Hi Sam! It’s good to see you getting an 009 model! I’ve been collecting 009 models for about 3 years now! :) It’s the only scale I work on, I like that, because I always have liked narrow gauge engines and they don’t take up too much space and money!
I have one of these with DCC & Sound with a tiny keep-alive all installed by Digitrains. It is sublime. It is very smooth and an excellent crawler. I could not be more pleased. Having said this, I had to replace the main crank pins with screws. The tiny plastic pins kept popping out.
@@Karagianisno . The talylln inspired the skarloey railway The mid sodor was inspired by the railway over the mountains called the corrish railway . Just to point it out . Your welcome ❤
You need to remember, narrow gauge was made for hills, to have the models able to climb any realistic narrow gauge grade traction tires are pretty necessary
I do love OO9 as a scale. You get to play with the size of N, but still be compatible with the plethora of OO scenery, and combining it with a OO layout can make for a very quaint setting.
Welcome to the narrow gauge club man! (BTW this quality is normal/good for narrow gauge stuff, for this price range. Metal parts, and running board? Not even for double the price!) On my my 1st layout i had a small little industrial 9mm mine railway (with the standard gauge of course) with 2 small stations, a mineshaft and a loading area at the 2nd standard gauge station for it (I used 2nd hand N gauge track and points to save money and cut out every 2nd slipper). I only had a small 0-6-0 diesel loco, 8 carts, 2 freight wagons and 3 miner's cart (passenger wagons for miners) at first. Later i got a 0-6-2 steam loco too with porper coaches, and now i have 15 narrow gauge locos and about 70 different rollingstock, - no longer have a layout do to a flooding in 2008 - (but i stopped buying them years ago, when there was a significant increase in the prices + I refuse to pay Import charges since BRexit!).
I suggest Liliput (H0e) and Bachmann (Heljan?) for lower budget, and Bemo if you are willing to spend (Tillig and Roco H0e are not bad but not for that price they ask).
*YES!!!!!! FINALLY!!!!!!!! THE WAIT IS FINALLY OVER!!!!!!!!!!* OO9 Scale is Here on Sam’s Trains!!!!!!!! I have waited, and my Patience has Paid Off. Anyways, I recommend next looking at Bachmann’s products, like the Baldwin 10-12-D, or the Quarry Hunslets, or the Penrhyn Mainline class, or the Double Fairlies.
KATO were supposed to make the Double Fairlie, too! But Bachmann beat them to the punch. At least KATO are still continuing their British 009 range by releasing Welsh Pony and Palmerston this spring.
Kato recently made a run of these in green liveries so the first batch must have done well. Doing a quick double check, Japanese vendors on eBay have both runs available brand new for $120-130... straight from Japan. Kato also has multipacks of open N scale wagons that price out similar to 2 009 wagons. They look the part enough so I run them with the engine I bought.
Oh yes definitely try a bachmann double fairlie with sound, a friend of mine has one and it's insane, decent weight, the sounds are amazing and the best I've ever heard, and the haulage power is actually crazy.
For the record, season 1 was the only season I saw in its entirety. The other DVDs my parents bought had only six or so episodes, not a complete season, and as my parents were mostly buying whichever DVD’s had wooden railway engines or rolling stock in them, the episodes I’ve seen feel fairly random.
Time for a long one! The Kato England is a compromise build as non of any of the 6 England engines looked exactly the same and were chopped about during rebuilds. As a 009 modeller we were happy to have a nearly correct design. This is why the Prince nameplate is so long, as it is also Princesses plate. Cost, when originally introduced they were £135, unit shifters were selling them for £110 so to get a sub £100 loco is good. The box quality is very questionable the first run had some really bad defects that Kato and Peco did address. It has to be said I have never had any build issues with my princess, but I picked it up from a shop and was able to give the model a good look before purchasing. I'd agree with your statements about detail but it's the nearest I will get to an entry level model. I found the best way to run my loco for shunting was to set the speed nice and low and just use the direction button, I've lost many an evening with this engine. When we found out about traction tyres there was a bit of outrage among the community, we were basically told that this is fairly standard for Japanese engines and that the Japanese equivalent to Sam'sTrains would reduce a score if a model did not have tyres fitted. On the rumour mill Kato was also working on a Fairlie loco, but abandoned it once Bachmann came out with theirs. Bachmann are throwing everything they can into their engines but because of this you do need a good supply of Kidney's to sell. One oddity is that although the standard NG coupling (you will need to refit the one on the tender) is the same height on Bachmann and Peco stock they don't like coupling together without some persuasion or removing loops from one end of your stock. One benefit for 009 Kato have released the chassis as a separate entity, there are lots of 3d print companies that are producing lots of shells to go on them. Either way I enjoyed what you have said and being honest I agree with what you say. Keep an eye out for the Bachmann USA Talyllyn as this seems an attempt to make their Skarloey model be a bit more realistic but hopefully keep it at an entry level price.
