Model Railroading > PIKO HO Southern Pacific KM 4000 diesel hydraulic

Will be out October 2023. 

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Hopefully they will follow up with a Rio Grande version. Maybe I should put my 3 Overland units on the back burner.

Luke

Posted from Android

With the Euro to Dollar exchange the way it is now, those are pretty good prices!

This would be interesting. Checked the PIKO website and found no mention. Looks like it may be on a German site. 
Call BZ stat !

BZ knows. :-)

The German release precedes the U.S. release -- and here's your year-end surprise, over the transoceanic transom!!

There'll be more to say, guaranteed -- but suffice to type here (and it's all I can say at present) that much effort has gone into the intention that these models are suited to U.S. tastes and operation.

How about this, eh? Who knew? (Only a few.)

Cheers!

Hopefully someone can find and post some translated details?
Someone liked the price, but I can't even interpolate that off the page. It's kinda fuzzy and hard to read.
But am interested. I have 5 of these spread acorss brass and plastic in bother versions  lol.

380 Euros for a sound version = $406 U.S. today.

AMTRUK Wrote:
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> Hopefully they will follow up with a Rio Grande
> version. Maybe I should put my 3 Overland units on
> the back burner.
>
> Luke
>

I gotta ask...you have OMI already?
Why the back burner?

CPR_4000 Wrote:
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> 380 Euros for a sound version = $406 U.S. today.

Sound version. Hmmm. Wondering how they achieved sound file for twin Maybach V16 prime mover locomotive?

N Scalers demand both version too!!!

KA7008 Wrote:
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> AMTRUK Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Hopefully they will follow up with a Rio Grande
> > version. Maybe I should put my 3 Overland units
> on
> > the back burner.
> >
> > Luke
> >
>
> I gotta ask...you have OMI already?
> Why the back burner?


Tank drive, unpainted, no decoders, and 60,000 other projects in the pipeline.

Luke

Posted from Android

KA7008 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> AMTRUK Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Hopefully they will follow up with a Rio Grande
> > version. Maybe I should put my 3 Overland units
> on
> > the back burner.
> >
> > Luke
> >
>
> I gotta ask...you have OMI already?
> Why the back burner?

JRS Overland model at Indio

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dmaffei Wrote:
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> Sound version. Hmmm. Wondering how they achieved sound file for twin Maybach V16 prime mover locomotive?

Maybe they recorded BZ's prototype in Cali? Multiply X2 and there you go!

SP 9010's one functional Maybach MD870/1 V-16 is in final rebuild process, but hasn't yet been serviceable for the full menu of run-ups needed for a sound file recording session. (Right now, the turbos are de-mounted, and it sounds uncharacteristically loud and raucous!)

PIKO Germany has access to appropriate MD motor sounds in European preservation. The sound for U.S. models is still in pre-pro stages, to my understanding.

I can report that they are drawing from the best info we have available Stateside (which is frankly exhaustive) and sourced from both U.S. and overseas contributions. :-)

~ BZ

from Google Translate...

The Role Model:
At the beginning of the 1960s, the US railroad companies D&RGW and SP needed powerful locomotives for freight traffic, including on mountain routes in the Rocky Mountains and the Sierra Nevada. After the American manufacturer EMD failed to meet the demand, the focus turned to Germany. Krauss-Maffei was just successfully building the ML 3000 diesel-hydraulic locomotives there. The hydraulic power transmission not only guaranteed the required performance, but also enabled better traction with a lower power-to-weight ratio. With a rated output of 4000 hp, the ML 4000 C'C' machines were the most powerful single-frame diesel locomotives of their time. D&RGW and SP initially ordered three machines each, which were exported to the USA in 1961. The demand at D&RGW was well above the planned performance limit, which is why the machines were sold to SP at the beginning of 1964. The locomotives were well suited to the requirements of the SP, so that in 1963 they ordered an additional 15 machines from the second series from Krauss-Maffei. The diesel locomotives remained in service with the SP until 1968.

