Let's hope that the BLS pilot coach made by ESU will not cost like the HAG SPS

Even if it's not an Arwico product, what do you think of the NME Lotschberg shuttle wagons at 110 € each ?

Speaking of NME, the novelties folder is out: https://www.trainsdepot....w_items_2021_catalog_pdf

Regarding the price for the Lotschberg shuttle wagons, the price just increased to 114,90 € according to the new folder. And availability "Quart. 4/2021" usually means there is no chance to have them this year and probably not even next year.
But they are talking about some sort of light integration... this could justify a higher price (compared with the TWA flat wagons at 119,90€ piece that are, indeed, very detailed but at the end they still are... flat wagons).

I am excited by the Tm IV shunting locomotives. With a delivery date "Quart. 2/2021", there is a chance to have them by the end of the year (waiting for some official news from Mabartren to confirm).

menzels-lokschuppen.de

ESU 2021 novelties are out: https://www.trainsdepot....velties_2021_catalog_pdf

Nothing much, except the G 1000 diesel locomotives...

I ordered the earlier Swiss only version of this set. It is very nice. You might want to order the matching EWI coaches as they are already in shops.
I ordered a set from Eyro with lighting and decoders built in. If I were to do that again, I would have it wired up so that a single function decoder would control the lights in all of the coaches.
Maybe you can find a dealer who will install and wire the lights from the decoder in the pilot coach.

Regards

Mike C

Piko makes them in the bottom (NPZ) scheme. They come in two car sets. I installed Trainaids motion sensitive lights in my cars. Just stick them to the roof and add the battery. No contacts, decoders or wiring are necessary.

As Mike noted the only issue with the set is that the function for trailer car interior lights isn't synced properly with the cab car functions. You have to turn on the trailer light separately because the same function button triggers a momentary function that plays a station announcement and shuts off the trailer lights.

AFAIK, the 2021 model will be available internationally. As far as the coaches, there have been several sets so far.
The first one contained an EWI AB and EWI B. The second set contained an EWI A and EWI B.
Since then, there was a second set with EWI AB and EWI B and a new one with a pair of EWI B.

96784 EWI B, EWI B
96785 EWI AB, EWI B

The original sets were:

96780 EWI AB, EWI B
96781 EWI A, EWI B

Many dealers are offering them with AC wheelsets under the same number, but with AC at the end (e.g. 96784AC)

Recommended sources for Swiss Piko models are Roundhouse.ch, eyro.ch, starrail on Ricardo.ch (see starrail.ch), huenerbein.de (Germany)
If anybody needs more recommendations, send me a PM

These models were exclusively produced for Arwico, the Swiss distributor and foreign dealers have to buy them from Arwico and not directly from Piko, which partially explains the higher costs. Some similar versions were deliverable directly from Piko and may have a slightly lower cost as a result.

Regards

Mike C

I received a link to the Youtube video this morning (Monday). When they are presenting the Ae 6/6, the model which is on the track section is numbered 11402 and is labelled for the Canton Uri. The one which he is holding in his hands (with the chrome painted stripe) is numbered 11401 and is labelled for the Canton of Ticino.

Piko and Arwico have so far only announced a model of the 11401 "Ticino" in DC, DC Sound and AC Sound versions. There was also an announced model of the 11470 "City of Thun" locomotive, in the newer red livery. There was no announced model of 11402 "Uri". I suspect that this means that a follow-up model is to come.

I hope that one of the canton locomotives comes out in a livery that would be suitable for the early 1970s. I have a few 1950/60s and a few from 1980 on from Maerklin and Hag.

I was reading one of the Italian forums and it is mentioned that the 11401 "Ticino" has the red "falschfahrlicht" underneath the top headlight, while the 11402 "Uri" shown in the video has only the single top headlight, which would indicate a more modern appearance for that locomotive.

Regards

Mike C