P.s. Sam I just purchased an 'Oxford rail Toad Brake Van.' BALA version, Purely from your Review..! And my God it's the Nuts. Rolls well, Detail's up the Whazoo. It does not disappoint at all. Got a Feeling a 2nd is required..! Bought it 'Pre-Owned' but it doesn't look like it was even removed from the Box. So Thank you Sam. Your advice is the Best..! 😎
Hi Sam, it's always nice to see you try out a new scale. I've been collecting 009 for a little over a year now and I think it's a very fun scale with a lot of unique prototypes and rolling stock. I've been rather impressed with the narrow gauge models from the Bachmann Thomas range, I've tried a few of them and they've all been good runners with lots of metal. It's one of those rare cases where the price is justifiable for a Thomas product
Hi Sam. The easiest way to handle installation of the old Arnold couplers is to super glue the spring to the coupler first (or use a toothpick and a tiny amount of 5-minute epoxy.) Once it’s set up, then you can insert the couplers into the little draft gear box provided. Another (possible) way is if you have locking forceps. Then hold the spring into the draft gear box with the spring over the little peg inside and hold (gently!) with the forceps. Now insert the coupling opposite the spring and make sure the peg on the back of the coupler engages the spring. HTH! 😊 🚂 They come out pretty much the opposite way as you put them in; just watch the spring or it’ll end up somewhere you’ll NEVER find it! 🤣😆 There’s also, I believe, a conversion kit that lets you put N-scale MicroTrains knuckle couplers in place of the Arnold couplers, but these are even more fiddly (don’t ask how I know.) 😊
Hey, I got the exact same engine! Unfortunately, mine had a fault at first, the gear train wasn’t meshing properly, but I sent it back and it works now. I bought mine for about 230 aud. Then a few months later, when they released some in new liveries, Amazon Australia had Princess for about 150 Australian dollars, so I grabbed one. You can still get them at that price, but it depends on your region. I should say, if you are Australian, this is the best way to go, as model shops here sell them for about 300 bucks.
Quite intriguing Sam, finally reviewing 009. Fair review, and a pity about all those issues, which is a shame since she looks very charming actually. No problems here with traction tyres though on the continent. Al Märklin/Trix models have them. The reason simply is that they hardly give any trouble and last a decade because of high quality material. As a matter of fact, Märklin/Trix have a QA room where all designed locos are being duration tested; they must be able to easily climb a ramp of 5% with a rake of wagons each loaded with 200 grams of weight. Each loco is designed to pull a prototypical load in scale but at steeper inclines than real life. Without traction tyres, you'll just not going to obtain that goal. The tyres hardly contaminate the rails and last a decade easily. But that's just the high quality material they use. Cheerio.
Nice one Sam, I was at the FR and the WHR last week, and am now a volunteer there. All our Englands are currently broken well Prince and Parmeston are out of ticket and welsh pony broke a pin in the wheel. My pfp is me on the footplate of one of our Garratts
well, I'm glad you're back up and running, Sam, I love this little narrow gauge engine. Makes me think of it running on a hot and happy sunny day in it's home railway in Wales
Glad to see some OO9 at last. I have a Small England and a Double Fairlie. I think they both have their pros and cons, especially as RTR, but I like them both. I don’t mind fiddling around with my locos, as OO9 is really a tinkerer’s gauge, but I understand why the lack of DCC is bit of a letdown.
Beautiful little loco - you took me very much by surprise when I saw the title - 009?! Yet another scale ( sort of ) - I'd love to see you review a double fairle at some point - a true Ffestiniog icon! Again, amazing loco and review sam!
The grab handles are not to bad to fit if you don't make the mistake of cutting them off the extension piece, (how would I know that I wonder 🤣) snap them of the main sprue and use the extra length to push them home then twist and they seperate. Great review, I like the loco but I agree dicast running plate and possibly dicast boiler in place of the traction tyres would be better. Thanks for looking at 009 Sam, I think a Double Fairlie, or the L&B Lyd, or an ex Penrhyn Quarry hunslet, or a change of railway to the Talyllyn with one of Bachmanns new locos. I would still love to see a T scale set running around the middle of your board. Thanks again and I'm glad your crisis was averted. God bless
Love the review! If you want to get into more OO9, the Bachmann Thomas narrow gauge engines are actually pretty good! They have dicast boilers, they have bearings on the axles, and they're pretty well detailed (for Bachmann Thomas models that is)! I'd recommend Skarloey and Peter Sam particularly :)
So glad to see you getting into 009. 00 and 009 are my two scales of choice! Prince is a fab runner on my layout and is the oldest working steam loco on its original railway! A real shame that the model isn’t DCC ready (or easy to hardwire due to the lack of space) Highly recommend the double fairlie. The tank engine version of the mainline hunslet is incredible detail wise but less good in terms of haulage and running.
