Hobby Search has open stock on the first model of the D51 with streamlined casing available to order now. Price is about 110. US including EMS postage for delivery in about 7 days from Japan. SAL is an option for about half that price and delivery could take as much as a month but 2 weeks is not unheard of. I still have no word on when the next version of this engine will appear or which one it will be. You will fine it listed on the second page of the section titled "Other (Z") from the left hand side bar under model trains near the bottom. This particular version is the last entry of seven or so for the various versions of this loco which are split between page 1 and two. So far this version is the only one to be have been released and several people who choose this version during the reservations stage have already received their orders in the USA. I am not going to post a link so those who are interested will have to dig a bit. You can start here at http://www.1999.co.jp/eng. I have used this store for more than 10 years so far with no problems. good luck Garth
How relative is their statement "Cannot run through a Marklin curve point due to partial difference in scale size."
Relative to what? The statement does not appear to make sense to me as it is dealing with two independent factors. Here is the technical data on the D51 Japanese Mikado. This D51 model will negotiate R195mm curves on 6.5mm track. The engine is 1:220 in scale size. If it were totally acurate to the prototype it should be running 5mm track or 42 inch gauge so the engine will appear to be a bit smaller than it's Marklin counterparts. The drivers are 52 inch in height over the tires, not counting the flange. It is physically shorter than the North American Mikado from Marklin and not quite as tall.
Sorry. I should have asked, (relative) will it fall off the Marklin curve? Or, is it ir-relative, since it will stay on the Marklin track?
The D51 is designed to run on Z scale or 6.5mm track. Does the Marklin track you refer to fit this description? Marklin makes more than one gauge of track. The manufacturer tested these engines on z-scale or 6.5mm roadbed track available in Japan which is similar to Micro Trains Z Roadbed Track but there are no switches in that track system yet. I doubt there would be problem with any Z-scale track or 6.5mm track system. The only place where there might be problem is with the switches depending on the flange dimensions and the back to back measurement of the wheels. Since I have Wright and Micro Trains and hand laid turnouts I will be able to comment on those shortly but I have no Marklin switches so would not be able to comment on their performance.
I think they are saying that it won't work with Marklin curved turnouts. I have run mine on both MT and Marklin starter ovals with no issues. I haven't tried turnouts yet, either. Dan S.
The only possible issue is the heights of flanges. As we know, the Marklin turnouts have no frogs, and on the frog looking portion of turnouts the locomotives (and cars) are actually running on their flanges. There is some chance for strange "climbing" actions. Lajos
One question, would a shell made for the Marklin mikado work on the new chassis? If so might be a good start for a Nn3 Mike thanks rich
I think a shell could be useful, but only for an 0-8-0, not a mikado, because the drivers are 52", like the size of the USRA 0-8-0. It is a very small loco... and very beautiful too! I"m not sure about drivers for Nn3, those would be something like 38" drivers in N?
Received my first D51 this afternoon. Man what a sweat engine smooth and I had it pulling 20 MTL cars with a mix of metal and plastic wheels on my layout which has grades of 1% to 1.5% and it was smooth operator. The coupler conversion to the knuckle type supplied was quick and easy and the only part you have to add is the loco number and you have 4 numbers to choose from. The knuckle coupler works with MTL couplers but best with Bowser bucklers. It looks very similar to the AZL knuckle coupler. Starting voltage with DC only was at just over a volt and using a PWM throttle it is hard to see it start.
I am still eagerly waiting for mine you folks should post some videos of it running..... Do you how much current it draws?, running and stalled. Kim
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Got my one today. First thing I did was took it apart. Looks like the engine and the tender pick up power. But no room for even a Z-2 in the tender. That is where the motor is with a coupling to the engine. Pictures to follow.
In pieces: The tender: Even diagonally the Z-2 won't fit in the back poctet. The engine: The weight is needed for traction. The motor in the tender with the feed through the copper traces. any ideas for DCC?
How about grinding out the tender under the coal load and the bottom surface of the coal load? Borderline, but maybe. Dan S.
Since the motor is in the tender where a decoder would usually go, why not put the decoder in the cab where the motor usually is?
