If you would like to email Piko and encourage them to bring their HO Krauss Maffei diesel to N scale, please contact them at: support@piko-america.com I have the HO version and it is, hands down, the best engine (paint, details, lighting, sound) I have owned going back decades. Hopefully, a lot of that would transfer to N scale. Word from noted SP modeler, Robert Zenk, who worked on the K-Ms with Piko USA, is that Piko would be amenable to doing these in N, especially if they hear from modelers. Bill McBride
It would be a cool loco to have, but I have nothing SP........all my RRs are northern tier ( NP, GN, SP&S, BN, BNSF, MRL, Milw Rd., ect.) so it would be hard to spend the money for a loco that would probably never get run.
I’m in the same boat as MRLDave, the Krauss Maffei doesn’t fit my layout’s theme. I think it’s a cool locomotive but wouldn’t buy one.
I had three AHM/Rivarossi units when I did HO. Sold them a few years ago. I just got a DelPrado display model to put on a Kato SD40 chassis. It is in the "remove the large metal center weight without damaging the shell" stage.
The real units were purchased by D&RGW and SP. The RioGrande tried them, but too hard to maintain. SP bought a bunch, different body configuration, kept them longer but did not keep them running. I have western theme also, so the D&RGW and SP fit into my layout.
I'd never even heard of it. The write-up on Wikipedia is informative. It's one of those stories where someone decides to buck the system (electric generator/motor "transmission"), only to be reminded of why the system works so well. Nothing allows quick, reliable adjustment of torque to maintain traction like an electric motor. More modern use of AC traction motors is even better, and more efficient. Still, stories of even failed experiments are interesting reading, and valuable lessons to avoid re-learning the hard way. Thanks for posting, but I'll pass. I wish you luck.
Yep, I'd buy some. They could be cab or hood style. The cab units could be SP and D&RGW paint schemes. The hood units camera car variant later modifications may not be economically viable but a 3D printed aftermarket add ons could be worthwhile to a designer. European modellers may want some. These locos ran very briefly in trials on DBB tracks. They were in both SP and D&RGW paint but lettered Kraus Maffei. Now did somebody say AC9 ????????
I sent an inquiry to PIKO and they replied that no plans to do their HO version in N for now. He state that maybe someday.
Bummer, I would probably buy one of these in SP. BigJake - If interested Niles Canyon Railway in California has a refurbished one in operation and has some good videos posted on their site.
I’m thinking that there are a lot of N scale SP fans out there who would buy this engine if it was available. I’m guessing the HO model didn’t sell that well so they’re reluctant to offer it in N.
The SP Krauss Maffai's seem to be hard to find so it appears they sold well. Trainworld is completely sold out of their SP version. They came out late last year in DC version. The D&RGW came out a couple months ago in both DCC/sound and DC/DCC ready versions.
Well as he said there are "no plans to do it for now." . But if potential buyers show some interest and email them then maybe in the future they might. Does anyone know how manufacturers arrive at a decision to build a particular model ? I'm just wondering.
I'm sure they constantly recalibrate their demand forecasts based on market research (not just sales, but feedback from retailers and customers.) When the forecast predicts an acceptable relative return on investment, they'll pounce. I say relative in relation to other prospective products. No company has infinite capacity, so they have to make the best decisions within their capacity. Even if a prospective product's profit prediction* is high, it must also be higher than potential alternative products, in order to make the cut for production. *How many consecutive words starting with 'pr' can you use in a sentence?!
I have an HO early version Rivarossi SP and it runs very smoothly. It would be neat to have one in N scale. Doug
