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Offline hvc  
#1 Posted : 29 July 2020 11:06:35(UTC)
hvc

Australia   
Joined: 03/06/2013(UTC)
Posts: 411
Location: Melbourne, VIC, Australia
Hi all,

Like many here, I'm a sucker for the crocodile. I have a modest collection (well, 7 of them Blushing ). But there is something that bothers me - yellow grab bars/railings on the later swiss prototype.

There was a time (I don't know exactly when) that the surviving green crocodiles had these painted bright yellow, presumably for safety or accessibility - they were still in place a few years ago. I guess you want your vision-impaired train driver to be able to climb into the cab safely Blink BigGrin

Personally, I find the bright yellow paint to be tremendously ugly - out of place, distracting slashes of modern colour on a beautiful, classic locomotive. But that's just me.

I was able to forgive Märklin for accurately reproducing this hideous eyesore for era VI while it existed in real life. Here's a photo from 2006, which is copyright "Vectron X4E" on flickr :

32208996858_6688ccb740_c.jpg

(Vectron X4E's flickr site of trainspotting photos is pretty amazing)

But fortuntely things have changed, here's a photo I took in Göppingen last year - I was so happy to see this loco in person, and even happier that it is no longer defaced with stripes of flourescent yellow:

48727258283_00f8b41293_c.jpg

However! Märklin is still producing models of the crocodile in it's hideously defaced form:

galbig_312292_10978.jpg

What gives? Could we please stop and just have grab bars in black as on the prototype?

Does anyone else share my distaste for the yellow, and can we form a lobby group to have this evil stamped out from the world?

- Herman
- Herman
Offline analogmike  
#2 Posted : 29 July 2020 12:18:04(UTC)
analogmike

United States   
Joined: 02/08/2014(UTC)
Posts: 736
Location: NEW JERSEY, USA
WOW,
I can't imagine how upset you would be if Marklin were to release a Krok with graffiti. LOL
Mikey

PS - I like the yellow grab irons.
I love the smell of smoke fluid in the morning .
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Offline xxup  
#3 Posted : 29 July 2020 13:02:51(UTC)
xxup

Australia   
Joined: 15/03/2003(UTC)
Posts: 9,457
Location: Australia
Yep.. I like the yellow grab irons too..
Adrian
UserPostedImage
Australia flag by abFlags.com
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Offline hvc  
#4 Posted : 29 July 2020 13:12:23(UTC)
hvc

Australia   
Joined: 03/06/2013(UTC)
Posts: 411
Location: Melbourne, VIC, Australia
Originally Posted by: analogmike Go to Quoted Post
WOW,
I can't imagine how upset you would be if Marklin were to release a Krok with graffiti. LOL
Mikey


Cursing

LOL

- Herman
Offline hvc  
#5 Posted : 29 July 2020 13:15:24(UTC)
hvc

Australia   
Joined: 03/06/2013(UTC)
Posts: 411
Location: Melbourne, VIC, Australia
Originally Posted by: xxup Go to Quoted Post
Yep.. I like the yellow grab irons too..


My Dad used to say "over smaak is niet te twisten".

A Dutch proverb which literally translates you can't argue about taste, or more colloquially one man's meat is another man's poison.

It's really true.

- H

- Herman
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Offline H0  
#6 Posted : 29 July 2020 14:02:41(UTC)
H0


Joined: 16/02/2004(UTC)
Posts: 15,254
Location: DE-NW
Originally Posted by: hvc Go to Quoted Post
Could we please stop and just have grab bars in black as on the prototype?
I think it is good to have grab bars as on the prototype. Dark for early green prototypes, dark for current prototypes, but yellow for prototypes from a few years ago.

If a model has yellow grab bars, then just skip that model and wait until Märklin offer a model with dark bars.
Regards
Tom
---
"In all of the gauges, we particularly emphasize a high level of quality, the best possible fidelity to the prototype, and absolute precision. You will see that in all of our products." (from Märklin New Items Brochure 2015, page 1) ROFLBTCUTS
UserPostedImage
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Offline Vanvlak  
#7 Posted : 29 July 2020 15:05:16(UTC)
Vanvlak

Malta   
Joined: 01/06/2019(UTC)
Posts: 58
Location: Naxxar
Originally Posted by: analogmike Go to Quoted Post
WOW,
I can't imagine how upset you would be if Marklin were to release a Krok with graffiti. LOL
Mikey

PS - I like the yellow grab irons.




That would be cool...BigGrin
The Märklin yellow seems brighter, or perhaps more vivid, than the prototype, at least in these pics - I prefer it to the original, even if it's slightly different.
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hvc
Offline mike c  
#8 Posted : 29 July 2020 19:14:11(UTC)
mike c

Canada   
Joined: 28/11/2007(UTC)
Posts: 7,880
Location: Montreal, QC
My first live Krokodil spotting was in 1971/72. AFAIR that locomotive had the yellow handrails.

