In the youtube by watch the video i can see clear that each of the end of the locomotive are closer than what it shows in drawing picture.
Märklins model are too big distance and should be closer in fact.
I believe Märklin focus too much on the narrow curve track R1 that is the problem and Märklin decides to increase distance the front pivot from the body.
Your composite of the picture by focus on the front pivot seems wrong drawing.

This picture of prototype showed the gap.
You can judge which is wider or closer than marklin.

The gap in prototype are smaller.
To present in HO scale the gap will be much smaller than Märklin.
In Märklin case they present larger scale in gap because of the narrow curve track R1, which are fantasy too.

I am a pensioner with relatively small Marklin disposable income. Yet every year egged on by this forum I follow the new items saga and dream of my purchases. This year "the little suitcases" more than caught my eye, but then so did the price so it was kind of forgotten until it came up on the forum a couple of months ago as imminent – isn’t that nearly a year after it was announced as a new item? So what appears to be normal for a high priced new item the criticism and failings get highlighted and I am no expert to join in the discussion – for me at these kind of prices I should expect perfection plus. So I shelve the dream again hoping that in six months to a year I may pick one up heavily discounted as it disappears from the current range and the "experts" have decided its broadly OK. I am not a MRR perfectionist – how can I be my layout is based on an MDF board with a few badly built building kits.

But the haters do have right too.
The problem are those who confuse.
You did present a composite of picture, but this was made of Märklin.
When you see a model you will start complain if there is fault and design flaws.
I would not accept a model that cost nearly 600 euro and find out some faults even on the body.
Even Märklin insider crocodile there was design flaw and also DB 103 extra lenght (windows).

Dear Jacques, aren't you exaggerating a bit now?

After looking into my personal archives, I can assure you that I saw and photographed the prototype loco Ce 6/8 I 14201 for the first time in the year 1970 at Berne. That is almost 50 years ago... Since then, I have had numerous "reunions" with the machine - the most memorable one probably the trip over the Lötschberg and Simplon route to Domodossola in February 1976 with her "rescuer" Hans Schneeberger as driver in the cab.

MY main criticism of Märklin's model is not the width of the gap between the front end of the cab and the rear of the "suitcases" - my concern is how ridiculous the model looks when it passes through curves and turnouts/points. All this bouncing and swaying is so utterly toy-like - and Märklin could easily have prevented this effect by simply attaching the "suitcases" alone firmly to the rest of the body. One doesn't need to have toured the factory at Göppingen to notice this - a pair of standard human eyes is sufficient.

If this factual observation makes me a hater, then so be it.

But none of the photos I have seen look squarely at the side of the unit to show the gap. The videos referenced in various places are always an oblique view which doesn't give an eyeline through the gap either.

Don't like it ... don't buy it! Final analysis these are TOYS, models, reproductions, as close as can be ... and, yes, they have to work on ridiculously tight radii. EVERY model in the Marklin catalog has some compromise for function and manufacturing ability. There have been a number of "special" models - mostly steamers - where the minimum radius is R2, and I do wish M had manufactured to that spec with this one. I'm sure there's a bit of extra "looseness" to get it around a R1, but for heaven's sake folks...! This is such a stupid argument on a MODELING forum!

Most modern M-made DB passenger cars, even at less than 1:87 (1:93 or 1:98?! GASP! Horror!) look terrible rounding R2, if not R3. I was really proud of my extensive collection of TRUE 1:87 (303mm) Roco coaches, until I realized they looked even worse in an actual compressed modeling space than the "adjusted" models (1:100 or M's 1:93/98). The Roco's are now all sold and replaced with M versions. BTW, I also was really proud of my PROTOTYPICAL 2-rail DC models and track - I mean NO mainlines have little pieces of metal sticking up from or between every tie, right?! I switched to M/AC, 3-rail because it's just that much simpler for the modeler - especially one who has had to work with temporary layouts (C-Track!!!), and doesn't want to have to have an extra piece of wiring/equipment/relay/whatever, wherever you create a reverse loop ...

I've wanted a model of this "original crocodile" since I saw a friend's Metropolitan version on his DC layout 20 years ago, which as Jacques says has the kofferli prototypically mounted on the end axles which move independently around corners. I, too, prefer this prototypical approach that M has taken with the inherent compromises required of MODEL trains. Give me the prototypical design with a little extra gap! I ordered mine the first moment I saw it announced - I couldn't get my e-mail typed fast enough!

Hi

I have just collected my crocodile, and I am very satisfied. This is a beauty, and it runs smoothly.

The picture shows the locomotive in almost the same angle as the prototypes shown and in post #8, I can't see the difference, and this I mine

However, I can't see the missing landscape either, some might say!