Great review. My favourite OO9 locomotive is the Bachmann 2-6-2 Baldwin 10-12D. That is geared more sensibly than your Peco/Kato locomotive. It has tiny wheels but the performance is brilliant - goes round corners and up slopes better than the Heljan Baldwin or Heljan Manning Wardle - both of which are prone to derail or slip. I'm looking forward to more OO9 reviews but I appreciate that it must be challenging to keep pace with products in 5 different gauges/scales!
I got "Princess" in green for christmas. She's a fantastic little loco, runs very slowly (when needed) and smoothly and quietly, and she is one of my heaviest 009 locos (albeit the other 2 RTR 009 locos I have being the Bachmann Quarry Hunslet and the Bachmann Baldwin 10-12-D), and the traction tyres mean she can haul every item of 009 stock I have so far with ease (perhaps similar to a standard Ffestiniog passenger train). "Prince" has had loads of modifications over the years, and the model is accurate for "Princess" as current (I believe). "Palmerston" is being included along with the Large Englands "Welsh Pony", "Little Giant", and the fictional "Exmoor Pony" due to other differences, but the loco section of "Palmerston" also matches pretty well with "Princess" too. Also to note is that the Ffestiniog runs faster than you expect, up to about 25mph which is quite a lot for such a small loco. And the Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railways run on the right, not the left (perhaps unique in the UK?). Also, I think my model was the Japanese version. It had a lot of Japanese text on the box (and i think in the instructions), and it came with the N gauge couplings fitted. I switched out the rear one for the standard 009 hook and loop, but the front still has the N gauge one on it (for now). I think Mainline and early Bachmann gave split chassis designs a bad name. Enclosing the motor within is a poor choice, and the plastic of those older axles did fail, but all modern split chassis designs that I have all seem to work well, without reliability or servicability issues. I find that 009 is more expensive and generally cheaper in production than 00, I reckon because its more niche and more fiddly. I'm fine paying £125 for one of these, but £200+ for a Bachmann Mainline Hunslet is a bit much. £50+ for the Peco bowsiders is altogether overpriced, as the interiors aren't painted and they're very light (which tbh helps with light locos), but what can I do when I want a model of all 4 of them? DCC in 009 is considerably more rare than in 00, because so many 009 modellers kit build locos, kits (older style injection-moulded plastic or whitemetal or brass, or newer 3D prints) call for older chassis or kato chassis as donors which aren't DCC ready, and the small wheelbases make continuity more of an issue (same as in N).
Since this is a Kato model, you can easily find it from American, Japanese, and British sellers! So it can be easy to obtain for 009 modelers around the world! Meanwhile, Bachmann's upcoming Tallylyn model and matching coaches are currently only being localized for the US market. While Bachmann UK has a 009 range without these models being distributed by their US counterpart. Kato also sells chassis only versions for kitbashing, but the black part of the body (running board, smokebox, and firebox) is included. Those also do not include a tender.
The 1/76 00-9 is also 1/86 HOe. for which ROCO, BEMO, Tillig, Lilliput (Bachmann), Minitrains are manufacturers. You may consider that irrelevant to UK but the Welshpool railway runs Austrian Zillerbahn loco and stock which ROCO produce. 00-9 is a catch all for gauges less then 1000mm for which BEMO and Tillig produce HOm (12mm,TT gauge). The locos for the Hertz mountain are available in both HOe and HOm. There is also HOf (Z gauge) for those with good eyesight. However small packages are big money beware.
Word regarding the traction tyres. Many people have said they’re unnecessary on this model, and they’re right, the chassis for these are available separately and don’t have them equipped. I believe the reason is that many years ago, Kato released a model in N gauge of a heavy Mikado, which while being regarded as one of the best N gauge steam locos of all time wasn’t equipped with traction tyres and couldn’t pull more than a few cars. Kato had to release a spare wheel set with traction tyres (not sure if they sent them free to people who had bought the locos) and all the subsequent runs had them fitted as standard.
You might want to try the Bachmann Quarry Hunslet. Some people have problems with them but I’ve got two and they both work fine (one better than the other oddly). The detail is great and they can operate on very tight radius track. Perfect for a micro layout
Great review! The Bachmann Baldwins, Farlies, Quarry and Mainline Hunslets from Bachmann look incredible! I haven’t heard such good things about Heljan’s offerings…
This loco has an interesting past in that when the first batch were shipped many people complained that theirs had broken due to the improper packaging. Kato/ Peco offered a return of the loco in exchange for a new one with updated packaging at no extra cost to the customer. Probably one of the best moves they could've made.