Here is a photo from 1970: https://bahnbilder-von-m...1985//picture_00199.html
1968: http://www.polier.ch/ima...SBB.70-01/SBB-70-021.jpg
1964: http://www.polier.ch/ima...SBB.70-01/SBB-70-005.jpg
I think that the yellow was adopted as a standard as far back as the 1950s.

http://www.polier.ch/ima.../SBB.107/SBB-107-001.jpg
http://www.polier.ch/ima.../SBB.107/SBB-107-008.jpg
http://www.polier.ch/ima.../SBB.107/SBB-107-010.jpg

If you don't like it, there are a number of Era II/Era III models in brown with the black handrails

Regards

Mike C
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Offline Unholz  
#9 Posted : 29 July 2020 20:01:40(UTC)
Unholz

Switzerland   
Joined: 29/07/2007(UTC)
Posts: 1,391
Location: Switzerland
Originally Posted by: mike c Go to Quoted Post

I think that the yellow was adopted as a standard as far back as the 1950s.


Correct, since June 1955. Source: http://www.hobbytrain.ch.../zeitgeschichte_SBB.html
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Offline Hannes Porsche  
#10 Posted : 29 July 2020 20:37:21(UTC)
Hannes Porsche

South Africa   
Joined: 08/12/2015(UTC)
Posts: 64
Location: Western Cape, South Africa
Hallo Herman,

You say you have a modest seven models of the Croc.
That is nice, but wait for it: If you have Marklin 37568 soon you will find on those models the grab handles ( I call them hand rails) falls off and disappear even if they are yellow. Nowhere to be found.Cursing

Now you contact Marklin Germany and the last handrail kit available costs E 6,00 and the postage to South Africa is E 56.00
So the loose yellow rails on the Marklin model can also be a pain.
If they were red I may have seen them on the tracks/layout/storage area.Angry

So if I can not repair my Croc using Marklin spares I am forced to to use paper clips.
I wonder what what colour I should use. Confused

All of this in a lighter mood.!!!!! Yellow hand rails can be a problem, even on a model train.

Keep STEAMING,

HANNES

Cool
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hvc
Offline river6109  
#11 Posted : 30 July 2020 04:05:50(UTC)
river6109

Australia   
Joined: 22/01/2009(UTC)
Posts: 14,635
Location: On 1965 Märklin Boulevard just around from Roco Square
You always could paint the yellow handrails to another colour, paperclips is a good idea.

John
https://www.youtube.com/river6109
https://www.youtube.com/6109river
5 years in Destruction mode
50 years in Repairing mode
Offline hvc  
#12 Posted : 30 July 2020 04:22:21(UTC)
hvc

Australia   
Joined: 03/06/2013(UTC)
Posts: 411
Location: Melbourne, VIC, Australia
Originally Posted by: mike c Go to Quoted Post
My first live Krokodil spotting was in 1971/72. AFAIR that locomotive had the yellow handrails.

Here is a photo from 1970: https://bahnbilder-von-m...1985//picture_00199.html
1968: http://www.polier.ch/ima...SBB.70-01/SBB-70-021.jpg
1964: http://www.polier.ch/ima...SBB.70-01/SBB-70-005.jpg
I think that the yellow was adopted as a standard as far back as the 1950s.

http://www.polier.ch/ima.../SBB.107/SBB-107-001.jpg
http://www.polier.ch/ima.../SBB.107/SBB-107-008.jpg
http://www.polier.ch/ima.../SBB.107/SBB-107-010.jpg



Thanks for the pics!

Originally Posted by: mike c Go to Quoted Post
My first live Krokodil spotting was in 1971/72. AFAIR that locomotive had the yellow handrails.

If you don't like it, there are a number of Era II/Era III models in brown with the black handrails

Regards

Mike C


Well, yes :-)

I have a couple of brown crocs - the one in the twin set from a few years back, and my favourite is the weathered brown croc freight set Märklin 26591.

- Herman

- Herman
Offline hvc  
#13 Posted : 30 July 2020 04:27:45(UTC)
hvc

Australia   
Joined: 03/06/2013(UTC)
Posts: 411
Location: Melbourne, VIC, Australia
Originally Posted by: river6109 Go to Quoted Post
You always could paint the yellow handrails to another colour, paperclips is a good idea.

John


Indeed - although some will have noticed that the Märklin picture I posted above is of the Gauge 1 model. One of the reasons I'm looking at crocs (again) is to think about whether I should save up for a gauge 1 croc (probably secondhand), and paperclips might look a little out of place there...

Herman

- Herman
Offline hvc  
#14 Posted : 30 July 2020 04:29:31(UTC)
hvc

Australia   
Joined: 03/06/2013(UTC)
Posts: 411
Location: Melbourne, VIC, Australia
Originally Posted by: Unholz Go to Quoted Post
Originally Posted by: mike c Go to Quoted Post

I think that the yellow was adopted as a standard as far back as the 1950s.


