European HO Models

Chris McDaniel Dec 15, 2005

  1. Chris McDaniel

    Chris McDaniel TrainBoard Member

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    Out of curiousity, what are the European equivalents of Atlas, LL P2K, Stewart, etc. locomotives? Are these locomotives as quiet and smooth running as what we operate on this side of the pond? I've seen some Hag models, but price-wise they appear to be Swiss version of BLI or brass.

    I was on a website that had some nice looking models of SBB (Swiss) and DB (German) electric locomotives. They were relatively expensive (exchange rate?), but they sure look nice.

    I like passenger equipment. Europe and Japan have much more interesting (high tempo) operations. I don't think it'll be interesting enough to get me to switch from my small but growning SOU, SAL collection.
     
  2. Alan

    Alan Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    When I modelled Swiss Railways, my favourite locomotives were Roco. Most european locos are excellent runners (which is why I changed from British to Swiss). Although British models have now just about caught up.

    European models can be a bit pricey, due, I guess to the smaller sales potential for a given model, as each country has unique locomotives.
     
  3. shortliner

    shortliner TrainBoard Member

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    Hornbys 2006 range is going to be interesting, according to a chat I had yesterday with one of the Attendees of their Press day on Monday.
    I think there are going to be some happy modellers - BTW RM Jan 2006 has a review of some "newish" Hornby Thomas items, and the new Junior models from Bachmann - their Thomas Models for the US market, but without faces
    Shortliner(Jack)away up here in the Highlands
     
  4. Wolfgang Dudler

    Wolfgang Dudler Passed away August 25, 2012 TrainBoard Supporter In Memoriam

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    In my "European time" I was very satisfied with Roco, Fleischmann and Marklin. But Marklin I had to rebuild for two rail.
    And with can motor a Fleischmann engine was even better than a Roco engine.

    Now, most of my engines (not many) are Kato.

    In recent time I had built an engine from Weinert

    Wolfgang
     
  5. Chris McDaniel

    Chris McDaniel TrainBoard Member

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    Wolfgang,
    My German is not what it used to be, but your modeling is amazing in any language. I especially like the weathering you've done on the buildings and equipment.

    Alan, my favorite locomotives of any nationality are Swiss crocodiles. I guess the high prices of models force smaller more detailed layouts.

    Shortline, are you finding that Hornby locomotives operate trouble-free?

    Again, I'll probably stick with modeling a prototype near to where I live. Much easier to research. I've had the opportunity to ride or see DB, British, Korean, and Moroccan rail. Every so often I think it'd be nice to do something completely different and model another country's rail or shortline.

    Thanks
     
  6. espee raifan from France

    espee raifan from France TrainBoard Member

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    Chris,

    In my French SNCF (Société Nationale des Chemins de Fer Français) period, I have collected many JOUEF, LIMA (both part of Rivarossi, and now aquired by Hornby) and Roco locomotives. They are great quality, like Athearn Genesis or Kato.
    They are exquisitively detailed and run very smoothly.

    Average prices for one European styrene locomotive (analogic) are around 150€ (170$). It is basically more expensive than on the US market, because the European model train market is smaller than yours.

    As I am French, and live in France, I naturally started with HO French trains. When I was 20, I started with HO US trains, with Santa Fe and Southern Pacific. My very first US diesel was the latest Athearn Genesis SD75M Santa Fe.
    More recently I started with N scale, focusing on SP and Rio Grande during its last days.


    There are a few US fans in Europe, I was lately at a US railroad convention in Italy. It was my first all-american exhibit. How exciting it was.

    Are there any European railroad fans in the US?

    regards,

    Jean-Edouard HELLER
     
  7. traingeekboy

    traingeekboy TrainBoard Member

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    I am a collector of european HO scale trains. My collection is mostly LIMA. To be honest the lima engines do not run like other brands, but my collection is 70's era trains and even US models ran rough back then.

    I am slowly collecting for the future. I figure when I retire I can sit back and build a nice layout in my , hopefully large home, with all my train cars and engines. my small collection
     
  8. Chris McDaniel

    Chris McDaniel TrainBoard Member

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    Jean-Edouard,

    Most of the European rail fans I've met in the US are military or ex-military who had been stationed in Germany, the UK, or Italy. I've mainly seen Marklin Z and HO or LGB models. I don't recall seeing any Hornby, Hag, or Roco (european models).

    Traingeekboy - you have the same plan that I do. There's no room for a layout in my house, so I'm selectively collecting for the future. It's tough since I like trains regardless of the railroad or country!

    Here's link I found on the Atlas forum. Can't afford any of it, but it's nice to look: http://www.lemaco.ch/IndexText.ASPX?L=1
     
  9. traingeekboy

    traingeekboy TrainBoard Member

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    Collect the stuff for now and try doing N scale for your train fix. That is what I'm doing.

    I think anyone who says they have no space for alayout is just not examining their options. My current layout creation is a doorpanel N scale layout. I was at a train show and saw a small HO layout on a door panel with 15" radius curves. It would even be possible to run On30 on such a layout.