Really good review, not over zealous but realistic. In my opinion model railways are ridiculously priced nowadays. If modellers got together and didn't buy stuff for six months then everything would reset to half price. I know it's supply and demand but most locos are very basic, and are essentially electric motors and a plastic "Toy" body.
As far as I understand, DCC isn't a big thing in Japan, so Kato products don't generally have DCC provision. While I appreciate the price is high, I imagine that the volume of sales will be a fraction of what Kato usually makes in N gauge.
I'd love to see more of the 00-9 gauge reviews from Peco and as for the body I think it's plastic as they use the same machinery that they do for their N-gauge and 00-9 rolling stock which is done in-houce in Beer, UK, which is impressive especially when every other manufacturer has their locos/rolling stock produced in China.
Your point about a die cast body makes a huge difference in performance. No need for traction tires. I have a few OO9 and H0e with diecast bodies in the collection. Great review, I hope to see more maybe a H0e Liliput? BEMO's H0e with their adjustable wheels to conform to different track? Maybe a Bachmann Bladwin Class 10-12-d? Or how about the Japanese Tomytec narrow gauge collection? Looking forward to your next video.
Thanks for the great review. I have the exact same one of these and am pleased with it. I honestly can't see why the grab handles were not preinstalled and why I had to. It's not that much of a problem but there can be no practical reason for having to do so. I did find if heavy handed that the top of the grab handle would break off if you weren't careful enough - my error but why did I even have to installed them. Anyway it's a good little loco and I run mine with a set of Peco Bug Boxes.
Kato, as a japanese manufacturer, focuses on the Japanese model train market, and it is a different landscape compared to the west. Model railways in Japan tend to be small scale ones you can assemble and disassemble right away in a small flat (apartment) room, and the average age is way lower than the established old demographic in the west. That is why Kato has Unitrack (modular track with ballast), small optional detail parts not pre-fitted, not DCC friendly, and generally plasticky (as many Japanese models in general do), yet pretty detailed. Japanese models can be really cheap for a full or half consist of a train, but it seems like they jack up their prices for their overseas models, and I think its because 1) they look at the market price for these in the west, and adjust for it, and 2) its more niche than their domestic counterparts, making it a bit more expensive to produce.
Since you mention 009 track, I can think of another use for it: replicating a 15in gauge system (like the Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway or the Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch) in 0 scale (1:43). This has been achieved already.
I have a few narrow guage locos now… some have die cast bodies, some don’t. And all the ones that DO have die cast are Thomas and Friends loco’s. Admittedly, I only have two other loco types to compare (small England and double fairlie) but still, I find that amusing
Hey Sam, love the review of the small England. I have Princess, and I love running her when I get the chance. For 009 locos, I might suggest the Bachmann Quarry Hunslet engines, and N Scale, I love to see you look at Dapol's Panniers. I got one in blue, and I love the little guy.
Hi Sam, have you seen Hornby's latest 8F? Have you noticed how it actually has the smoke box door from their tender-drive 1980s model, with moulded dart and lamp iron?
I have two of these. I have Princess in FR Maroon and the newer release of them as Prince in FR Green. As far as more OO9 locomotives to look at, Bachmann Branchline makes some other FR engines that would go well with Prince.
I love narrow gauge. I like On30. You get an O scale model on HO track. But even better would be this scale being almost HO scale on N scale track. Bigger models in smaller spaces.
Just to clarify for some people, N gauge is 9mm gauge track. OO.9 is OO scale running on 9mm gauge track. Represents 2ft to 2ft 6" (some people use TT gauge track 12mm gauge to represent 3ft gauge and scratch build stock).
Pretty much all if the issues raised come down to the model being a Japanese model for japan, that just happens to be a UK prototype being sold over here - it's a straight Kato model which Peco are acting as distributers for. As a Japaense model a lot of the complaints are irrelevant - absolute prototype fidelity is less important that general impression, small details needing fitting are standard, DCC isn't widely used, traction tyres are a must-have, N gauge couplings (pre-fitted to models for the Japanese market, wiith the 009 couplers in the box spare). Even the price isn't as much of an issue - being manufactured in Japan cuts out a huge chunk of shipping costs (whilst out of stock, an online listing for a Japanese website converts to below £90 without being marked as discount). Ultimately it's a model of a "kawaii" loco for the huge Japannese N market that just so happens to be suitable for UK 009, not something intended for a small portion of the smaller UK market.
RRP in Japan is only 19,800 Yen. They just love ripping westerners off, same for their other foreign models like the Class 800, Big Boy and Rhaetian Railway stuff. The domestic price is far cheaper than what is being sold in the home country of the prototype.
