Current slide {CURRENT_SLIDE} of {TOTAL_SLIDES}- Best Selling in Locomotives
We all would like the thought of modeling our own local scene, unfortunately for us based outside the continent, the US, the UK, Japanese N, there's almost no Avenue for rtr rolling stock, especially at reasonable cost. Frateschi has addressed this to a certain extent, with qualifiers. This particular loco is of course the export EMD G12, first entered New Zealand service in 1955, eventually becoming the most prolific class of locomotive. THE MODEL: Although a model of a G12, it passes fine for an NZR Da, especially for the price. Paint finish is generally good, small areas of overspray are noticeable with looking. it can bother some, but if you're modeling the NZR you're going to be painting everything yourself, so the finish is likely better than anything I can do. That said the paint is nicely even, with a very nice flat/ a satin finish. It's a solid plastic body, no see thru grills or separately applied grab rails, it's definitely a few decades old this molding, and it shows it. The body detail it does have however is very well done. Body doors, louvres etc all nicely pronounced, not too heavy but distinct. The handrails are of a very flexible plastic, could be considered a bit chunky, but I've seen worse. They won't break, but are easy to get out of shape with handling. The flipside is that they're just as easy to get back into shape, and they surprisingly stay there. Striping captures the prototype very well, evenly and centered, there is a slight misregister on my example, but noticeable only if inspected, the overall impression looks excellent. The chassis is plastic, with weights in the fuel tank, and in the body ends. One could add extra weight, but it's perfectly adequate as it comes. The look of the bogies ("trucks") has been captured well, although too short for the NZR prototype, side details have good depth, however the brake blocks are not in line with the wheels. 12 wheel drive and pick up with blackened wheels. Flange depth okay, and tread quite wide. No problems at all on code 83 track (nominally correct size for the narrow gauge mainline track that the prototype operated on). Body sits low on the bogies which really enhances the aesthetic. Glaringly obvious and by far the worst aspect is the really awful bogie mounted couplers and the awful pilot gaps to accommodate this. I'd like to say I can live with this, but I can't. This is the one truly elephant in the room. If you're after a perfectly adequate NZR diesel to use on a switching layout or as a far better alternative than repainting an SD9, you can't go wrong. This actually looks like a Da. If however you have your $800 - $900 J's and K's, all superbly constructed and professionally painted, this will likely disappoint, being obviously a mass produced model, made for the RTR market. It'll fit in brilliantly with the NZR 3D printed models available. I genuinely am really pleased I got this loco, brings back lots of memories of trainspotting when I was young. Maybe that's all I really need from a model :)Read full review
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: New