is held in place with a removable metal clip otherwise the coupler includes the Marklin style coupler and spring, LED light panel is seen at the top of the frame assembly held in place with a designated slotunique removable metal clip system for the coupler otherwise a normal Marklin set-up
Pulling power is further improved with traction tires which in combination with the heavy cast metal frame evenly distributed across the wheels ensure smooth operation. No need at all for adding extra weight to these locos!
Roof equipment varies between the prototypes thus the models reflect prototypical accuracy.
roof equipment varies between the locomotives
Very impressive locomotives from the stand point of aesthetics and performance unfortunately the installed Marklin couplers do not allow use of the only appropriate coaches produced by AZL. Maybe coaches are in development?
Siding: Marklin 88629 (PRR) is the fourth locomotive in this series
Marklin’s Insider Model for 2018 is based on the 1957 BR 01 express locomotive of the German Federal Railroad (DB). The particularly attractive locomotive featuring steel blue paint scheme is released as an important anniversary model celebrating 25 Years of the Insider Club.
Locomotive features the new generation motor thus a maintenance free brush-less type still requiring infrequent light oiling of moving parts only.
Warning stripes are realized on locomotive’s pair of buffers. Tender too!
Locomotive can be seen passing Marklin’s new station 89703.
Hand-painted boiler bands in silver.
A specially designed wood presentation box is included with the locomotive featuring its design on the lid.
Siding: some dealers have suggested having extra 88012’s available this year for non members of the Insider Club, but joining the Club is easy and comes with numerous perks including yearly catalog, Insider News Magazine, Marklin Magazin, “A Year in Marklin” (DVD), invitation to order Insider Models, and the free Insider Club car in choice of gauge.
Faller has continued releasing laser-cut kits with the addition of #282708 station kit. Building features a freight depot, sheltered waiting platform as well as interior public spaces and telegraph room plus upstairs apartment for station master.
Based on the prototype from 1911 it is another historic train station offered by Faller as a laser-cut kit in Z gauge.
Faller kits do not feature partition walls, but they do include very ingenious paper masking giving each window unique impressions of window treatments: curtains and shades. New LED lighting systems generate enough output to illuminate this feature, traditional mini-Club 10 volt bulbs don’t cut it. Plus LED’s can be adjusted.
Faller kits arrive in sturdy cardboard boxes with well wrapped parts. Instructions are for the most part clear and orderly, and quality of parts is good. Some experience building laser-cut kits is recommended due to the lightweight nature of some parts, modelers will be less likely to be able to move parts after glue as with plastic kits. Roof sheathing looks great out of the box with already a natural like patina.
Marklin’s current program features several new laser-cut buildings including this one: Item 89703 – Bausatz Bahnhof Eckartshausen-Ilshofen (Sulzdorf).
Based on the 1867 Bavarian station today disused of its original purpose in Sulzdorf, Germany this kit is very good, it is a handsome medium size station featuring block construction and ample waiting platform.
The kit assembles rather quickly due to few embellishments, but it does not lack the color and character of the original structure.
Signage is offered with several variations printed on a small sheet but cutting them out is rather a difficult task. No partition walls as with Archistories so lighting the building will be unrealistic unless some modification is made. Overall a very good to scale station that is very easy to assemble.
Siding: weathering will add interest to the building including brown and/or black chalk in the tiny nooks and crannies dirt would naturally collect on a 100 year old train station. Light fixture is represented but non functioning, painting the bulb with gold paint will give the impression of light or further modify the building with a working bracket light available on Ebay.
The recent release by Archistories is a neo-Gothic church solidly built of stone, leaded and stain glass at least for the prototype, its interpretation into Z scale is rather remarkable with an overall height of 4 1/2 inches x overall length of 4 1/2 inches.
A lovely 19th century church dedicated by namesake with Pope John Paul II is every bit as charming as its real world counterpart existing in same form throughout Europe and America.
A large bronze bell can be peered through slats in the clock tower below the gilt weathervane.
Intricate window moldings are assembled without glue owing to the high degree of design and precision found in Archistories kits. Simply put: printed mylar suggesting lead glass or stain glass is popped into each window opening followed by likewise installing moldings lastly followed by tiny bit of glue on the exterior framing surrounding each window.
Light naturally falls in and around the building further highlighting the architectural details.
The smallest details are found with the separately applied strap hinges on the real wood doors.
Although small in size this kit will take the better part of a day to assemble as it combines layers and layers of detailing all but vacant in other manufacturers’ kits.
Key features of this kit are the very well produced and illustrated instructions which are meant to be followed in order. Please note: part ‘B’ which there are 4 total appears on two parts sheets and careful to glue on clock faces in correct orientation.
Marklin classic locomotives and rolling stock are worth another look even with today’s technological and aesthetic advancements with contemporary Z gauge.
Seen here with Faller’s laser-cut building “Town Corner House” (282782)
Here we have a classic locomotive from the 1990’s train set 8133: Rheingold. This class S 3/6 Pacific was first used in 1928, it pulled the first Rheingold train originating in Holland with final destination Basle, Switzerland thus began the story of the famous train with elegant appointments on May 15, 1928 thus Era II.
Long out of production the train set belonging to this locomotive disappeared from production in 1998 having an eight year history in the program. It never featured a 5 pole motor as standard equipment having fallen out of production in the year the 5 pole was introduced, but its original motor is/was a robust affair with very good running qualities. And motor upgrades are available today as part number 211909.
Just this week I purchased the train set as “Dealer Old Stock”, it was like receiving a shiny new car from 20 years ago that has not been driven. Of course it needed an old change and cleaning due to HOS (hardened oil syndrome), but 15 minutes in the garage the loco is as good as new.
Nothing compares these days to the classic steam locos, this one features shiny silver wheels, shiny black paint, and hand-painted boiler bands making it a new favorite of mine.
Dipping into buying mint/new old dealer stock is an untapped potential of modelers with train sets suffering HOS selling for $200 ‘as is’ which happened with this purchase. And the set included 5 highly detailed coaches along with the loco and tender. With a little experience HOS can be easily overcome, it usually amounts to one gear being stuck by hardened oil.
Special note: sometimes not always the original oil has attached itself to the plastic light rods used for headlamps thus they might pull-out as the shell is removed, be aware of other parts coming undone as the shell is removed, 5 minute epoxy will permanently anchor any static parts that loosen up.
Siding: brushes for the original 8133 locomotive with 3 pole motor is part number 8989.