    Although it looks a little silly, much of the european stuff was designed for super tight radius curves so it could be sold as childrens playsets. You could also consider the doorpanel layout concept as a good running layout for ho despite its limitations.
     
  10. shortliner

    shortliner TrainBoard Member

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    Everybody has room for a layout - it may not be the layout of your dreams, but a layout is better than no layout look here
    http://www.naisp.net/mfischer/m_train2.htm
    Go down to "layouts smaller than 2' x 4' "and look at the 7th one down - that is a darn good switching layout in 48" x 6" in N - It could be made to fold into a smaller area for storage/transport - where there is a will, there's a way
    Shortliner(Jack)away up here in the highlands
     
  11. Chris McDaniel

    Chris McDaniel TrainBoard Member

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    Good points all! I'm looking at doing an locomotive service area switching layout in HO with small equipment (0-6-0, 4-6-0s, 36ft rolling stock). I'd like to do several layout design elements (modules) - engine service, icing platform, and passenger station/yard). When I get the basement with a house over it, I'll put everything together. Until then they'll function as individual switching layouts.

    I have a ton of N items for N-Trak so I'm good there.

    I continue to look at European equipment for the exact reason you mentioned Traingeekboy. Traction may be an option. I've seen some nice (older) American trolley/traction layouts, but Europe seems to be the juice center.

    UK modelers seem to have the mini-layout format perfected. Transfer tables, cassettes, and switching plates look pretty interesting. Maybe a British steam shortline is in order!
     
  12. traingeekboy

    traingeekboy TrainBoard Member

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    I agree about the Brits having the tiny layout concept fully developed. I must still have a fair amount of the toy train left in me because I still like to see them go in circles. [​IMG]
     
  13. shortliner

    shortliner TrainBoard Member

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    Chris - take a look at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/small-layout-design/ and note the two overflow groups listed on the HomePage - may be something in there for you
    Shortliner(Jack)away up here in the Highlands web page

    [ December 21, 2005, 09:37 AM: Message edited by: shortliner ]
     
  14. espee raifan from France

    espee raifan from France TrainBoard Member

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    Traingeekboy
    Yes Lima locomotives of the 70s are quite noisy, and the detail is quite poor. They have a lot improved since then. Latest production was just great. But now, the brand is not Italian anymore. I don't know what future will look like.

    Chris, have you been a military man based in Europe ? I would'nt have thought of such a import phenomenon oo European train interest due to the US army settlement in Western Europe.
    I know the US base of Vilseck, near Nürnberg.

    [ December 22, 2005, 07:43 PM: Message edited by: espee raifan from France ]
     
  15. traingeekboy

    traingeekboy TrainBoard Member

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    When did the Lima engines begin to get better? All the ones I have are those ones with the large vertical motor attached to the power truck. Did they change motor and gear typeat some point?

    Perhaps with Hornby owning them they will keepproducing nice trains. Regardless of what happens there is still enough stuff out there on ebay that I think I will survive. [​IMG]
     
  16. Chris McDaniel

    Chris McDaniel TrainBoard Member

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    Jean-Edouard, yes I was in the US Air Force, but I was never stationed in Europe. I spent a few days in Ireland, England, Germany, and Italy at different times. Most of my time outside of the US was spent in the Middle East, Latin America, and Asia.

    I've just retired from the military so I'm interested in getting some modeling accomplished. Frequent moves to new duty stations is not kind to detailed models!

    I did get a chance to ride the rails in England, Morocco, and Korea. I had a chance to at least see rail equipment in Panama, Ecuador, and Saudi Arabia.

    Most of the servicemen I knew who were interested in trains purchased Marklin HO during the 1970s. It was probably due to the quality and the more favorable exchange rate at that time.

    Shortliner, I joined the yahoo group. Looks like a great place to get ideas on shelf layouts.
     
  17. Chris McDaniel

    Chris McDaniel TrainBoard Member

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    Jean-Edouard, are you located in France or Italy? Do you have a layout or do you just collect at this time?

    Thanks

    Chris
     
  18. traingeekboy

    traingeekboy TrainBoard Member

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    Chris,
    I forgot to mention a couple of my favorite train buying places: ebay.de (german ebay)
    ebay.it (Italian ebay)

    I have used paypal for european transactions with no problem.
     
  19. espee raifan from France

    espee raifan from France TrainBoard Member

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    Chris,

    Sorry for my late answer. I am not used to check forums every day...

    I live in France, and collect :
    French trains, in HO. With a simple layout on a wooden table.
    American trains, in N scale. I don't have any layout yet. But I plan to build one in the future. It will be an SP based layout, more specifically between '88 and '96 during SP / DRGW glory days.


    below is a picture of the kind of action I like. Picture was taken on the layout of my friend Daniel Roth, during a convention in Italy. I wish I could make such a great scenary myself...

    [​IMG]

    Regards,

    Jean-Edouard
     
  20. funwithtrains

    funwithtrains New Member

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    I'm new to the forum and found this old thread -- are there any 3-rail (AC) HO modelers still here? I've recently been bitten by the U.S. 2-rail HO bug, but got started in the hobby on Marklin 3-rail (and still enjoy that).

    Rob
     

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