I understand Hemmerich more and more.

The Insider Br 39 looks good, But if I had the money to spend the 31859 3 crocs would have to go to the top of the list. But here is the crazy thing I have always liked the old O-gauge crocs that were green with red wheels. So I think I would end up swapping the body shells to make one.

Yes, I totally agree with you. Let's keep unwanted personal attacks off-topic. That always language works well.

Regarding the three croc set.
Posted by Armando:

Yes Davy, about the boxes.
I continue to be amazed at how widely Märklin vary their model output and presentation.
Sometimes they put it in a wood box (like my C 37115), sometimes add another model in the package (like a vehicle or an accessory), and I guess you can quote many other variations they are so good at.

While I will not be purchasing one of the "7 section" models, it is a really nice touch. Though they all have the same background photo in the box, do they not?

regards
Kimball

I must agree,that swiss locomotiv are beutiful models...!

Goofy

I think pretty much the same for me, heavy on the Swiss items with some DB and OBB thrown in for good measure!! [:p][:p]

Lutz,

1) I have always known how to contact them. Matter of fact, I had a very good connection at Maerklin from the 1970s until he retired in the late 1980s. Additionally, I have acquaintances who are still with Marklin USA.

For those who don't know, there are direct contacts for Maerklin, which are as follows:

Customer Relations: kundenbetreuung@maerklin.de
Spare Parts: ersatzteile@maerklin.de
Technical Questions: technikfragen@maerklin.de

Even if I still had a personal relationship with anybody at Maerklin, it should not be my responsability to have to correct a model. This applies especially in the case of a Special Edition model. A collector's edition that has an error is still worth more than one that has been corrected by the owner.

Once again, it comes down to your fanatic attitude that no one should dare challenge Maerklin and that everybody should have the exact same passion and ability as you to alter the models.

When I started this post, you derided me for not having contacted Maerklin. I did not because I was expecting the model to be delivered as pictured. This time, based on that experience, and the incorrect details in the photo in the New Flyer, I have acted proactively, to see if they can correct it before production begins.

Now, let's see. If they are making 2000 of the 37356, it will not cost them any EXTRA to retrieve the original mould of the 37344 and to produce the correct model, even if this is done during the middle of a run for the 29842.

I am in the music industry. I routinely burn CDs and have pressed vinyl in the past. It does not take much effort if I wanted to have a quantity of a product pressed in different colours than the majority. That is how we distinguish Promo material from the retail copies.

I have two mechanical engineers in my family, so I have resources to ask questions about the type of moulding that is done on these models.
Matter of fact, I have the machine tool lab at the University where my Dad worked for 40 years where I can get almost anything done.
The issue is that I am paying Maerklin to do it and I expect them to deliver.

So, I don't give a rat's ass if you want to complete your model yourself. I expect my money's worth from Maerkln and not a half baked model put together out of incorrect parts, especially when they are charging top dollar (37356 = 299 EUR).

I am not interested in anything else that you have to say about this.
You cannot dismiss everything that anybody else says and insult everybody.

It's bad enough that Maerklin still delivers the 103 with a screw in the roof, but this bullsh*t about the railings on the Re 4/4II is to me as them delivering a model of the 103 with the screw painted red... It sticks out like a sore thumb. Accept that as a fact and stop putting us down when we comment/complain about it.

Respectfully yours,

Mike C

Spot on Mike

I think people are entitled to express their opinions about something, whether that is negative or positive, without it being branded as 'whining and complaining'. Others are also just as entitled to disagree with those opinions.

However it becomes a problem when people descend to throwing abuse or sarcasm (and I'm not pointing the finger at anyone in particular here) at each other.

We are all grown adults in this forum, we all love MRR and the Märklin brand. Let's try and keep the discussions on a respectful and civil level, no matter how much we might disagree about specific points. Agree to disagree if that helps!

Anyway, we are talking about Marklin's new HO products for 2009, just in case any one forgot!

Having looked through the new items catalog, I would say I would love to buy at least half of what is there. The reality is that I can't, so if I had to nominate favourites they would be

37993 Big Boy
37225 E94 set

Others I would love to get, but probably can't

BR85
BR39
BR23
E40/41
BR01
V200
Tee Wagons
1 Gauge BR64

The Crocodile set does not appeal to me but I can see why it would be a collectors item, and why people such as Lutz would want to buy it.

As for the Swiss stuff, well they will have to wait until I've got all the German stuff I want (mmrcjohn is giving me a hard time for wanting a Big Boy and diverting away from German items, but then I don't think he likes American stuff!)

I have looked for you. It will have no telex couplers.

Greetings
Davy

Alex's must have for 2009 if he gets a job

BAUREIHE 218 a (Citybahn version) and wagen-To run with Wurttemberg C (Olympic rings if possible)

dunno if its a good idea

Era II mixed with Era IV looks like the experiment failed straight away

Kimball, the English description on the Lokshop site does not mention anything about the whistles on the E94, but I would not complain if they did have them. Here's the English descrption as it appears on the Lokshop website followed by a Google translation of the German description.



