Rokuhan: Glass train in short form

Rokuhan has taken the DB's class 491 as a model and realised the "Glass Train" in two versions. The choice fell on the Olympic blue design of the seventies (art. no. ST015-1) and the subsequent paint scheme with gentian blue as the basic colour (ST015-2), with which the prototype finally met with disaster. The extreme shortening of the shortys, which are very popular with Japanese model railroaders because of the smallest possible space requirement, suits this model much better than many other vehicles.

The effort that the manufacturer has made this time is striking: The housings have been moulded in crystal-clear plastic and allow a clear view, interrupted only by the chassis, which can again be exchanged for a motorised version. But what we find most impressive are the movable pantographs, which have been completely redesigned. According to the prototype, both models have one single-arm and one scissor-type pantograph. The single-arm pantograph has been shortened compared to the 181.2 series, i.e. it has not been taken over from it. The scissor pantograph is clearly smaller than those from Märklin and also shows the typical diagonal struts in the top scissor, which Märklin's parts lack. The collector shoe, which stands out somewhat dominantly, is about the same size as the one on Märklin's counterpart.

This suggests that Rokuhan has here become the first Gauge Z manufacturer to create a scale scissor pantograph DBS 54! With a finer collector shoe and a carrier that fits on the roofs of Märklin models, it could become the perfect exchange part to bring the electric locomotive models of the German market leader closer to the great prototype in the roof area after almost 50 years.