Hi Tivvy,

I have one of the Piko "Taurus" electrics. It runs reasonably but without speed regulation, much like a Marklin delta lok. You may consider swapping the decoder, but it's not a plug in, so you'll need your soldering iron. Detail is basic, but acceptable.

I also have 3 of the Piko "hobby" coaches, in OBB colours. They are excellent value. The detailing is good, with a reasonable interior. I have not had to change the DC wheels, as they run perfectly through all my turnouts etc. I'm thinking of getting more of these coaches in other liveries.

Ray

Hmmm thanks guys - I have a BR185 but I havent had a chance to test it properly yet (only on a single loop and not with any load) - not very happy with it actually - the ebay seller said it was a BR189 which is what I wanted, and in fact the box was the correct one however the loco was the BR185...grrrr - not very happy...

I am actually tempted to use a resistor/capacitor accross the motor for some simple load regulation.
Will this destroy the decoder or is it safe?


Also, does anyone have any experience with the piko ICE trains?

I hope that you downgraded the bugger accordingly, so other ebay buyers are aware.

The shipping took so long that the error couldnt be discovered until after the feedback window was closed[:(!][:(!][:(!]
Extremely disapointed as I could have got a Marklin BR146 for basically the same price, the only reason I went for the loco was because it was a BR189 that I like but cannot afford the Marklin MFX model at ~300 Euros[:0][:(]

Tivvy, someone has a video of a Piko ICE3 on youtube running at apretty good clip. There is some gear noise at lower speed. It has reversing head/marker lights. It seems to be a D/C version.

Here and Here are two links that I have on the piko ICE however my german is not good enough to get anything meaningful out of them.


Also THIS website has a page dedicated to the model yet again I am unable to get any meaningful information out of it.

Is there a profile for it in the database on the mobile station control unit?

Thanks

The MS loco database only contains profiles for Märklin products/decoders. Until today no Märklin loco was equipped with Uhlenbrock decoders; the answer is no.

Most PIKO locos until now were/are equipped with the Uhlenbrock AnDi; as mentioned above a Delta alike decoder.

Tivvy,

I wonder if anybody could already comment on the BR101 as this model has not yet been delivered.

The ICE-3 as well as the IC-coaches provide what one might expect from Hobby models in that price range; not much different from Mehano or ROCO Hobby line stuff. Coaches come with DC wheelsets; if needed they can be exchanged (at extra cost) by their AC replacement, usually #56060. Same applies to the couplings; for close connections you'll need to buy the Märklin short couplings in addition.

I'm not too impressed about their workmanship; by no means comparable with alike Märklin Hobby locos. Here an example of the interior of a PIKO TRAXX loco.



The decoder "quality" was mentioned already; in order to get any near to the driving and pulling performance of the similar Märklin Hobby TRAXX loco #36854, the wheel sets should be replaced by those painted ones with traction tires (another extra +20€); same applies to the very rudimentary pantos. So, the original model price may be lower but ....

IMHO you get better locos in that price range from Märklin.

When finally looking at the PIKO non-Hobby models, they are usually fine detailed (like the E63/E93) and those prices are as high as those from other suppliers. But lately I helped another model railroader to replace the AnDi in his BR82 (indeed a nice loco; except for the plastic looking of wheels, tubes, etc.) by a LokPilot - it was a real nightmare just by the mechanical design of the model.

The Piko Br185 and ER20 loks are certainly not worth getting as the equivalent Marklin ones are about the same price and much better made, and with a better decoder.

When it comes to the Taurus and the Br189 models (and the soon to be released Br101), the Piko models are at least 100 euro cheaper than the Marklin ones, which are all full specification models, so they might be worth getting for the price.

I have already bought a Piko Taurus (in the Dispolok/Kombiverkher livery)and will consider the Br189. For the Br101 I am torn between a new Piko or a 2nd hand Marklin delta.

Piko also make a few other interesting Hobby loks not produced by Marklin, such as the French BB diesels, SBB Am 843, TRAXX Diesel, and G7 steamer. All good stuff for those on a budget.

Ray

How about Roco? I have the Hobby model of 218 217 (red/cream) and I think it's OK.

Sorry, but your statement is at least misleading. Märklin 3700 products were equipped with 6090 based load regulated high performance decoders; where, as mentioned before, PIKO models today come with Uhlenbrock's low cost decoder #76320; PIKO's own product# for this decoder is Hobby #56122.

These two decoder types are quite different; not only by their kind of parameter setting.

PIKO AC locos from previous productions came with a rather "rudimentary" decoder version, not much more than a simple reversing unit. Programming of these decoders is (unfortunately) not compatible with MS/CS own procedures and alike for ESU decoders.

Hemmerich; Do you have a #37537 class 120? take the body off. that is no 6090 decoder. They had dip switches. It looks like a uhlenbrock decoder to me. The parameters are set exactly like the piko with my 6021.

I noticed this when using my loco with some M* Double Deck cars...
Does anyone (probably Lutz) know if you could use a LENGTHENED rigid draw bar to replace the coupling and aviod the derailment problems. If this is the case them I am sure it will allow push trains to run problem-free however it could be that the angles between the pockets mean that this wont work. Has anyone tried this?

i am not a 'digital expert' but i own the PIKO BR82 loco number 50247 since some days, it is for sure equipped with :
- traction tires (2)
- NEM decoder interface plug
- Uhlenbrock decoder 76420 (PIKO # 56121)
- a 4 page manual describing the decoder and its programming (CV values and so on)
- a service phone number of uhlenbrock (normal number, no highcost service number !!)
- NEM coupler sockets with 'kulisse'
....and this all for 101 euros including shipping.... (ebay)

of course i can say this all only for the model 50247...

have fun with your MRR

alfred

the 50247 (BR82 DB era3) is offered by PIKO since last year, and i will have a test run at the first possibility, as said i am aware of possible problems due to a thread in stummi-forum, the BR82.
The PIKO BR82 is different to locos by M, many parts must be applied to the loco by the user and afterwards it will be much more 'fragile' than a loco by M. But M does not produce a BR82... and if M will not offer a BR94 in the next two years i will have a look onto the Fleischmann model....
alfred