Howdy all, I just saw that MMI is coming out with a K-36 some time in 2012. Does any one know a little more about the release date? Im going to assume that this engine will go around the same radius as there K-27? I don't have a layout yet just been buying and buying getting ready to plan out a layout and want to make sure this big boy will make it. Thanks again guys!
I would assume so, the driver wheelbase of a K27 was 11.42', and the K28/36/36 was 12.25'...not too much of a difference.
My reservations for this model date from March 2007 and December 2007. They were supposed to become available by December 2008! Nothing has materialized whatsoever. The release date has been pushed back repeatedly. And most likely, this model will never be done, I'm afraid. So you better get some fine K-27s and C-19s from the Blackstone stable, as MMI's K-27 has had its problems running over turnouts. By the way, minimal radius for both MMI and Blackstone is 18", though BS can handle somewhat tighter ones.
I talked to MMI about this model a few days ago and they told me that not enough people have reserved them and this is why there are not being released. My MMI k-27 runs great and love it and of course so do my c-19s and k-27s from blackstone. Thanks robert for the radius info!
Mine runs great as well, but only as long as it does not have to go over turnouts. The rivets at the bottom of the tender trucks tend to cause shorts. I have since ground these down a bit, so it should be better in the future. Another problem is the lack of a functional front coupler for potential double headers and the like. And MMI only created a generic version, not taking into account the prototypical variations such as back-up lights. The low number of reservations has been an issue for both K-36 and K-28 for years. But MMI has since lost virtually all credibility in the way they handle the issue. Their basic policy was from the beginning that they tried to occupy all models with announcements. Thus trying to discourage potential competitors. But you can only do this for so long if you don't deliver at some point. It's a shame as it simply blocks some of the HOn3 progress.