Cheers

I am looking forward to receiving mine. I learned more about the locomotive from this thread. In addition, I also learned the following:

In the field of psychology, cognitive dissonance occurs when a person holds two or more contradictory beliefs, ideas, or values, or participates in an action that goes against one of these three, and experiences psychological stress because of that. When two actions or ideas are not psychologically consistent with each other, people will do all in their power to change them until they become consistent.[1] The discomfort is triggered by the person's belief clashing with new evidence (facts) perceived, wherein they will try to find a way to resolve the contradiction to reduce their discomfort.[2][1]

In A Theory of Cognitive Dissonance (1957), Leon Festinger proposed that human beings strive for internal psychological consistency to function mentally in the real world. A person who experiences internal inconsistency tends to become psychologically uncomfortable and is motivated to reduce the cognitive dissonance. They tend to make changes to justify the stressful behavior, either by adding new parts to the cognition causing the psychological dissonance or by avoiding circumstances and contradictory information likely to increase the magnitude of the cognitive dissonance.[2]

I had never heard the term before - thanks.

I know this is totally off subject and I apologize for the soap boxing.

A big part of the current media/political/advertisement:communication strategies (wether commercial, political or others) are based on that principle.

First step is to create the perception that there is a problem (creating discomfort/anxiety/anger) , eventually by repeating many times the same "information"

Second step is to present a solution to resolve /mitigate the problem.

This is when sometimes the providential man/product/law "who will save the day" will be pushed forward

Step 3 is "impregnation campaign " to confirm acceptance and create the perception that the purported "problem" has being cured.

We can look around in our day to day lives , this is what medias are living from...and this is why we should always be weary of "providential products/solutions/people/changes"

End of soapboxing..my trains are waiting

If you want to discuss about physical "brain" condition, you can do it in another thread like NMR.

Good post. Anti Marklin folk (not many thankfully) will always look to rubbish a Marklin product. Point five you make is right. just don't buy it. There are faults with some Marklin products as with all model rail stuff but I don't get why join a Marklin site if you never appear to like anything made by Marklin and promote other items. I also like Brawa and Roco but they also are not perfect.
I totally agree with your point 7 above although if you buy a model and find a genuine fault then it is useful to discuss it for the benefit of others.
Enjoy your model.

David

The problem is R1 and sometimes R2, not the model...

:)

My crocs and I are all eagerly awaiting the arrival of our Fc 2x3/4 I think that it looks great from the little that I have seen so far. I agree that it is odd that it is being delivered now and they still have only shown two photos of the model and a couple of engineering prototypes.

But with the high regard I have for my crocs I could not pass up getting a cousin to help fill out my Swill loco roster and this seems like just the thing.

Hallo!

Does anyone know where it is manufactured??

Is it in Göppingen Györ or in far East by an other manufacturer??

I dont know if Märklin makes models in far East any more time??

I have preordered the modell and looking forward to get it!

It looks really good on the pictures!!!

Regards

Bertil.

Looks great in operation!

Thanks for sharing the videos!

Hello!

Its now green on märklins HomePage !

They have it in stock!

Is that the same as it is shipped to all who has preorder it???

Hoppe that!

Regards

Bertil

Thanks Bart!
Can't wait to see mine!!

I just looked at Bart's pictures once again.
Honestly, I think Märklin went out of their way to make the loco look like the real thing in straight alignments and sharp curves, and found a very smart solution for rthe small radius curves that are simply a (non prototypical...) reality on most layouts

Seeing the way the articulations and the guiding mechanisms are conceived it wouldn't cause undue spacing, even with a heavy train.

I was a very vocal critic when they came out with the RAe Gottardo (and still am!!) because clearly they did not really try very hard , while the 1970's Ram TEE (later Northlander) had a visually much more satisfying solution.
And they had already produced other very acceptable solutions where they could find inspiration from (like the DB ICE 1, 2 and 3 sets for instance)

Thanks David
Sorry I first reply now, December has been busy.
I still have to learn how to upload a video , and I can see that Bart has already linked to some good videos.
I am still enjoying my croc :-)

Just received mine ... "MADE IN CHINA".

Generally, I have no problem with this and have a number of beautiful M models made in China. And this is a beautiful model - I'm very pleased with it. BUT for a new-tooling, special, new, highly desired, expensive model, why not make in Germany or Hungary?! It's all perception, but I'm very surprised for a model like this ...

Hello!

At picture in post 86 from member Bert.

At the bottom off the loko looks like it is broken or at least strange in casting???

Regards

Bertil.

Made in China TEEWolf??
Of course i am disappointed too!
Didn´t Märklin verified to stop produce train models in China?
I did had problem with the BR 64 made of Märklin in China and it was horrible.
Are swiss model 39520 really made in China!??

I agree with Herrfleck!
It is not fair if a model made in cheap country sells at higher price than what it should cost at lesser price instead.
But are midwestbls right about made in China?