Nice review, my grandson has recently got one of these ready for when he starts to build his 009 layout. Which, I'm sure he'll be filming and posting updates on his Dylington Model Railway channel once he gets started on it. So keep a look out for that... Cheers James 🙂👍
I have waited a long while for you to get into OO9, it is a personal favourite scale of mine, and the new Bachmann models definitely blow this one out of the water, you should take a look at them for sure! Also the possibility to review more Thomas & Friends models which will always be good for the views! xD Thanks for the high quality content as always, Sam! Tom
bloody delighted youve started looking at 009. Ive got a 10-12-d and a fairlie from bachmann and i love them. Thanks for this video and enjoy the foray into the wonderful little 009 world. (please review the new bachmann diesels because im looking at them and want them to be good :) )
Now go and marvel at Bachmann's offerings. Try their Ffestiniog double Fairley.......with sound and freak out at the price. Heljan's L&B Manning Wardel and Baldwin locos are nice too. Peco now making a wide range of matching stock for both lines locos to haul.
Welcome to the world of N-scale and its couplers. For something really tricky try replacing a spring on a Dapol Easi-shunt coupling. With a very high proportion of OO9 modellers building loco kits on very old Farish or Arnold chassis, or using Kato or Tomix bogies there isn't that big a DCC market in this scale.
Those slate wagons look right at home on that loco and maybe with a smaller brake van as well. I think I've seen something real-life-size similar here in America, at a Museum. Some small locos did get imported to America from Europe in the early days of Steam Engines for independent short-line railroads like mining or logging or maybe something industrial. You could Kit-bash it to look more like any of the prototypes of that size loco your trying to model, I think that's why it looks like it dose.
i'd say take a look at some of the wagon peco has, ive heard its quite nice, theres also a few fun locos bachmann have made such as quarry hunslets, mainline hunslets & the Baldwin 10-12D, theres also there Double fairlie which is an interesting engine itself.
welcome to the 009 world. as for loco recommendations, well there are plenty of those that you could have a look at in the future. The Ffestiniog in particular has quite a few of it's own. Along side the small George England locos, you have of course the double fairlies, the penrhyn main locos, Linda and Blanch, which were 2 4 0 saddle tank and tender locos at present. besides the Ffestiniog recommendations, you also have the north wales quarry hunslet locomotives, the Lynton and Barnstaple Manning wordle tanks, and the baldwyn 10 12 d 4 6 0 locomotives. plus there is also rolling stock to look at including the ffestiniog slate wagons and carriages. the range is pretty varied in 009 world, and is continuing toe xpand.
An excellent review, it was nice to see something a little different and I’m looking forward to the next one. 009 is certainly a little different to everything else. The only other comment i’ve got is, I think 009 should have its own category although that does mean you’ll end up with three different charts. Keep up the good work and as I said I’m looking forward to the next one. have fun
Decent review here Sam, I have seen only one other review of one of these before and overall they do look quite nice, 009 for me is a scale I would like to try out especially as bachmann did the double fairlie locomotives that run on the Ffestiniog railway so I do have plans to try it out at some point.
I would say that Bachmann has the best OO9 models by far. I have heard the few from Heljan are, naturally, iffy--so Bachmann doesn't have that stiff of competition. The fact that Bachmann's 009 models have cab interiors actually makes them remarkable for 009/H0e. Many H0e/H0n30 locomotives just have the motor in the cab, especially those from Minitrains (which tend to be pretty cheaply made). The ones from Lilliput and Roco at least have a lot of diecast to them (and I think the Bemo and Tillig ones do too), but can be pretty expensive.
The Prince locos are £150 rrp, but they actually use the 'KATO/PECO OO-9 Locomotive Powered Chassis', which is only £65 rrp. So, £85 for the body and tender, which are plastic with mediocre detailing. It would be cool to see what you could 3d print to put on the powered chassis.
Hi Sam! It’s good to see you getting an 009 model! I’ve been collecting 009 models for about 3 years now! :)
It’s the only scale I work on, I like that, because I always have liked narrow gauge engines and they don’t take up too much space and money!
I have one of these with DCC & Sound with a tiny keep-alive all installed by Digitrains. It is sublime. It is very smooth and an excellent crawler. I could not be more pleased.
Having said this, I had to replace the main crank pins with screws. The tiny plastic pins kept popping out.
Sam needs a small OO9 line on his main layout! he can use it as the mid sodor railway in his sodor story videos!
I'm not sure what gauge was the Sodor narrow gauge railway.
@@jacekhozejowski2869same as the talyllyn, 3ft 6in and a thumb
Deffo that would be great 👍
@@jacekhozejowski2869 Same as the Talyllyn, it literally all just based on the Talyllyn.
@@Karagianisno .
The talylln inspired the skarloey railway
The mid sodor was inspired by the railway over the mountains called the corrish railway .
Just to point it out . Your welcome ❤
As Duke would say "Those traction tires would never suit his grace."