Correct, since June 1955. Source: http://www.hobbytrain.ch.../zeitgeschichte_SBB.html


Thanks! I didn't know that they went that far back.

- Herman

- Herman
Offline hxmiesa  
#15 Posted : 30 July 2020 08:33:45(UTC)
hxmiesa

Spain   
Joined: 15/12/2005(UTC)
Posts: 3,519
Location: Spain
Originally Posted by: hvc Go to Quoted Post
Does anyone else share my distaste for the yellow, and can we form a lobby group to have this evil stamped out from the world?

I like very much the yellow "contrast colour" of their handrails!

What surprises me the most, is how strongly you feel about it... Laugh
What do you think about global climate change?


PS: Why not just weather it lightly, that should take the brightness right out of it, making it look VERY prototipical...
Best regards
Henrik Hoexbroe ("The Dane In Spain")
http://hoexbroe.tripod.com
Offline hvc  
#16 Posted : 30 July 2020 09:36:47(UTC)
hvc

Australia   
Joined: 03/06/2013(UTC)
Posts: 411
Location: Melbourne, VIC, Australia
Originally Posted by: hxmiesa Go to Quoted Post
Originally Posted by: hvc Go to Quoted Post
Does anyone else share my distaste for the yellow, and can we form a lobby group to have this evil stamped out from the world?

I like very much the yellow "contrast colour" of their handrails!

What surprises me the most, is how strongly you feel about it... Laugh
What do you think about global climate change?
.


Well, I'm in my fifties so I figure it's time to start practicing to be a grumpy old man. Surely it will take me a couple of decades to get it right...

hqdefault.jpg

- Herman
Offline Bigdaddynz  
#17 Posted : 30 July 2020 11:52:59(UTC)
Bigdaddynz

New Zealand   
Joined: 17/09/2006(UTC)
Posts: 18,661
Location: New Zealand
Originally Posted by: analogmike Go to Quoted Post
PS - I like the yellow grab irons.


Likewise!
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Offline hvc  
#18 Posted : 30 July 2020 14:25:08(UTC)
hvc

Australia   
Joined: 03/06/2013(UTC)
Posts: 411
Location: Melbourne, VIC, Australia
Originally Posted by: Bigdaddynz Go to Quoted Post
Originally Posted by: analogmike Go to Quoted Post
PS - I like the yellow grab irons.


Likewise!


I could have made this topic a colour vote, but seems like I would have been on my own! BigGrin

12.jpg

- Herman
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Offline hvc  
#19 Posted : 30 July 2020 14:59:00(UTC)
hvc

Australia   
Joined: 03/06/2013(UTC)
Posts: 411
Location: Melbourne, VIC, Australia
Originally Posted by: H0 Go to Quoted Post
Originally Posted by: hvc Go to Quoted Post
Could we please stop and just have grab bars in black as on the prototype?
I think it is good to have grab bars as on the prototype. Dark for early green prototypes, dark for current prototypes, but yellow for prototypes from a few years ago.

If a model has yellow grab bars, then just skip that model and wait until Märklin offer a model with dark bars.


Here's one that I already have which I really like, but it's not as finely detailed as the newer ones - this is from the Märklin 26730 set...

I like the darker green (and of course the lack of yellow :-)...

IMG_0484.jpg

- Herman
- Herman
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Offline mbarreto  
#20 Posted : 30 July 2020 15:21:55(UTC)
mbarreto

Portugal   
Joined: 18/02/2008(UTC)
Posts: 1,257

The croc in the 26730 set is one with a great look. For me one of the best in HO. It is weathered croc and the weathering adds a lot to the great look (just my taste :) ).

I like both yellow and not yellow grab irons. The yellow ones give a bit more colour, more life, while the other ones look kind of more serious or more technical...

Best regards,
Miguel
Mostly Märklin H0.


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Offline hvc  
#21 Posted : 31 July 2020 01:57:02(UTC)
hvc

Australia   
Joined: 03/06/2013(UTC)
Posts: 411
Location: Melbourne, VIC, Australia
Originally Posted by: mbarreto Go to Quoted Post

The croc in the 26730 set is one with a great look. For me one of the best in HO. It is weathered croc and the weathering adds a lot to the great look (just my taste :) ).

I like both yellow and not yellow grab irons. The yellow ones give a bit more colour, more life, while the other ones look kind of more serious or more technical...



ThumpUp ThumpUp ThumpUp

- Herman
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Offline BZ100  
#22 Posted : 01 August 2020 19:10:12(UTC)
BZ100

United States   
Joined: 25/01/2018(UTC)
Posts: 3
Location: Aloha, Oregon
Handrails on a Maerklin Kroko? What handrails? My now 40 year old 3056 Kroko number 13302 has no handrails to argue colour over. I feel cheated... Laugh

She is still my favorite even with no handrails.

OOpss.. Must be getting old. She does have them but the color is silver - so not painted. I really need to get new glasses.

Even with the unpainted handrails - she is still my favorite.
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hvc
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