The Model:
The new construction from PIKO represents the first three locomotives delivered to the Southern Pacific Railway and perfectly reproduces their original condition in 1:87 scale. The striking shape of the locomotive has been perfectly transferred to the model and numerous separately applied parts, flush-mounted, crystal-clear slides and fine engravings are evidence of the highest level of detail. The prototypical paintwork in gray and red as well as the razor-sharp printing round off the appearance of the model. The powerful motor, in combination with the perfectly balanced flywheel masses, ensures that the machine runs smoothly. The various light functions are designed using the latest LED technology and can be easily switched digitally using a suitable decoder. The analog models have a PluX22 digital interface for easy retrofitting. The sound versions are factory-equipped with a sound decoder and matching loudspeaker. The AC variants are equipped with RP25 wheel sets. The locomotives do not have an NEM coupling shaft.

Vielen Dank for the translation, Mr. MRL! 

I can also can shed a bit more light...

PIKO USA has been working with Piko Germany to provide extensive data on the Prototype 1961 Krauss-Maffei ML 4000 C'C' units -- three for Southern Pacific, and three for Denver & Rio Grande Western.

The first PIKO Germany release will be the as-delivered (or "Houston") versions of the Southern Pacific trio.

The U.S. release will be later, and will eventually include versions for both railroads -- SP and DRGW -- as well as multiple detailing variations specific to each railroad and these much-modified experimental prototype locomotives. The U.S. release lineup will be unique to the U.S. and will take place over time, with respect to the variations through the KM's years of operation 1961-1968.

The 1961 KM Prototype data that PIKO has been working from has been assembled over the last fifteen or so years as a side benefit of the restoration of the only surviving USA KM, the "Series" 1964 production SP 9010 in Niles Canyon, California. That group has worked with German sources directly, including retirees, family, and contemporary sources, and the amount of data uncovered over the last few years is extensive and detailed -- which means that the PIKO HO models have the opportunity to include features and details that have not been known well or modeled exactly until very recently.

Also, there are good reports about the RP25-equipped model of the Whitcomb locomotive that PIKO has most recently released in the U.S. -- that they're smooth-running and reliable, and well-detailed to U.S. expectations. Lighting in the DCC versions is also planned to include the fine points of SP and DRGW practices.

Really looking forward to these!

~ Bob Zenk (BZ)
 

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I certainly hope PIKO has retained BZ as the US sounding board for this project! 

Yes. The Bat Signal was lit. :-)

Notch16 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Vielen Dank for the translation, Mr. MRL! 
>
> I can also can shed a bit more light...
>
> PIKO USA has been working with Piko Germany to
> provide extensive data on the Prototype 1961
> Krauss-Maffei ML 4000 C'C' units -- three for
> Southern Pacific, and three for Denver & Rio
> Grande Western.
>
> The first PIKO Germany release will be the
> as-delivered (or "Houston") versions of the
> Southern Pacific trio.
>
> The U.S. release will be later, and will
> eventually include versions for both railroads --
> SP and DRGW -- as well as multiple detailing
> variations specific to each railroad and these
> much-modified experimental prototype locomotives.
> The U.S. release lineup will be unique to the U.S.
> and will take place over time, with respect to the
> variations through the KM's years of operation
> 1961-1968.
>
> The 1961 KM Prototype data that PIKO has been
> working from has been assembled over the last
> fifteen or so years as a side benefit of the
> restoration of the only surviving USA KM, the
> "Series" 1964 production SP 9010 in Niles Canyon,
> California. That group has worked with German
> sources directly, including retirees, family, and
> contemporary sources, and the amount of data
> uncovered over the last few years is extensive and
> detailed -- which means that the PIKO HO models
> have the opportunity to include features and
> details that have not been known well or modeled
> exactly until very recently.
>
> Also, there are good reports about the
> RP25-equipped model of the Whitcomb locomotive
> that PIKO has most recently released in the U.S.
> -- that they're smooth-running and reliable, and
> well-detailed to U.S. expectations. Lighting in
> the DCC versions is also planned to include the
> fine points of SP and DRGW practices.
>
> Really looking forward to these!
>
> ~ Bob Zenk (BZ)
Welcome back
>  

BZ - thanks for the info - this kind of got sprung on us - PIKO has no info on their website !
Keep the lights on !
Congratulatuions ! - I know it's going to be a great project for PIKO and you !

Happy New Year !