Hi everyone. Sorry I haven't been on here in a while. School's finally done, and I graduated last Friday. Now I have a heap of graduation money, and I'm again interested in some Märklin trains. The models that have been a long interest of mine are the ICE 3 and ICE 1.

Two new versions of these models have come out. First was 37702 last year and this year it's 37788. I've heard from people that they have lousy decoders and detailing like the TGV and THAYLS models, but I haven't seen them myself to see if that's true or not.

If I got 37702 I'd probably not have enough money to get the extension car set (I don't know what item number that is). A five car set is good enough for me at the moment.

If I got 37788 again I'd probably not have enough money left over to buy the extension car set.


For comments that I've seen on YouTube, people have said that it's better to buy the ICE 3 MF model (the previous 37788 that was made in 2008; again I don't know what the item number for that model is) and install/have installed an ESU LokSound decoder. I don't know if it'd be worth it/if I should do that.

For those of you who have an ICE 1 and/or ICE 3 model by Märklin, what would you recommend to a person like me who is interested in getting a Märklin ICE model for the first time? I want to get my money's worth.

Cheers!

Tadzio.

PS: new videos will be up soon on my YouTube channel, I promise! Sorry for the delay.

Hey there , Tadeusz
I would recommend you buying 37786 and having it fitted with Loksound decoder if you want great sound.(As I had mine fitted with Loksound MFX and still sounds better than the Märklin 's latest version in order to be very honest very you even though the sound upgrade is kinda expensive) Also, Märklin 37786 is the International ICE with 3 pantographs while Märklin 37788 is the domestic ICE Sprinter with 2 pantographs. So it depends on which one you want. As for the extension cars , the extension cars for 37786 are sold seperately with pantographs on each car while the extension cars for 37788 is sold as a three car pack with no pantographs on each car as it 's a domestic version.In response to Dusan 's reply..
I would like to add the following details: (Not in Sequence!)
37786(Forbach-Lorraine) is fitted with a basic decoder with not much sound functions.
Horn
Station Announcement(Standard fit)(German)
Door closing chime
Conductors whistle

37787(Sapsan)(Sound functions)
Station annoucement(English and Russian Combined)
Doors closing chime
Operating sound (The sound is pretty unrealistic in my opinion. To those who are not particular about the sound may think it 's realistic)
Horn
Conductors whistle

37788(Offenbach with T-Mobile Deutschland Wifi advert)(Sound functions)
Station announcement(English)(Same announcement as ICE 1, pretty unrealistic in my opinion)
Station annoucement (German)(Standard fit)
Operating sound (Very unrealistic enough , can't match Trix ICE 3 with ESU Loksound/aftermarket Loksound M4/V series)
Horn
Doors closing chime
Conductors whistle

As for changing the speed of the ICE 3(Sprinter) , ICE 3MF and Sapsan , yes it is possible on CS2. I changed the speed on my CS2 to make it go faster.

Hope it helps!
Chan

Edited by user 14 June 2012 09:17:42(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

Here in these links, you can see the difference between each other..

The real Sapsan with the real acceleration with some Train-surfing action..

The acceleration of the Märklin ICE 3MF fitted with Loksound V3 M4 decoder..

The acceleration of the Märklin ICE 3(Sprinter fitted with Marklin 's own decoder)

I have 2 ICE trains, the Amtrak ICE and the so called "Transparent" ICE Marklin # 37789. I got the 37789 because I think it is really cool and the Amtrak ICE just because.

I reallly don't have the knowledge that Chan and Dusan have so can't help you there. I will say that if you get the Amtrak ICE when you light it up better have some booster
current available as that thing sucks up electricity. Also a fair amount of space - it has eight cars.

Jeremy.

ps. Congrats on graduation .j.

Sorry for hijacking the thread but what replacement board are you referring to? I thought one could just take the normal 21pin interface board meant to connect regular mfx decoders?

I'm not sure about the later 3778x series ICE3's, but the earlier 34780/37780/37783 models do not have any pin interfaces where you can just plug a new decoder in. 34780, is of course, the Delta version, so the whole board has to go. And as Marklin don't have one anymore, the only source is

http://www.modellbahnwer...com/eigenentwicklung.htm

This board has an 8 pin interface.