As far as I know, marklin 216-218 models are only plastic.

But if you want a metal version, nowadays the brawa model is the best in the mass market, all metal and with excellent level of detailing.

Why hate plastic housings? Technically plastic parts can have more fine details as they reproduce the mold surface better than metals.
Weight can be added inside if needed.

Juha

Independent of the metall issue.

To my point of view the best reproductions of the model in regard of the prototype in mass market are:

1) Brawa 216
2) Fleischmann 218
3) Marklin/Trix 218
4) Piko 218 Hobbie.
5) Roco 218

Good question Eric,

but I think there is no way to tell from the ordering number, if you thought about something like that. I would always consult the online database of Marklin, or look into my Koll's.

Märklin introduced plastic bodies in 1950. There were always a couple of models available. In case of the 3005 it was changed from plastic to metal body after only one year. Plastic bodies quite obviously were not really popular back then. Also David's remark about parts falling off might have played a part. People back then would prefer robust playing features over detailled reproduction.

This changed in the seventies. From the end of the sixties onwards it became obvious that Märklin would go for the better detailled locos, and starting with E 03 / 103 (3053 / 3054) and some other electric locos plastic became more commonplace. Then steamers like BR 03, BR 41 and so on followed. And a plastic crocodile in 1976 ....

With Märklin's try of changing its image from a mass toy company for children to some high income collectors' and model railroaders' favorite firm, a distinction and separation from other companies seemed necessary. 3 Rail AC was not enough to warrant exclusivity, metal bodies for locos would sound more valuable and more reasonable.

Any newly developped loco nowadays is metal, at least most parts of it. If there is a "new" plastic body around, it most probably is just a prototype variation (i.e. other color, other railroad company) of an old Märklin plastic body from the seventies / eighties (as is the case with all 215/216/218s).

Long collector's post considering this is digital section ....

Regards,

Hans

Symeon, Eric, there is a way to tell if a certain 'number' is a metal model or not.
Write the number down, surf to: http://www.maerklin.de/p...ndex.php?sCountryCode=en
Enter the product number, and hit the view button.

There will be some information regarding the locomotive (or coaches). With them, the picture you all know from the marklin books. The white top shows that the model has a plastic top... a black one (or pratial black) shows that it is metal, or has metal parts.

[Edit] Just saw that Hans praticly said the same... I'm not awake yet...

Hope this helps,

Raymond

Hans, Sander, Juha, David, Gustavo
Thanks very much for the valuable input.
When I say I hate plastic housing I was exaggerating a bit. Ofcourse as Juha says plastic housing can give you better detail. However for longlasting quality and better running characteristics I believe you need metal bodies.
David, your recommendation for BRAWA was noted. I already checked BRAWA's catalogue and found out the Lok. I have already bought PICO 218 Hobby and it was a disappointment. It can hardly climb up a slope of 3%. The wheels are spinning around because it simply doesn't have "Haftreifen" (I can not remember the word in English).
On the other hand I have to admit that the sound of the lok especially in slow speed is very realistic and it resembles that of a diesel lok in original (even without a sound decoder built in). So for 90 Euro I spent on that Lok I should not complain but on the other hand if you think that Maerklin has launched the cheap new metal body loks i.e. the 2016 ÖBB (36845) or 36852 (BLS 482)I regret spending 90 Euro on that PICO piece of ****!
Gustavo I think that the ranking of the existing 216 Loks you did should bring PICO in the last place. I haven't seen ROCO but judging from the excellent detail and the supreme running characteristics of my 69742 (E103) it must be far better than PICO.
Hans thank you very much for the insight on finding out metal vs. plastic bodies!
BTW Gentlemen if Märklin or any other manufacturer comes up with a reproduction of the König Ludwig BR 218 Lok in that fantastic blue colour let me know! I would verz much like to acquire one of those instead of the so typical red-grey coloured.

Symeon: You're right - heavy Metal rules ... [:p] !!!

John

Hello Symeon,

I do not wish to disppoint you nor do I know for sure, but it is my believe that you would lose this bet ...

You must know that this loco was produced to cash in on the then new musical König Ludwig. This was a couple of years ago. The musical was stopped, the original musical company went bust. A new company was formed, and they started a new König Ludwig musical, which is doing ok, but not great. I doubt there is any marketing hype possible for this new musical, and therefore also not for the loco.

Anyway the prototype is in the meantime either running from Munich to Mühldorf, or from Munich to Lindau. No more connection with the musical site, which is located at Füssen / Allgäu.

I still hope your wish may come true !!!

Many regards,

Hans

You are welcome, Symeon.

