What you see here is simply the best locomotive available in HO scale, bar none. I don't know about you, but if I drive behind a truck, I look for opportunities to overtake. I hate being a tunnel vision follower. Why must I, year in and year out, look at a catalogue and see nothing new? Why must I pay dearly for the same loco I bought last year, just with a different paint scheme? Why can't someone just think out the box, put in an effort, and give me something new?
Did we (especially the Marklin guys) become so brainwashed, that a different paintjob is maybe enough? I still have 2 BR56's in stock. Brand new train, never done before by Marklin, and they sit here and gather dust on a shelf..... but let me offer you a green K-class (pretty as it was) and it sells 3 days later.
So Marklin.... take it from an avid fan..... you are boring me to death. I looked around and found exactly what I think we all need. If the sales I have made is anything to go by on these locomotives from ESU, it seems you guys are just as hungry. I brought six of them, and they flew out the door. This is the last diesel. I have ordered six more in various colors, I am just waiting for supply other side of the water. 3 weeks I think.
Now, look at that price..... frowning? Here is what you get. Apart from about ten different light options and ten different sounds, you get some very special features. Firstly, the loco is both AC 3 rail for Marklin, and when you use the special tool to unclip the pick-up shoe, it automatically goes into 2 rail DCC mode. This means you can go and play with the boys at any DCC club meet, go home, clip the slider in and run it straight onto your Marklin 3 rail layout. You are buying basically two locomotives.
Still not convinced? How about this. When the locomotive decelerates quicker than a certain speed, as soon as the brake squeal comes in, it sparks on the brakes. Very cleverly done with LEDs. How is that for something new?
Still not convinced? Ok, when either bogey turns over a certain radius, it emits the screech from the rails as the flanges hit. Over turnouts it can do the same. Over 25km/h it automatically switches off, just like the real thing. Brilliant hey?
Ok, still too expensive? Well, here is another party trick... it has fully load dependent smoke, which you can via the CV's, adjust to your taste. On start-up a fan blows the smoke out the stack, and then it simmers down. On acceleration it will pick up again and at full speed it throws it thick and wide. Absolutely brilliantly done. I just ran this one on the bench, the system is quiet and smooth. Innovation my friends.....innovation.
By now, this should look like a bargain, but there is more. ESU specifically mixes the sound for every loco in their studio. So no more all diesels sounding the same. This loco runs a dual speaker system. The sound is absolutely magnificent. Loud and clear. The little Visaton speakers kicking anything else into the weeds. I have never heard sound as crisp and as true to life as this. The turbo whistle....there. Beautiful.
Then, look at the pictures, and tell me you have ever seen anything this detailed. Wiring harnasses, electric boxes, pipes and valves.... all exquisitely done. The body is all metal. The handrails are brass. The bogeys are metal. Those grids on the roofs are see-through.... and metal. Inside the cab, the interior is fully done. Function 13 will give you the full array of dashboard lights. There are cab lights too. Dim and bright and shunting lights.
Then as a final nail in the coffin, there is a massive 5 pole skew wound can motor with dual brass flywheels. Cardan shafts putting drive out to 4 axles with 4 traction tyres. It is whisper quiet. With the sound off, I could not hear the motor above the spin of the rollers on the testbed. That quiet. This decoder will blow your mind with its speed control. Look at the video below to see what it can do.
Retail is 430Euro..... my price is brilliant, and keep in mind that all mine are fitted with the PowerPacks. Which will give this loco a 4s burst of power when it touches dead track. I tested it by picking it up from the teststand. I could turn it around and then only did the sound and the wheels stop hehehehe.
http://youtu.be/3vOgJye0EHc
Be quick, they are flying. Tomorrow when the first okes walk in...... the seeds will be planted. I doubt it will see the end of the week.
See below pics for shipping rate.
Postage will be R45 normal post or R195 insured. Your choice, or come fetch it in Benoni.