37225 Electric Locomotive Double Set - Marklin HO

Model: Both locomotives have digital decoders. They also have controlled high-efficiency propulsion. 3 axles powered.
Traction tires. Both locomotives have articulated frames for better negotiation of curves. They also have separately
applied grab irons. The headlights change over with the direction of travel. will work in conventional operation, and can
be controlled digitally. The headlights are maintenance-free LEDs. Both locomotives come individually packaged and
marked. There is also a master package. Length over the buffers for each locomotive 21.0 cm/8-1/4".



Example: 2 different versions of the legendary
"German crocodile." Once as BR 94 in E
bottle-green Grundfarbgebung, in operation
around 1950, and once in Chrome Grundfarbgebung
as BR 194, operating at the 1981st
Model: Both locomotives: With digital decoder. Regulated
High drive. 3 axles powered.
Sticky tires. Curve course articulated suspension. Prepared
Handle bars. Travel-related peak signal
conventionally in operation, digital switching. Lighting
with maintenance-free LEDs. Both locomotives
individually packaged and labeled. With additional
Overpack.
Length over buffers 21.0 cm per locomotive.

One-time series.

The new items for 2009, are now showing on the Märklin data base at
http://www.maerklin.com/en/service/search.html in English.
regards
kimball

Hi david,
See this link - the darker bottle green is the early era III, without the logo (1950). I figured this because the light green has the DB biscuit logo, which is the 1981 version.
http://www.maerklin.com/en/serv...choice=0&catalogue=0

regards
kimball

Hi Mike,
The Eurolokshop price is probably the cheapest there is for HAGs at the moment. A very tempting offer, but in the end on the grounds of cost, I probably go with the Marklin option still.

By any comparison, there is hardly any (German) dealers that I bought from had ever sells their product at Marklin's RRP. After deducting VAT cost, and by a very conservative estimate based on current trends, the price of 37320 set will probably be around 75% cheaper than the RRP. Excluding posting cost, this will probably yield a saving of nearly 30% compared to the HAG option.

Plus, you get MFX Sound with the Marklin set - and each lok can already be ran independently without any modifications.

The 37321 option would have been cheaper further still - especially considering I can repackage this with other items that I might want to buy together.

With the NZ currency collapsing against both Euro and USD, budget had just gone that much tighter this year.

Tim

Thanks Kimball, good spotting.

I was looking at a copy of a 1966/1967 Märklin Catalog. The 3015 crocodile was selling then for $46.50 !!

$52.50 USD in my 1968/69 catalog!

Note that the word "quality" is missing from the aformentioned blurb.

Sehr geehrter Herr Hemmerich,

When I (or other members) comment on some detail about a model that was just released, we are criticized for not having brought it to Maerklin's attention beforehand.

When we are proactive and immediately react to the possibility that there may be an error, based on catalog photos or the New Items video, we are criticized for that too.

What I have been doing is informing people that there is a visible discrepancy between the model and the prototype that could easily be remedied by Maerklin. If they choose to make the alteration(s) to the model in planning, they will gain an additional sale. If they do not, they will lose my sale and my money will go to another manufacturer.

I hope that they will take the time and make the change, because in the long run, customer satisfaction is what keeps a business like Maerklin in business. I have had Maerklin trains since I was 8. More and more, the loks and rolling stock on my layout and in my collection have come from other manufacturers. Why? Because they make Swiss prototype models that Maerklin does not or did not make and because their models are more accurate than the Maerklin versions that have over the past few years contained a series of minor production flaws that could have been easily avoided.

Whether it be the Gottardo model with the skirting and gangways that could have been better developed, or the Re 474 that was a repainted model of the 189 while the Swedish Hectorrail model (which were originally Re 474s repainted and adapted for Sweden) received the correct shell and window details, the 37342 with the wrong railings under the front windows (taken from a Re 421) to the wrong pantograph on the Re 4/4II in the Re 10/10 Set and the (once again) wrong handrails on the 37356 Re 4/4II. The mistakes that I have pointed out here are blatant and noticeable to anybody who knows (and loves) the Re 4/4II and Swiss loks in general.

Small inconsequential details, like the positioning of the SBB CFF FFS on the Cargo 421 are not important, because they do not detract from the overall appearance. A long time ago, I had noticed that the 4266 (Eurofima Am EC) came with SNCF lettering on the skirting. As it was not visible from a distance, it was not overly important. I did eventually replace it with a matching part without the SNCF markings.
The mistakes that I have pointed out are blatant and noticeable to anybody who knows (and loves) the Re 4/4II and Swiss loks in general.

I model Swiss loks with international rolling stock. For this reason, most of my comments have to do with Swiss models. Not all my comments are negative.

