(4158 reproduction)
With this brief reissue, Marklin has answered a few questions that have probably occurred to any model steam enthusiast - what if one of the old Nuremburg masterpieces were put back into production? How would it compare with the original? What would it cost?
It compares quite nicely. The only real changes I can find are a powder coat on the boiler instead of the oxydised finish of the original, the omission of a dynamo, and if one wants to be really picky, the steam feed lines are not nickel plated as they were on the original. On a positive note, Marklin has seen fit to put a porcelin finish on the boiler base, something the older models did not have. Also interesting to note that the plated trim parts, such as the end caps on the smokestack, are cast metal on this reproduction, where they would have been spun brass on the original. Metal spinning is a somewhat labor intensive process, which is probably why it wasn't used.
What would it cost? 999 euros, or in the bruised dollar days, around $USD1,250.00. Not too bad considering that a mint condition original would probably sell in the 3 to 5 thousand dollar range, and badly damaged examples routinely bring $1,000.00 If one carries this to the logical extreme, this would put the midlevel overtype engines in the $500-600 range, or about what an original sells for today. So take heart, collectors - these old engines are still in the 'value for money' range.
Firing notes: The dual vaporising burner lights off nicely, although it doesn't produce the huge fingers of flame that a Doll or Falk burner will. Give it about five minutes to heat up. Pressure gauge actually works. It clacks and clunks a bit when running, but really cranks on the speed. The whistle is LOUD, and really lets out a plume of steam, so much so that the handle is a bit too close to the escaping steam. Your fingers will get a bit toasty working the whistle. Feed pump works as advertised - set to the center position, and it empties the feed tray fairly quickly. At first I thought the burner ran dry far too quickly, but then checked the time and realized that fifteen minutes had passed far too quickly.
Overall, the quality of the model is more than up to Marklin's usual standards. Tight, and nary a scratch or flaw anywhere.
Some of the nicer touches... the same black paint with gold pinstripes as found on the 1930's models. An exact reproduction of the old Marklin pressure valve. Gray porecealin with white specks on the boiler base.
After firing a few times, it isn't getting any quieter, but I also found it powers a pair of Jensen 1.5v generators quite nicely. A fairly powerful engine for it's size.
And for once, I have the original box for this model.
