PIKO BR218
- Thread starter duncan1_9_8_4
- Start date
Well we had our repaired locomotive back in traffic on the CFR. It ran without problem. Many thanks to Jeremy at Dragon G Scale for the replacement motor blocks. Very prompt service.
I will post some pictures when I have worked out how.
I will post some pictures when I have worked out how.
I so looked forward to the release of these, but when they were released I was horrified. Cheap and nasty with very poor detail and cheap rubbishy motors. A slight improvement over their ridiculously proportioned Taurus, I put my money back in my pocket and put it towards a cheese and tomato sandwich instead. I wouldn't buy one but they will sell well just because they are cheap. You get what you pay for.
A friend bought two. Problems with one and so he sold them both on. I didn't buy any because they are not up to my standard of model. Why would I need to buy one to condem the poor shape? Piko haven't even tried to make a model, this is a toy in the same vein as the Triang Big Train Hymek, except the Hymek was far more accurate in shape. Is this another case of if I don't post an opinion to agree with everyone else I get sniped at? I don't like it, my friends don't like it. What's the problem?
I waited for ages for this model to be released and even bought two on pre-order. When my friends 218 arrived I looked at it and promptly cancelled both of them. That was before I even knew they were cheaply motored. The original question was "Are they just a blob of plastic?" Well my answer is a definite "YES".
Well, each to his own. I've seen several of these Piko models now and every one has worked just fine while I've been around. The paint schemes certainly can affect the "plasticness" or otherwise of the model, I'd agree. Mind you, there are several intriguing kitbashes of the model around too, doubtless encouraged by them not costing an arm and a leg.
Cheap certainly. Nasty? Not to my mind.
Cheap certainly. Nasty? Not to my mind.
I have a 218, it runs super, and pulls plenty, A lot of loco, and i picked it up on sale in a Gscale promotion for £149.99. It is one of the best buys i've had.
No I was not keen on the colours I think the type of paint used does look a little plastic They look fab with a bit of weathering, but then again I don't really model continental european, so for the price I paid I gave it a paint job. Some people may say I ruined a good model, to my eye it looks better, and it'll be my eye watching it go around my garden.
No I was not keen on the colours I think the type of paint used does look a little plastic They look fab with a bit of weathering, but then again I don't really model continental european, so for the price I paid I gave it a paint job. Some people may say I ruined a good model, to my eye it looks better, and it'll be my eye watching it go around my garden.
Casey's weathered yeller example above is one of the best looking diesels I've seen in G scale. I'm not one for accuracy, being a big fan of "if it looks right", and it does to me.
I'm not about to go out and buy one, mostly 'cos it doesn't go "chuff", but it seems a good loco for the money to me...
I'm not about to go out and buy one, mostly 'cos it doesn't go "chuff", but it seems a good loco for the money to me...
Vasim, I'm sorry that you feel sniped at. Everyone is entitled to an opinion and if it is not the same as yours then thats unfortunate.
I feel that the 218 is good value for the money. The motors are good, the electrics simple and effective, plastic used very good. General paint schemes are good as well.
The turquise and cream locomotive ran on track 1 of the CFR from 8am until 5pm nonstop on Sunday. In sunshine and heavy rain it ran faultlessly.
My locomotives have to perform in front of the public. I want and only use reliable locomotives. These 218's match that standard.
Like Matt, they're not really my cup of tea, but those weathered ones on the CFR look great (especially with the weathered Cargo wagons) and Dave Hub's re-paint is excellent too. As Peter says, the low price encourages people to have a go at re-painting and/ or weathering without having to worry about having blown a year's rent on buying a model.
Calm down Vanessa, it's just healthy debate, don't take it personally.
Calm down Vanessa, it's just healthy debate, don't take it personally.
One thing you do have to be careful of with these locos is the clearance required to run them. Bigjack once bought an LGB V200 and a Piko 218 to run on the WGLR (yes, they both looked silly on such a small railway 
), but the surprising thing was that whilst the bigger V200 could get round, the 218 couldn't. It ran smack into one of the legs for the deck.
), but the surprising thing was that whilst the bigger V200 could get round, the 218 couldn't. It ran smack into one of the legs for the deck.
I have to agree with Dave here. His loco pulled a darn site more up Whatlep's gradients than my LGB 2091 which cost me a fair bit more than £149.99 2nd hand.Dave Hub said:
The BR repaint looked the dogs bits too. Seriously thinking about getting a 218 for a two-tone green make-over since seeing Dave's.
"His loco pulled a darn site more up Whatlep's gradients than my LGB 2091...."
The real 2091 locos were apparently notoriously underpowered, so I guess LGB are just being realistic.....
The real 2091 locos were apparently notoriously underpowered, so I guess LGB are just being realistic.....
Zerogee said:"His loco pulled a darn site more up Whatlep's gradients than my LGB 2091...."
The real 2091 locos were apparently notoriously underpowered, so I guess LGB are just being realistic.....
Indeed the real thing was notoriously underpowered. Oddly enough when mine started to slip on Whatlep's rails we all said the same thing "That's prototypical".
Dave's 218 though, it pulled like er....... well like a train
3Valve said:Indeed the real thing was notoriously underpowered. Oddly enough when mine started to slip on Whatlep's rails we all said the same thing "That's prototypical".
Yes, I can confirm we did say that after all except one of us had stopped chuckling.....
