Pictured of completed after repainting, etc. 04/18/15MTH's European series BR-44

Nice review but, PLEASE invest in a tripod for your camera.

 BR-549! He He He Haw Haw  

The detail is fantastic, great looking steamer.

I would have thought the whistle having a higher pitch?

I believe this BR-44 has a third cylinder, if so, is it operational like in the MTH UP 4-12-4?

The 3rd cylinder is "operational".  All the valve linkage, drive rods and axle cranks are present and operate just like the outside cylinders.

The level of detail is extraordinary.

Another great review Lee. Beautiful engine. I like the unique sound. Not sure if I would buy an engine like that and immediately modify it but to each his own and it's your world so do what makes you happy.  I am looking forward to seeing your report on the modification.

Great review Lee!  Many thanks for posting it.

Steve

I have a tripod, but it is too difficult to take videos and move about why tracking a loco.  I'll try to post a warning in the future.

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One of my favorite shows ever: I'm nothing if not high-brow!

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I expected the whistle to be high pitched, and frankly I don't know if this is authentic or not, but I like it . . . 

I'm going to post a thread about whistle videos on this forum in a minute and put both this and the Chapelon 241.A (my favorite whistle, very shrill) on there.

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And in reply by Pat Marinari wrote

Yes, the mechanism is there and it works and if the loco is going slow you can see it underneath inside.  Just extraordinary.  

The loco also sounds different than anything else, but as I said I am not certain that is due to its three cylinders.  As I said, I expected many more chuffs per foot givne the three cylinders and tiny drivers (they were 55 inch in the real world so at 1/43 55" would be equal to about 60" in 1:48).  I have a Legacy three-cylinder loco (UP 9000 4-12-2, which does sound very "complicated" due to its three cylinders, so my expectations were based on that . . . )

I have not counted the chuff rate for this BR-44 and figured it out versus distance to figure it there are three per revolution, so I don't know if its just me . . . , maybe it is right, but it sounds too slow, yet the loco is unique as to sound: not like any other loco I have.  And it sounds "small," too: the chuff is sharp, short, and high pitched.  If you had never seen it and were asked, only on the basis of the sound, what kind of loco, you'd guess (at least I would) that is was rather small cylinders, not a big Allegheny or ATSF Northern.

MTH models of German and Swiss prototypes are [ or are supposed to be ] to a scale of 1:45;  the MTH models of French locomotives* and cars are to 1:43.5.

1:45 is "real 0 scale" -- 1:43.5 is too large, just as 1:48 is too small.

SZ

*Well, I presume the SNCF version of THIS loco is also 1:45.....

My conclusions......

1. I'd have this on my layout as I like trains.....I like US trains best.....but any steam loco is welcome! 

2. It is cool and very detailed.

3. It is expensive so I doubt it will ever be seen on my layout unless you come to visit with it in hand!

4. Sounds seem good to me......or at least match those in movies with German trains.

5. You have way more guts than I......NO WAY could I even think about painting this loco or altering it in any way!!

6. Say Hi to Junior when you see him!(I watched He-Haw every Saturday at my in-laws house while waiting for my now wife to get ready to go out......kinda hated it at the time....but now part of my nostalgia) 

The two wires coming from the base allow you to run the engine "in place." on the board.

I think you only run Conv. But if you have access to DCS, you can change the chuffs per rev and find the right sound for you...

Nice review Lee.

My BR44 arrived but I won't be able to open it until summer (Out of state on a job).

The BR44 is small by US standards. It's about the same size as the Strasburg (Ex CGW) 2-10-0. They were a modern locomotive and lasted until the late 1970's. There are quite a few preserved and many of those are operational. I've seen a several in person and they're really impressive.

Lee,Please don't change the class number(Or I'll lose sleep),the BR44 and BR54 are completely different locomotives. The class 54 is a small 2-6-0. Repaint one of the small MTH 2-6-0's into DB colors and replace the pilot.You'll be close to the prototype and Junior Samples will be proud.

Lee,

   I always liked the German RR black engines with red under frames and wheels when I was collecting Marklin 3 Rail HO. However I don't have any plans of purchasing any MTH engines (1/43) that are not 1/48 scale. I have heard people say well European engines are smaller so they look OK with 1/48 American style engines but my feeling is if they are not 1/48 they are not scale.

   They do look nice and I hope the Germans buy a lot of product from MTH.

JohnB

Pat, or anyone,

What is the difference between the Era IIIb and Era IV models.

Thanks,

The DB changed the classification numbering system from 44 to 044 and a few other minor cosmetic changes.There are also slight differences within the class depending on the builder and there were several. 

