PIKO HO CFL Loco MRN1012.pdf - PIKO America

Modern Multi-
Use, Multi-
Country
European
Prototype Diesel
Piko Expert’s HO-scale G 1206 Diesel
The prototype is a modern European multi-purpose
locomotive with more than 180 examples in service in
a variety of countries. The model is from Piko’s Expert
line, which is the company’s middle level of products.
Review and Photos by John Menges
Piko Expert
G 1206 Diesel Locomotive CFL Cargo
Red
#59493 2-rail DC, MSRP: $139.99
#59293 3-rail AC, MSRP: $175.99
#56192 Sound Module for G 1206,
MSRP: $134.99
Piko America
4610 Alvarado Canyon Road, Suite 5
San Diego, CA 92120
619-280-2800 • Fax: 619-280-2843
www.piko-america.com
PIkO’S model of the MaK
(Maschinenbau Kiel)/Vossloh G
1206 brings to market a model
of a modern prototype that is finding
many users on European rails. There
are so many users that the locomotive
is now operating in nine different
countries, including Germany, Holland,
France, and Luxemburg. Luxemburg
is the country where the prototype
for this Piko release operates. The G
1206 is most commonly found working
for industrial railroads, motive
power leasing companies, and private
train operators that use national rail
system’s tracks. Model Railroad News’
sample model is lettered for CFL Cargo
(Chemins de Fer Luxembourgeois
Cargo), which is Luxemburg Railroads’
freight division.
The MaK/Vosslosh G 1206 and
variants came about in 1997 as a direct
successor of the MaK G 1205, which
was a switcher
geared for
slower speeds
on privately
held industrial
railroads. In
the mid-1990s,
many European national railroad networks
opened up access to their tracks
to private freight train operators, and
those private operators needed locomotives
capable of both heavy industrial
switching, as well as higher-speed
mainline movement. Many of these
private train companies operate on both
electrified and non-electrified lines, so
diesel locomotives are a natural choice
for service.
As of 2012, nearly 180 G 1206s have
been produced; those units being “pure”
G 1206s, plus variants: G1206–2s and
an SNCF-specific version denominated
BB-461000
class. Caterpillar
engines power
most of these
locomotives, with
MTU engines
powering the
rest. The G 1206s rate a maximum of
1,230 to 2,100 hp and top speeds of
37 or 62 mph, depending on transmission
type. The first units were built for
RuhrKohle AG of Germany. Our red
The Piko G 1206 locomotive
will be a welcome addition to
your European collection for
it ruggedness, good detail,
and reasonable price.
The red CFL Cargo version of the G 1206 presented in this review is one of
three schemes applied for this service. The other CFL Cargo paint jobs are
blue and white and black. CFL is the Luxemburg’s railroad freight division.
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October 2012 — Model Railroad News — www.ModelRailroadNews.com

CFL Cargo version represents part of
CFL Cargo’s stable of G 1206s; the rest
are painted in blue and white or gloss
black.
The HO-scale Piko G 1206 comes
to us from the company’s Expert line,
which is the intermediate category of
three levels of models Piko offers. It is
available in ten different paint schemes,
representing a variety of private and
government railroads. The models come
in either 3-Rail AC or 2-Rail DC versions
with digital decoders available for
both propulsion systems. Piko also sells
a Sound Module (#56192) sold separately
for the G 1206. For those wishing
to add sound and a decoder, the instruction
sheet gives an explanation in
English with a well-illustrated diagram
about the installation process.
The locomotive’s basic design is
similar to most HO-scale diesels offered
today by North American and
European manufacturers: a die-cast
chassis with plastic body and a centrally
mounted can motor with flywheel powering
two cardan shafts attached to gear
towers powering the axles. Of the eight
wheels, two have traction tires, one for
each truck. The circuit board/decoder
recess is mounted above the cardan
shaft on the long hood. All one needs to
do to access the internals of the model
is remove two screws from the underframe
and gently pry off the body.
The G 1206 has constant-intensity
directional LED lighting, providing
three headlights plus a pair of red tail
lights, depending on the direction of
travel. The model has NEM coupler
socket; the modeler may replace them
Piko’s HO-scale G 1206 diesel includes a center cab design. The model has a full interior that could be
completed with figures and paint detailing. The windows include frame and gasket accent details.
The model has NEM
coupler socket; the
modeler may replace
them with Kadee,
Fleischmann, Profi,
or Roco couplers. All
you do is snap out
the factory couplers
and snap in your
coupler of choice.
with Kadee, Fleischmann, Profi, or
Roco couplers. All you do is snap out
the factory couplers and snap in your
coupler of choice. I noted one discrepancy
— part of the pilot face was not
modeled on the locomotive to accommodate
the swing of the close-coupler
pockets, which are attached directly to
the trucks. It is a minor compromise
and does not stand out on an otherwise
outstanding model. The paint was
uniform across the whole carbody, and
the lettering was sharp. Piko includes a
cab interior on the G 1206 that is well
detailed, but includes a floor height
that is higher than the prototype. This
is done to accommodate the motor and
transmission located under the cab
f loor.
The sample model ran well out of
the box, but had a bit of gear or motor
The All-Scale News Monthly — Model Railroad News — October 2012 61

noise that reverberated inside the shell.
It was more noticeable in forward than
reverse. That could likely diminish over
time as the drive is broken in more from
use. Piko recommends the locomotive
be run for 25 minutes in forward and
reverse without a load to break it in
properly. Our sample capably pulled 30
modern era European freight cars on
level track with no issues.
The Piko G 1206 locomotive will be
a welcome addition to your European
collection for it ruggedness, good detail,
and reasonable price. Locomotives of
this type are usually found priced around
$200 and near $300 for digital soundequipped
units. Piko’s fine model retails
for $139.99 and is an excellent invest-
ment in your hobby. The G 1206 is a
good model for either a beginner or those
of us seasoned in the hobby.
Piko’s line includes a Sound Module for its G 1206, available separately;
the tooling for the underframe provides for sound with speaker openings.
Constructed for service originally the late
1990s for RuhrKohle AG of Germany, the G
1206 diesel come equipped with 1,230 to
2,100 hp, depending upon the assignment
selected by the operating railroads.
Delivery 1st Qtr 2013
Limited Run - 1/87th (HO) Scale
All Brass Caterpillar 5230 Mining Shovel
(4) Different
Versions Available
$1,395.00 ea.
Plus Shipping
O c CCM, Inc. Used with permission.
Prototype shown, actual model may differ.
Dan Goins
Zycon Models
Fax: 972-252-4716
Voice: 972-252-0866
Ebay Seller ID
zyconmodels
Website: www.zyconmodels.com
Email: dgoins187@aol.com
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Taking
Reserve
Orders
Through
Website
Zycon Models specializes in HO scale heavy equipment and truck
replicas and selling brass & diecast models through Ebay. If you
have railroad brass models, heavy equipment replicas or are
interested in selling an estate collection please contact me.
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October 2012 — Model Railroad News — www.ModelRailroadNews.com