Other than that the loco looks quite nice, and that livery is spot on.
You need to remember, narrow gauge was made for hills, to have the models able to climb any realistic narrow gauge grade traction tires are pretty necessary
That's pretty cringe of you to say.
I do love OO9 as a scale. You get to play with the size of N, but still be compatible with the plethora of OO scenery, and combining it with a OO layout can make for a very quaint setting.
And of course, the world of HO scenery, etc.
Welcome to the narrow gauge club man! (BTW this quality is normal/good for narrow gauge stuff, for this price range. Metal parts, and running board? Not even for double the price!)
On my my 1st layout i had a small little industrial 9mm mine railway (with the standard gauge of course) with 2 small stations, a mineshaft and a loading area at the 2nd standard gauge station for it (I used 2nd hand N gauge track and points to save money and cut out every 2nd slipper). I only had a small 0-6-0 diesel loco, 8 carts, 2 freight wagons and 3 miner's cart (passenger wagons for miners) at first. Later i got a 0-6-2 steam loco too with porper coaches, and now i have 15 narrow gauge locos and about 70 different rollingstock, - no longer have a layout do to a flooding in 2008 - (but i stopped buying them years ago, when there was a significant increase in the prices + I refuse to pay Import charges since BRexit!).
I suggest Liliput (H0e) and Bachmann (Heljan?) for lower budget, and Bemo if you are willing to spend (Tillig and Roco H0e are not bad but not for that price they ask).
This is so cool! I’ve always wanted to see proper reviews of 009 locomotives and I’m glad you’re here to make them. Great video Sam!
*YES!!!!!! FINALLY!!!!!!!! THE WAIT IS FINALLY OVER!!!!!!!!!!*
OO9 Scale is Here on Sam’s Trains!!!!!!!! I have waited, and my Patience has Paid Off.
Anyways, I recommend next looking at Bachmann’s products, like the Baldwin 10-12-D, or the Quarry Hunslets, or the Penrhyn Mainline class, or the Double Fairlies.
Haha awesome, hope you like the video!
@@SamsTrains, I did like the video. Thanks for finally Reviewing OO9 scale.
Great ideas for further instalments.
You've blown your wad
Now, all Sam needs to do is set up an OO9 layout that can coincide with his OO scale layout.
I have been waiting for this for absolute ages. I hope you get more 009 locos and rolling stock.
KATO were supposed to make the Double Fairlie, too! But Bachmann beat them to the punch.
At least KATO are still continuing their British 009 range by releasing Welsh Pony and Palmerston this spring.
I do want a double fairlie,but they are just too expensive ☹️
Kato recently made a run of these in green liveries so the first batch must have done well. Doing a quick double check, Japanese vendors on eBay have both runs available brand new for $120-130... straight from Japan. Kato also has multipacks of open N scale wagons that price out similar to 2 009 wagons. They look the part enough so I run them with the engine I bought.
Oh yes definitely try a bachmann double fairlie with sound, a friend of mine has one and it's insane, decent weight, the sounds are amazing and the best I've ever heard, and the haulage power is actually crazy.
Finally, it's the review of the scale I've been eagerly awaiting for ages!
Finally, the very first 009 review Sam!!
Cheers Jasper & Willow
Haha about time too!
"listen Dukey, who cares about a few spills?"
😐
Don’t remember Duke and Duncan being in an episode together, but I’m almost certain that’s Duncan’s voice.
For the record, season 1 was the only season I saw in its entirety. The other DVDs my parents bought had only six or so episodes, not a complete season, and as my parents were mostly buying whichever DVD’s had wooden railway engines or rolling stock in them, the episodes I’ve seen feel fairly random.
We do here, I said. But Smudger just laughed. (Hehehehe.)
Pity the Thomas references are all based on the crappy Britt Allcroft TV series. Check out the Rev. W. Awdry’s books….
This quote would never suit his grace.
So glad you finally are reviewing 009 scale models!!! Been waiting for you to start reviewing these for a while
Time for a long one! The Kato England is a compromise build as non of any of the 6 England engines looked exactly the same and were chopped about during rebuilds. As a 009 modeller we were happy to have a nearly correct design. This is why the Prince nameplate is so long, as it is also Princesses plate. Cost, when originally introduced they were £135, unit shifters were selling them for £110 so to get a sub £100 loco is good. The box quality is very questionable the first run had some really bad defects that Kato and Peco did address. It has to be said I have never had any build issues with my princess, but I picked it up from a shop and was able to give the model a good look before purchasing. I'd agree with your statements about detail but it's the nearest I will get to an entry level model. I found the best way to run my loco for shunting was to set the speed nice and low and just use the direction button, I've lost many an evening with this engine. When we found out about traction tyres there was a bit of outrage among the community, we were basically told that this is fairly standard for Japanese engines and that the Japanese equivalent to Sam'sTrains would reduce a score if a model did not have tyres fitted. On the rumour mill Kato was also working on a Fairlie loco, but abandoned it once Bachmann came out with theirs. Bachmann are throwing everything they can into their engines but because of this you do need a good supply of Kidney's to sell. One oddity is that although the standard NG coupling (you will need to refit the one on the tender) is the same height on Bachmann and Peco stock they don't like coupling together without some persuasion or removing loops from one end of your stock. One benefit for 009 Kato have released the chassis as a separate entity, there are lots of 3d print companies that are producing lots of shells to go on them. Either way I enjoyed what you have said and being honest I agree with what you say. Keep an eye out for the Bachmann USA Talyllyn as this seems an attempt to make their Skarloey model be a bit more realistic but hopefully keep it at an entry level price.