I did purchase the 26544 Cisalpino Set and a few of the 41897 Coaches, but I am not running them with the lok in the Set. They look much better behind one of my Re 4/4IIs or one of my Re 460s.

I don't know about other modellers, but I like my models to be as correct as possible. I expect Maerklin to make every possible effort to ensure that the overall details are visibly acceptable.

Running off a series of models with the wrong features because they could not take a minute to retrieve the correct mould from storage is unforgivable to me. The result is simple, I WILL NOT BUY THAT (THOSE) MODEL(S). If they want to correct the mistake in future models, then I will consider those models for my collection. It is simple. I already have no less than 6 different Re 4/4IIs in my collection. All of them have the correct pantos and railings. Why would I want one that wasn't correct?

As I have already stated, if I could get my hands on the chassis from one of the 37342 loks and the shell from the Trix 22148, I would definitely go for it. Other than that, forget about it.

If you like the model AS IS, and you would rather change it yourself than pressure Maerklin to make the change, then that is your prerogative. To criticize other members and I because we are disturbed by the frequency or these flaws in Swiss prototype models is annoying and arrogant.

I love the hobby. I love the trains. I would love them more if they were built in the tradition of Maerklin rather than by bean-counters cutting corners.

For many years, I was certain that I could order Maerklin trains in advance and know that I was going to get a model that would not disappoint. Other brands were not so lucky, as I would not order the items until I had seen them (a feat in itself as their are no European train shops within 500km of Montreal) or until specific questions about the models had been answered by the dealer or through forums like this.

That is why we have these discussions. You seem to take offense if we criticize Maerklin. Yet our intentions are positive. The truth remains that if Maerklin does not improve their track record on these models, they will lose sales.

The money that I had put aside in consideration for the 37342 has now been reassigned. Part of it went to a Hac AC Digital Sound Re 4/4II TEE on sale and the rest will likely go for the Roco 482.2. That money could have been in Maerklin/Kingsbridge's coffers. Should they care what I think? I think that I can give them about 800 (500 in Germany) reasons why they should be a little concerned.

If they want to be competitive, both in terms of money and in terms of quality, Maerklin's models have to hold their own against the other models on the market. I can see a set like 37342 selling out, only because there are only 999. In the case of a regular catalog item, they may end up only selling 1000 instead of 2000 if they keep making these stupid errors. In the long run, it will cost them.

For example, I was looking for a Re 420 Cargo. Maerklin kept releasing models of the Re 421. So, I bought a Hag Lok.
The Maerklin/Conrad RAG 482 was a smart model choice. There are no other models of this lok. Another smart model choice would have been to come out with a Re 460 without the 2000 on the lok face and with alternating 3 white/1 white and 3 white/2 red lights. This is a model that would be greatly sought after. Coming out with a Crossrail set after both Roco and Fleischmann came out with Crossrail items is ok, but a EWALS/Crossrail set would have been a killer.

That is the kind of thinking that I would like to see from Maerklin.

How does your attitude advance the forum or help improve the quality of Maerklin models? It does nothing on either count. You wave the fact that you corrected your own models in everybody's face and criticize those who do not have the dexterity or the time to do the same to their models. Does that make any of us less credible as Maerklin fans? The answer is no. You have the advantage of having one (and more likely multiple) dealers within a short distance of where you live. You have the ability to attend new items presentations and other such events at local dealers, where you could have pointed out some of these errors/oversights whe they could still have been modified, yet you chose not to.
So, do us all a favor and stop criticizing us when we are critical about a model.

Mike C

Lokshop had just released the prices for Marklin 2009 Starter sets if anyone interested. No prices yet for other 2009 items though.

Here are the interesting ones (prices in Euros & incl VAT):
29015 150 jahre mega set (with VT 98, BR 41, E18)- 919,00 - 16,50% off RRP
29019 Swiss mega freight set (Ae 6/6, Re 4/4 IV) - 559,00 - 13,84% off RRP

29482 Swiss freight set (Re 421) - 249,00 ! - 16,67% off RRP.

My thoughts;
29015 and 29019 are surprisingly good value for what you get compared to 2006/7 mega sets (29825, 29851, or 29840) - which was priced around 799 Euros. Ok, you don't get a CS, but if MS2 should perform as advertised, they will be very close to CS1's original capability anyway.

As for 29482 - only very minor adjustment compared to the already good value 29481 - but now includes MS2, and MFX for the Re 421. This, I think, made the set a true good mid-level Marklin starter set, like the way 29481 should had been.

For BR-53 owners:

What has been your recent experiences with the BR-53? There was a reissue some years back with a condenser tender again. All reviews that I have read so far indicate that the locomotive seems to be under-motorized for its weight. I'm considering getting this year's reissue, but I'm worried that it might be ridden with the same under-motorized flaw as the previous reissues. Märklin does not mention in the 2009 news if the item has been upgraded, other than its looks.
Thanks,

The new "Gottardo" will have the same issues at R1 curves?