Some more info: http://www.ludwigmusical.com

By the way: you sure know why Greece and Bavaria share the same national colors ??? White and blue ??

Regards,

Hans

I need to revisit this topic which I originally started because my BR216 fever has come back and is now forcing me to buy a metal body BR216. I have ended up to choose BRAWAs 0393 BR216 which sells at LOKSHOP for 160Euro. Going through BRAWAs catalogue I saw that it is depicted with a "Digital Premium" feature. Does anybody know what this exactly means? Also is there out in the market a similar quality loc equipped with sound effects (diesel motor etc.). My main concerns are:
1. Metal body
2. Headlights and rear-lights changing with direction of travel (yellow-red coloured)
3. Sound effects (at least diesel motor).
I found on Ebay a Brawa 0393 selling equipped with ESU Lokpilot decoder. Is this the built in from the factory decder that all BRAWA locs are carrying or is this a decoder that was put in by the seller? Any insight?
Help will be very much appreciated.
Symeon

Had that happened to me, I would have cried like a baby....

Luis

I just love those models - actually since more than 30 years now!!!

It is even no problem to convert them to HLA, C-Sine, mfx-Sound and red rear lights as desired!!!

Regards,
Lutz

I don't think a metal shell would have made much a difference. The paint would have been ruined anyway.
(off topic) I have a shell lying around for a 3155,maybe you are interested?

Bart

Yes, by the symbols in the cataloque. They are explained on the last page (2006 cataloque).

I think so too. However, I'm not completely enthusiastic about BRAWA locos after my rather stressing experience with the (nice) BLS Tractor.

Needless to say, if Märklin would expand their V160 product line with a metal version of the BR218, that would just be great!

Here's a picture of my 216 188-3 sound conversion using the original Märklin parts. The only thing that needs to be cut away is the square stand for the relay/decoder holder; really "easy going".



Regards,
Lutz

Hi Symeon,

Well I never looked at a 0393 with that in mind, but from the datasheet, it looks a bit full inside, but I really don't know. Regarding V160s, I have experience only with Märklin's line.

Also, I only installed Loksounds with no mfx in V160, but there's no difference at all regarding installation. The manual is enough for the wiring instructions but it won't tell you anything about a specific installation in a specific lok.

My dealer sells Loksounds v3.5 at 119€ and Loksoundmfx at 145€.

Sorry I couldn't be of much help....

Lutz

If you have bad experiences with Brawa loks, do try the S2/6, the V320 and the newer T5 with sound. These are great loks. Quality and engineering of a very high standard, added by better than Fleischmann level of detail but done in metal, with no speakers in sight and motors where they should be. Excellent pulling power too.

Luis

Bart

The lack of space is exactly what a dealer I am shopping from in Munich told me about too. I would like to buy the Premium Digital version which he sells for 160Euro+99Euro for the Loksound decoder + 7-8 Euro for speaker + 18Euro for installation.I think it's a fair price for all this kind of works. However I am a bit reluctant to go ahead as the lack of space may result into pressing the speaker too much and deteriorate the sound effects of the loc. Maybe I need to wait until M launches a highly priced BR216 with all functions built in. Really how many of us would like to see such a model next year? A metal, highly detailed BR216 with C-sinus motor, lighting and sound effects! I think I will put a poll and collect participants so that we urge M to launch this model!
Regards
Symeon

Nice tried,but brawa's. frame is also part of the shell. You would get a very high 216
Another option on brawas 216 is to remove the transmission in one bogie,and thus creating space for the speaker.
For an insight in brawas 216 look at this link
http://www.brawa.de/download.php3?dateiid=17
Bart

The speaker could go in the first coach or waggon using a two pole coupler. This gives plenty of romm for a large speaker.

David

I am sorry to say this,but I think the whole sound idea is rather rediculous. Not only for this model,but in general.
We are driving modeltrains that sound as trains;but we add sound modules to make them sound like ...trains?
Have you ever scaled down sound? I mean;it is totally rediculous if an 18cm lokomotive sounds as it it has 2000hp,or squeeks when braking.

Also when driving;the sound of the mechanism in the lok and cars is real enough to me (and loud enough!). I dont need the extra noise in the loko. It isn't realistic without doppler,or without fainting away in tunnels or at "far"distances.

Sure,it is nice when the loko doesn't run or at low speeds. Then you can enjoy the sound. But if you have to listen to it all the time,it gets to your nerves and you decide to shut it off anyway.

I'd rather have a good drivetrain and strong motor,instead of some "schnickschnack",that only costs a lot of money. I sure hope in the future no models are being constructed where the drivetrain/motor has to suffer from the fact that it's important to put a speaker in the loko.

Bart