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I am looking at a vintage Fleischmann metal diecast "co-co" on E-Bay that is somewhat similar to an EP-5 ... Has anyone had any experience with Fleischmann Loco's ?? Do they make a quality engine ? How would you rate them , and how are the details and pulling power ? Thanks , Bryan.
Posts: 40 | From: Stafford Springs , CT. , USA | Registered: Dec 2002
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Fleischmann was a model manufacturor of predominatly european equipment. Talking to some old heads in my club, what they did offer for American prototypes was crap, and they suggest that they be ovoided like the plauge. I personally have no experience with this brand. They still may be in business but they havn't offered American prototypes in about 15 years.
Posts: 315 | From: Lander,WY USA | Registered: Jan 2002
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Thanks , Challenger !!! I WILL avoid these !!! This site is SO helpful , and it looks like it will help me avoid some COSTLY newbie mistakes , and help me get off on the right foot in my new found hobby ! The last thing I want to do is make TOO many early mistakes , and get frustrated with this hobby !!! As far as questions go , I found that finding a GOOD forum ( such as this ) is INVALUABLE when starting off !! I inherited a boat last year that needed a LOT of work , and I found a GOOD forum to help me with that ! They said they NEVER seen anyone ask so many questions , but they also said that it was GOOD that I asked BEFORE making COSTLY mistakes !! Thanks to them , my boat is running great now ! I am NOW convinced that if you have access to a computer , a good forum SHOULD be used whenever possible !! Again , as always , thanks for you help ! Bryan.
Posts: 40 | From: Stafford Springs , CT. , USA | Registered: Dec 2002
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Thats whats nice about the internet. It can connect a person with another person that has the information the first person needs to know, very quickly. Gone are the days when you would have to comb the pages of magazines to find your answers. Now the people with information you need are just a mouse click or two away. Welcome to Model Railroading.
Posts: 315 | From: Lander,WY USA | Registered: Jan 2002
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Hey Challenger .. You told me to steer clear of Flieschmann , and I did !! THAT EP-5 was going for about $125 a few days ago , and it's up to $450 now !!! The scary part is that this auction still has about 2-1/2 days to go... I'm curious how much this thing is going to fetch ( not that I would ever buy one after talking to you , and at THAT price to boot !!!! ) .. Geez , for this price ( or by the time it's over ) , someone should be looking at overland brass for an EP-5 , correct ? BTW , how is overland brass' quality as far as motor , drive ( and I would assume the detail , would be second to none in brass ) ?? I found a "lightly used" overland brass EP-5 that is unpainted for $295 ... Is that a decent price ? If I picked it up , I would have to get on you list to customize it in NH colors , of course !!
Posts: 40 | From: Stafford Springs , CT. , USA | Registered: Dec 2002
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Overland is top rate. You should not have any problems with Overland. The performance and detail is equal to that of Proto-2000. If you can get one for $295 slightly used I would jump on it. The thing originally sold at around $1500.00. The thing with brass is that specific runs usually have a production of less than 500 and the collectors usually ante up the price before the modelers can get them. Talking with what us young guys affectionatly call the "Old Heads" in our club, brass locomotives were the proto 2000 of the 50s 60s and 70s. Then prices were reasonable, and models faily easy to come by. Now Brass is almost a trading commodity for train collectors and the prices are obscene in my opinion. Some particularly off stuff, like your EP-5 or MILW SDL39s are still the domain of the Brass makers due to their limited market. However, at todays prices one really has to consider how badly one really wants to pay for such a one off locomotive. So in my opinion $295 is a bargain.
One more point I would like to make about brass. The detailing on todays plastic models has gotten so good that every modeler I know that has painted brass models, complains that they cant tell the difference. So like I said. The only practicle brass for modelers today are for those unique one off locomotives. Then you have to decide if its worth the money to get them.
To PullmanCo,
Like I said, I have no actual experience with flieschmann products. The only information I know comes from the older members of our club who remember tehm when they were making american prototype equipment.
Posts: 315 | From: Lander,WY USA | Registered: Jan 2002
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Down here in Germany, Fleischmann is one of the three big players offering european railroad-models (Roco and Märklin/Trix are the other two).
Roco and Märklin/Trix are sharing place 1 for some years now.
If you compare european models with those of american manufacturers, you'll probably note some differences: (1) Locos regularly come with only one flywheel (even if there's enough room for two flywheels - see the Trix Big Boy) (2) Most Locos have traction tires mounted, which lead to excellent pulling power - the trade-off are problems picking up current
So this is, what led me to U.S. modelrailroading! The only european models I own are (don't laugh): - Big Boy from Trix - N&W Y3 from Roco/LifeLike
One more information: The description "CoCo" refers to a non-steam loco with 6 axles - now guess what "BoBo" stands for... ;-)
So Challenger is right, when he refers to this forum to be a wonderful way to stay in contact with people who share the same hobby - al around the globus!
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