The livery looks incredible
yes it certainly is a lovely little loco
P.s.
Sam I just purchased an 'Oxford rail Toad Brake Van.' BALA version, Purely from your Review..!
And my God it's the
Nuts. Rolls well, Detail's up the Whazoo.
It does not disappoint at all.
Got a Feeling a 2nd is required..!
Bought it 'Pre-Owned' but it doesn't look like it was even removed from the Box.
So Thank you Sam. Your advice is the Best..! 😎
The same day I go on my first narrow gauge railway, Sam uploads this!
Hi Sam, it's always nice to see you try out a new scale. I've been collecting 009 for a little over a year now and I think it's a very fun scale with a lot of unique prototypes and rolling stock. I've been rather impressed with the narrow gauge models from the Bachmann Thomas range, I've tried a few of them and they've all been good runners with lots of metal. It's one of those rare cases where the price is justifiable for a Thomas product
Hi Sam. The easiest way to handle installation of the old Arnold couplers is to super glue the spring to the coupler first (or use a toothpick and a tiny amount of 5-minute epoxy.) Once it’s set up, then you can insert the couplers into the little draft gear box provided. Another (possible) way is if you have locking forceps. Then hold the spring into the draft gear box with the spring over the little peg inside and hold (gently!) with the forceps. Now insert the coupling opposite the spring and make sure the peg on the back of the coupler engages the spring. HTH! 😊 🚂 They come out pretty much the opposite way as you put them in; just watch the spring or it’ll end up somewhere you’ll NEVER find it! 🤣😆 There’s also, I believe, a conversion kit that lets you put N-scale MicroTrains knuckle couplers in place of the Arnold couplers, but these are even more fiddly (don’t ask how I know.) 😊
Hey, I got the exact same engine! Unfortunately, mine had a fault at first, the gear train wasn’t meshing properly, but I sent it back and it works now. I bought mine for about 230 aud.
Then a few months later, when they released some in new liveries, Amazon Australia had Princess for about 150 Australian dollars, so I grabbed one. You can still get them at that price, but it depends on your region. I should say, if you are Australian, this is the best way to go, as model shops here sell them for about 300 bucks.
Yay! You're back and with a cute little N Scale narrow gauge steam engine with beautiful Red paintwork! Great Video! ❤❤❤❤
Quite intriguing Sam, finally reviewing 009. Fair review, and a pity about all those issues, which is a shame since she looks very charming actually. No problems here with traction tyres though on the continent. Al Märklin/Trix models have them. The reason simply is that they hardly give any trouble and last a decade because of high quality material. As a matter of fact, Märklin/Trix have a QA room where all designed locos are being duration tested; they must be able to easily climb a ramp of 5% with a rake of wagons each loaded with 200 grams of weight. Each loco is designed to pull a prototypical load in scale but at steeper inclines than real life. Without traction tyres, you'll just not going to obtain that goal. The tyres hardly contaminate the rails and last a decade easily. But that's just the high quality material they use. Cheerio.
I really like this locomotive Sam. I'll probably get one of these for my layout, that is if I can find one for a good price.
Cheers Jasper & Willow
Nice one Sam, I was at the FR and the WHR last week, and am now a volunteer there. All our Englands are currently broken well Prince and Parmeston are out of ticket and welsh pony broke a pin in the wheel. My pfp is me on the footplate of one of our Garratts
This review is perfect because I have been thinking of buying this to repaint as a real Duke from Thomas! Thank you Sam 💙
well, I'm glad you're back up and running, Sam, I love this little narrow gauge engine. Makes me think of it running on a hot and happy sunny day in it's home railway in Wales
"Engines come, engines go, Grandpuff goes on forever!!"
"You impertinent scallywags! What ever are you engines up to?"
Don.t worry grandpuff we are only young ones
"Well, you better mind unless you want end up like Smudger!"
Oh Grandpuff whatever happened?