Thanks Boomer.  That helps me in my search.

That is one beautiful engine.

Rod

romiller

	$1,289.99	MTH 20-3529-1 BR 44 Era IIIb Steam Engine w/Proto-Sound 3.0 (Hi-Rail Wheels) DB http://www.patstrains.com/View...Details=View+Details	Stock Number: 20-3529-1 Gauge: O/O-27 Gauge Manufacturer: MTH Premier Product Type: Locomotives Availability: In Stock

 

I believe you have the chuff rate set incorrectly in the video you posted. Something sure didn't look and sound right for a 3-cylinder steam locomotive.

Maybe.  I assumed so, but I didn't buy if that and it would have been nice if they had provided instructions. 

Oh, I won't change the class #.  But the road number I will change to BR549.  Maybe it was just the way Junior Samples said it, but it was funny as the dickens  . . . 

During my days as a Sr System Analyst....BR549 was our 'inside' code for.......a computer problem caused by a person......but we called it something else. 

Yes.....still funny to me too....

Just when I had put my Euro-madness behind me; I have the Chapelon Pacific, wanted the beautiful SNCF 4-8-2 (2-4-1), but resisted, and was intending to buy the DB 2-10-0 in plain gray, but just lost interest. It's novel, but, it's...irrelevant. Seeing yours, my desire is

somewhat re-kindled for the gray version. The red? No. (I do like the SAR Red Devil

4-8-4, strangely enough.)

But, I'll still pass, I guess. But your loco is very appealing. 

Neolube to the rescue.  the perfect paint for this because:

- It covers and makes it nearly black, metallic.

- It lubricates

- It conducts electricity

 I put it on rollers at a level that was easy to work on and set the wheels to motion to paint them.  Rotated the unpowered ones by hand, etc.  Then, since it was easy to work on here, just left it while I painted everything else.  

Here is the loco after one coat of Neolube over all the red.  It shows signs of needing a second coat.

Here is the tender after three coats, one hour dry time between each.  Looks great.  I will do more on the loco tomorrow.  This side took about an hour.  Have not yet done the other side.  Will probably use half a bottle on it. 

I have to admit it.....it looks more 'real world' as if it was in use for a year or two......and like most you see in movies. 

Still....you got more guts than I!

So, what happened to the prototypically CORRECT red running gear?

Not Lee......but since he is lettering it for his own US based RR....paint is the last worry!!!!

Exactly.  These are toys!!  I'm having fun with mine, that is for sure.  I'm going to remove the elephant ears, too.  I think it will look more "decapod-ish," and industrial.  it is a cool loco.  the more I work on it, the more I like it.

Completed!  Elephant ears removed.  Neolube (three coats) over all the red.  Relabeled it as of the CCB&GC railway.

And absolutely wonderful it is.  This is just exactly what I wanted, a big, brawny decapod, a working locomotive, not a highly painted glamour queen.  This is a spectacular toy locomotive, highly detailed, excellent runner, good and interesting chuffing sound, awesome whistle.  It cost a lot, and it took four hours to make the changes, but it is all worth it.  Just splendid! 

Here are short videos.  Running forward at about a scale 20 mph.

Reversing at about scale 15 mph.

Stationary: I noticed how fine - how much better than many others - the firebox glow flickering is on this loco.  I tried to get that with this third video below.  It varies from full to half intensity, never going out entirely like some, and when it flares up it lights up the whole cabin, and when it dims the cabin goes dark.  That is cool!

Lee,

I think that is the best looking locomotive you own, except maybe for the ATSF Hudson and it is perfect for your layout radius.

Ron

Your a better man than I am Gunga Din. I could never make those changes to a new engine, but there again I don't have 1/3 the talent that you do. It looks great Lee.

Well I had my doubts when you mentioned about painting it all black. But looking at end results, and giving you credit for stepping outside the barriers, excellent. Love it, and can see were it would fit in, even in my layout and roster.

Great job Lee.

All that matters is that Lee likes it, nothing else matters.

Just wish I could afford the engine the way it was built.

i think it really looks cool, nice job Lee. 

Beautiful! Nice job Lee.

  I had never heard of it, but I started trying to research it some because 1) I love dry lubes, but graphite is a mess. 2) I use 3 times as much black as anything, and like a graphite look 3) electrically conductive "paint"

 I tried, but it didn't seem like info on it was easy to find.

How many coats did you apply with Neo lube? Right over the red?

Any idea what the difference is between neo #1 & #2?

I assume it doesn't turn your hands grey handling it dry.

Do other paints/decals adhere to it?  

Re the whistle, many German locos had a deeper sounding whistle than French or British locos.