Maerklin is releasing the 38420 SBB Re 4/4II Swiss Express and the matching 42190 and 42191 coach sets. The prototypical train consists of the locomotive and 14 coaches, which can be made up of one 42190 (4 coaches) and 5 x 42191 (5 x 2) additional coaches. As described in the brochure, the 42191 will contain decals to change the coach numbers of the additional coaches to allow modellers to recreate the complete 14 coach consist.

So, here is where we get to my question...

Does Maerklin/Trix calculate the production of these coach sets based on the assumption that for each 42190 sold, the customer will also take 5 of the 42191 or do they assume it will be some who take 5, others will take 4, 3, 2 or only 1 of the additional coach sets and how many of the additional coach sets will they manufacture?

If the experience with other brands, for example the intermediate coaches for the Liliput RABe KISS consists, is any indication, the add on sets (2 coaches) could be found at resale for much higher prices than they were originally offered as there were not as many of these sets as the main set. I don't have the information on Maerklin productions (RABe Giruno, TGV, etc) where the complete consist required multiple sets. I have not seen a spike in prices for the Giruno sets, but some TGV did show a small spike.

A similar situation occurred with the Roco ICN. This may have partially been due to the fact that some add-on coach sets were released with in correct coach numbers and this made the correct sets increase in value.

Will model RR speculators jump on these "add-on" sets believing that they will be sought after down the line?

What do you think?

Regards

Mike C

The first set (63/69150/151) was the RABDe 500 040 "Graf Zeppelin". The coaches (including the 63/69152 coach set) should all be numbered with 40-X (140/240/340/440/540/640/740)
The second set (63/69153/154) was the RABDe 500 007 "Albert Einstein". The coaches (including the 63/69155 coach set) should all be numbered with 07-X (107/207/307/407/507/607/707)

A number of the additional coach sets (63/69155) for the 63/69153/154 set were delivered with coach numbers for the 150/151 set, so at least one of the coaches was numbered X40-Y.

The correct numbers for the coaches should be as listed here: http://gamos81.altervist...Elettrotreni/SBB/ICN.htm

Regards

Mike C

Just my thoughts (without any fact) I believe that when making add-on sets Marklin would make an estimate based upon the following;

1) Is the add-on set essential to the train or merely more coaches;
2) Popularity of the issue including advance orders
3) Historical data

I do not believe add-on sets are made one to one although that may have been the case in 1990's and 2000's as add-on sets for some sets such as Lorelei and Riviera are plentiful, whereas more modern issues the add-on sets can be harder to find such as the intermediate cars for TGV and Thalys, and the two coach add on set 43473 for the Bi-level CFL set

Interesting when I bought the recent "Munich-Nürnberg Express" Passenger Car Set (42988 and 42989), I purchased it about a year after it was issued by Marklin and the add-on set was heavily discounted which is one reason I was attracted to buying the two sets together, so perhaps in this instance they made too many of the add-on sets.