Product ReviewLeave a comment

Piko H0-scale BR 185 E-Loco

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Okay, this time it is not a lucky draw win. Can’t be that lucky 3 times in a row, can I? DB Schenker Rail was clearing their gift shop inventories and among others was this Piko H0-scale BR 185 E-Loco with the Railion (now DB Schenker Rail) red livery. It costs only 50 Euro (UP: 75 Euro) I have not been paying much attention to HO-scale models other than watching them on layouts. Perhaps a HO-scale steam loco next round? BR 052? Continue reading Piko H0-scale BR 185 E-Loco

Layout Planning, Planning BookLeave a comment

Turnout Planning with Peco Template and NEM103

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PECO has finally updated their turnout templates and I managed to download all the N-scale turnout templates in code 55 (3,47MB) and code 80 (1,93MB). I intend to use mainly PECO turnouts but am open to try others such as those from Fleischmann and even at a later stage handlaid tracks from Fast Tracks. You can download the 1:1 templates here. An example of a code 80 template below. To print correctly, make sure there is no sizing of the printing (Print > Properties > … ) Once printed, the ruler on the right side allows you to check with your ruler … Continue reading Turnout Planning with Peco Template and NEM103

Exhibitions/Fairs2 Comments

Autograph Session with Hagen von Ortloff of SWR Eisenbahn Romantik

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Mr. Hagen von Ortloff is a familiar face among the railway fans in Germany. He is the moderator of the SWR Eisenbahn-Romantik program since its first airing in 1991. This was taken at Internationale Modellbahn Ausstellung 2012 in Köln Messe/Deutz. You can see his videos in SWR/Eisenbahn Romantik or in Youtube. Continue reading Autograph Session with Hagen von Ortloff of SWR Eisenbahn Romantik

Exhibitions/Fairs, Layout VisitsLeave a comment

Model Layout Visits

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My Model Layout Visits Collection Here are the growing number of model layouts that I have visited over the years. Those that are highly recommended are in asterisk (*) LOXX Berlin Miniaturwelt in Alexa shopping complex, Alexanderplatz, Berlin, Germany (*) York Model Railway in York central station, Yorkshire, UK Miniatur Wunderland Album 1 and 2 in Hamburg, Germany (*) Internationale Modellbahnaustellung (IMA) in Göppingen, Germany German Rail fair Album 1 and 2 in Hannover Messe, Germany Modellbahnwelt in Oberhausen, Germany (*) Modellbau Süd Album 1 and 2 in Stuttgart Messe, Germany Internationale Modellbahnausstellung (IMA) in Cologne Messe/Deutz, Germany Continue reading Model Layout Visits

Product ReviewLeave a comment

Tomix N-scale JNR SO 80ton Crane

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One thing I found lacking in N-scale was modern railway maintenance equipment such as Plasser & Theurer tamping machines, Gottwald 100ton cranes, etc. Some of these came in kit form but they looked horrible and expensive. For example, this Kibri Gottwald railway crane cost about 80 Euro and you have to fix it yourself. In the end, it looks crappy. I wished Kibri or someone would come out with a better version, perhaps a working version of this crane. In the meantime, I would have to settle for Tomix N-scale Japan National Railway (JNR) SO 80 crane, which cost me … Continue reading Tomix N-scale JNR SO 80ton Crane

German RailwaysLeave a comment

InterCity Express (ICE): The Flagship of Deutsche Bahn

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The ICE (InterCity-Express) is the flagship (ie. flag carrier) of Deutsche Bahn AG (DB AG). The ICE is synonymous with DB AG and is an instant brand recognition for Germany. But don’t be mistaken with other ICE especially ICE 3. The same Siemens Velaro/ICE 3 design can be found in the Netherlands (operating as HiSpeed) and Switzerland (ICE SBB). The same design is also found in China high-speed railway as CRH3C, in Spain Velaro E and in Russia Velaro RUS. For more information on ICE, visit wiki or this special issue of Eisenbahn (Railway) Journal. There are only 3 manufacturers … Continue reading InterCity Express (ICE): The Flagship of Deutsche Bahn

Diorama DevelopmentLeave a comment

ICE Diorama: Reposts from My Other Blog

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I am reposting by way of links my ICE diorama progress. No further work has been done on it. In fact I have dismantled part of the tracks as I did not like the results. I will post my rework here. For now, here are the earlier postings: 8 .Oct 2011: German Model Railway Diorama 29. Oct 2011: Track Alignment 30. Oct 2011: Base Preparation 2. Nov 2011: Artist’s Impressions 2. Nov 2011: Need A Tunnel? 3. Nov 2011: Not a Time to Tighten the Curve 5. Nov 2011: Modelling Toolkit 6. Nov 2011: Laying Tracks and Superelevation 6. Nov … Continue reading ICE Diorama: Reposts from My Other Blog

Exhibitions/Fairs, German RailwaysLeave a comment

Another Surprise Gift: Fleischmann N-scale BR 111 E-Loco

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I attended Internationale Modellbahn Ausstellung 2012 (International model railway exhibition) in Köln Messe/Deutz last Saturday. It was my first exhibition this year as I was too occupied at work and weekends to attend other exhibitions (usually I made it a point to visit 2-3 exhibitions per year). I participated in a lucky draw from Alba Publications and to my surprise and delight, I received a Fleischmann BR 111 E-Lok in DB red livery when I reached home last night. I still have not had a chance to test run it but it would make a wonderful addition to my other … Continue reading Another Surprise Gift: Fleischmann N-scale BR 111 E-Loco

Layout Planning, Planning BookLeave a comment

Lucky Draw Win: “DB Netze Infrastrukturprojekte 2012” Coffee table Book

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One advantage of working for Deutsche Bahn is you have information about trains and its operations (only publicly available information are published here). DB Projektbau GmbH, a subsidiary of DB Netze (railway infrastructure company) published a coffee-table book about their infrastructure projects in 2012. I won this book through an internal lucky draw. This wonderful book (in German/Deutsch) is available for Eurailpress from 48 Euro. A good book to have if you want to follow the construction guidelines of tunnels, bridges and right-of-ways of DB. Definitely an idea book for my N-scale layout. Continue reading Lucky Draw Win: “DB Netze Infrastrukturprojekte 2012” Coffee table Book