Upcoming PIKO 37222 BR 24

For a $100 more you can have a MTH 1:32 scale SP GS4 4-8-4 that uses all metal gears, stainless steel axles, real smoke, sound & can be operated via DCS, DCC, AC or DC track power. 

Casey Jones2 posted:

For a $100 more you can have a MTH 1:32 scale SP GS4 4-8-4 that uses all metal gears, stainless steel axles, real smoke, sound & can be operated via DCS, DCC, AC or DC track power. 

But it is still a large lump of plastic; for a decent GS4 I went for the Aster:

Regards

Fred

Casey Jones2 posted:

For a $100 more you can have a MTH 1:32 scale SP GS4 4-8-4 that uses all metal gears, stainless steel axles, real smoke, sound & can be operated via DCS, DCC, AC or DC track power. 

Assuming one wants a GS4 and not a BR 54...

Rusty

RUSTY: THANK YOU! FRED: I once met the late, extravagant Rick Runyon at the great Diamondhead, MS meet in 1996 and then again in 1997. Rick was famous for running his TWO Aster GS4's at HIGH speed on one of the elevated tracks in the lobby of the then Day's Inn! I feared those exquisite locos would leave the rails at any moment, but it never happened in spite of my and the rest of the observer's fears! Mr. Runyon was famous as the designer of the iconic FedEx logo. He was an accomplished pilot and owned his own twin prop King Air plane, but was known as a careless and risk taking pilot, akin to his reckless running of those two GS4's! He bragged about having a dented propeller on his visit to Diamondhead in 1997, and that he had hit some kind of large bird, yet he was planning on flying back to California without a repair! Alas, Rick and his secretary, on another later flight, crashed and burned after having failed to remove some wing flap pins (NTSB report) before takeoff! A tragic, but not unexpected end, to a really engaging, extravagant and interesting live steamer. Whenever I hear about an Aster GS4, I always think about Rick! RIP, my friend!

BTW FRED, I am looking forward to my PIKO BR 24 "lump of plastic" to join the other complement of my LGB "lumps of plastic"! I only presently have two interests at this point in my 76th revolution around our Sun: Lionel and MTH standard gauge and my THIRD iteration into my beloved original Lehmann LGB! I do, however, miss my two LGB/Aster Frank S locos! CHEERS!

One of my favorite live steam locos was my Roundhouse Engineering RC controlled SR&RL #24. It had a full complement of great and useful features such as a water sight glass, blow down valve, displacement lubricator, hand water pump in rhe tender, and dual micro servos for throttle and forward/reverse control. Easy to fire, and a great runner. 1:22.5 scale. Made in Doncaster, UK.

FRED: Thought you might like my GS4 account from Diamondhead, MS, 1996-97.

Honestly, NO PIKO fans here?! My limited experience with their products has been VERY positive, and the German quality is quite evident! I will give a full report on my forthcoming BR 24 after it arrives next month!

Of course, my good friend Fred is NOT a "plastic lump" guy, but rather a METAL fan, and that is OK, since I am also a big time MTH and Lionel standard gauge fan!  I have had my share of METAL live steam and even once owned the famous LCT BRUTE and its HUGE Showroom Car consist, so I can appreciate METAL trains. But I also love LGB, and have been a fan since 1978. To each his/her own. ☺

FYI: There has been conflicting information on a couple of PIKO  vendor sites regarding the length of the forthcoming PIKO 37222 BR 24 loco. Today, I called PIKO in San Diego, CA, and confirmed that the length listed in the catalog,  677mm, is THE correct length of this engine. This converts to about 26 1/2 inches! And it is 1:26 scale.

Tinplate Art posted:

Of course, my good friend Fred is NOT a "plastic lump" guy, but rather a METAL fan, and that is OK, since I am also a big time MTH and Lionel standard gauge fan!  I have had my share of METAL live steam and even once owned the famous LCT BRUTE and its HUGE Showroom Car consist, so I can appreciate METAL trains. But I also love LGB, and have been a fan since 1978. To each his/her own. ☺

I do like and have lots of plastic trains, also by PIKO like this H0 gauge Baureihe 01.5:

It is a matter of taste, but the PIKO G stuff I just do not like; maybe it is the wrong gauge/scale combination, but they just do not look right to me. I assume they run good and are well made, so I hope you enjoy. It would be very dull when we all liked the same trains 

Regards

Fred

NICE HO MODEL!  ☺

I agree the gauge/scale discrepency with both LGB and PIKO can be off-putting at times. But, like most things in life, compromise is sometimes inevitable and appropriate.  ☺

I recently watched several U Tube videos of the forthcoming BR 24 and one showed the smoke output, while another with the installed sound decoder for digital operation. The boiler piping and other details are well done, and this engine is a smooth runner. I, of course, will be operating mine with my DC lab quality 3 amp power supply in conjunction with a PIKO 5 amp analog throttle for relatively ripple free output. The one thing I especially like about my 3 amp power supply is that the cooling fan does not run constantly like some power packs, but only if the current draw exceeds a certain level, which to date, has not happened at a 1.20 amp draw for my LGB 2085 mallet with two motors, four lights and a smoke unit pulling four passenger cars.

FYI: According to Dan at PIKO in San Diego, the BR 24's will be shipping the third week of May. 

Anyone else have one on order?

CONFIRMED SHIPPING UPDATE for the PIKO 37222 BR 24 at my dealer in the USA: AUGUST.  ::SIGH::

Over here it is available?

https://zevenspoor.nl/assortim...ampflok-br-24-dr-iii

Regards

Fred

Yes, Europe first and USA last, and that is appropriate since PIKO is a German concern. But my impatience persists!  I have viewed at least one PIKO demo video in German and also a BR 24 prototype video on u tube. Also, the difference between the Euro price and the USD is about $127 (higher here!). Mine was ordered on the basis of a trade of some merchandise with my dealer and not cash.

Found out at least four of this class still exist.

I would assume ar least one is in Germany?

Three in Germany, one in Poland (and one in my garden: )

Regards

Fred

Fred, your garden layout is fantastic and I havevwatched many of your videos. I also have the Lenz BR24 and the 64, both excellent engines, exactly what I woukd expect from Lenz. Maybe you have seem my layout Georgenstadt in other threads here on the forum.

I also have one of the previous production runs of the Piko BR24, very nice engine, could not resist.

And yes, I have a very wonderful and understanding wife.

Miketg

FRED: VERY NICE Lenz BR 24! I assume metal construction? THANKS for sharing, and also for the locations of the prototypes.

Tinplate Art posted:

 I assume metal construction? 

All Lenz locomotives are: Mischbauweise Metall/Kunststoff (Mixed construction metal / plastic).

Regards

Fred

Interesting, and THANKS!

One other observation about the NEW version of the PIKO BR 24 is the smoke deflectors are LARGER than those on the previous model, whose deflectors are truncated. I prefer the full ones myself.