TT Scale. The Ideal Scale.

Hey guys,

since I got mine yesterday, I can show a few pictures and give a little more information including a very simple test.
At the first glance the model seems to be quite petite. The handrails are made of metal and seem to be sturdy.
Very good to see are the much finer details compared to the hobby models 182 and ER20 - everything is much less "washed out".
The original EH545 was built in 2004 by Vossloh. The lettering "MaK 1206" on the engine hoods refers to Vossloh's predecessor MaK, but is correct.
The model finally has a real close coupler, not the shitty coupler Piko used on their 182 and ER20. It comes with the old BTTB coupling head.
The loco has a slower gear ratio than the 182 and ER20, the top speed is close to Tillig's class V100, maybe a little faster. The powertrain is quiet.
Piko's G1206 has a nice warm white headlight and red backlight, changing with the direction. For all you digital drivers it's important to know that the model has a 6pin-decoder connector, not the 8pin used before.

But since sun always includes shadows, there a few things Piko could have done better.

All G1206 are part of class 275. Piko's website puts the EH "545" into era VI, but since the model doesn't wear the NVR number used since 2007, it is era V. The original has it's NVR number (92 80 1275 112-1 D-EH) written with white letters under the EH-sign.
The model doesn't run as smooth as Kuehn's models or Tillig V100, more "jumpy". If you cut power, there's is no braking and no rolling out - just a simple stop.
The headlights and backlights are too bright and should be dimmed.
The most annoying issue is about the horns on the cab. They used to be separate parts on the ER20 (which is 25 EUR less than the G1206), but now on the G1206 the horns are part of the cab's plastic - and they have only half the height they should have.

All over the G1206 is a good model and worth it's money. I wouldn'd mind having more models from Piko's "Expert" line.

I'm curious about the "jumpiness" and sudden stop - doesn't the model have a flywheel(s)?

Hi! I was wandering about that, too. Yes, the model has flywheels. But in fact they are very thin. See the >> manual <<

Oh yeah - they ARE very thin. Can you make a video of it moving/starting/stopping?

You mention the coupler mount has changed. Does it still need the adapter the ER20 needed in order to fit Tillig close-couplers?

hi, nice model. very cool looking prototype, too, really.

please, are you able to give measurements of the wheel diameter, truck wheelbase and distance between the truck centres?

ben

@ees1bk
Tillig's (or any other) close-couplers finally work without adapters. No extra investment needed.

@scaro
I'll check later in the evening, when I'm home.

The wheel diameter is 7 millimeters, truck wheelbase is 20 millimeters and distance between truck centres around 60 millimeters.

thank you very much for this, it is handy stuff to know. very small wheels for a loco.

the chassis would be right for a few relative oddities -some of the baldwin switchers perhaps.

cheers, ben

further Prototype info for anybody interested......

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MaK_/_Vossloh_G1206