@@engie809 "Smudger was a show-off. He rode roughly and often came off the rails. I warned him to be careful but he took no notice."
Glad to see some OO9 at last. I have a Small England and a Double Fairlie. I think they both have their pros and cons, especially as RTR, but I like them both. I don’t mind fiddling around with my locos, as OO9 is really a tinkerer’s gauge, but I understand why the lack of DCC is bit of a letdown.
Beautiful little loco - you took me very much by surprise when I saw the title - 009?! Yet another scale ( sort of ) - I'd love to see you review a double fairle at some point - a true Ffestiniog icon! Again, amazing loco and review sam!
Thanks Jack, I’d love to try the fairly too!! 😁
The grab handles are not to bad to fit if you don't make the mistake of cutting them off the extension piece, (how would I know that I wonder 🤣) snap them of the main sprue and use the extra length to push them home then twist and they seperate. Great review, I like the loco but I agree dicast running plate and possibly dicast boiler in place of the traction tyres would be better. Thanks for looking at 009 Sam, I think a Double Fairlie, or the L&B Lyd, or an ex Penrhyn Quarry hunslet, or a change of railway to the Talyllyn with one of Bachmanns new locos.
I would still love to see a T scale set running around the middle of your board. Thanks again and I'm glad your crisis was averted. God bless
Great to see you're doing OO9 Sam! Really looking forward to more!!
I like a fair but honest review and this was both. Nice one!!
Love the review! If you want to get into more OO9, the Bachmann Thomas narrow gauge engines are actually pretty good! They have dicast boilers, they have bearings on the axles, and they're pretty well detailed (for Bachmann Thomas models that is)! I'd recommend Skarloey and Peter Sam particularly :)
So glad to see you getting into 009. 00 and 009 are my two scales of choice!
Prince is a fab runner on my layout and is the oldest working steam loco on its original railway! A real shame that the model isn’t DCC ready (or easy to hardwire due to the lack of space)
Highly recommend the double fairlie. The tank engine version of the mainline hunslet is incredible detail wise but less good in terms of haulage and running.
Great review. My favourite OO9 locomotive is the Bachmann 2-6-2 Baldwin 10-12D. That is geared more sensibly than your Peco/Kato locomotive. It has tiny wheels but the performance is brilliant - goes round corners and up slopes better than the Heljan Baldwin or Heljan Manning Wardle - both of which are prone to derail or slip. I'm looking forward to more OO9 reviews but I appreciate that it must be challenging to keep pace with products in 5 different gauges/scales!
I got "Princess" in green for christmas. She's a fantastic little loco, runs very slowly (when needed) and smoothly and quietly, and she is one of my heaviest 009 locos (albeit the other 2 RTR 009 locos I have being the Bachmann Quarry Hunslet and the Bachmann Baldwin 10-12-D), and the traction tyres mean she can haul every item of 009 stock I have so far with ease (perhaps similar to a standard Ffestiniog passenger train).
"Prince" has had loads of modifications over the years, and the model is accurate for "Princess" as current (I believe). "Palmerston" is being included along with the Large Englands "Welsh Pony", "Little Giant", and the fictional "Exmoor Pony" due to other differences, but the loco section of "Palmerston" also matches pretty well with "Princess" too. Also to note is that the Ffestiniog runs faster than you expect, up to about 25mph which is quite a lot for such a small loco. And the Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railways run on the right, not the left (perhaps unique in the UK?).
Also, I think my model was the Japanese version. It had a lot of Japanese text on the box (and i think in the instructions), and it came with the N gauge couplings fitted. I switched out the rear one for the standard 009 hook and loop, but the front still has the N gauge one on it (for now).
I think Mainline and early Bachmann gave split chassis designs a bad name. Enclosing the motor within is a poor choice, and the plastic of those older axles did fail, but all modern split chassis designs that I have all seem to work well, without reliability or servicability issues.
I find that 009 is more expensive and generally cheaper in production than 00, I reckon because its more niche and more fiddly. I'm fine paying £125 for one of these, but £200+ for a Bachmann Mainline Hunslet is a bit much. £50+ for the Peco bowsiders is altogether overpriced, as the interiors aren't painted and they're very light (which tbh helps with light locos), but what can I do when I want a model of all 4 of them?
DCC in 009 is considerably more rare than in 00, because so many 009 modellers kit build locos, kits (older style injection-moulded plastic or whitemetal or brass, or newer 3D prints) call for older chassis or kato chassis as donors which aren't DCC ready, and the small wheelbases make continuity more of an issue (same as in N).
YES! you are finally reviewing 009!
Of all the surprises I woke up to today I didn’t expect one to be a OO9 review from Sam
these collaborations between companies, heritage railway, UK suppliers and far east manufactures are great, SVR etc need to do this.
I just finished my dissertation for my degree and now I have Sam taking a look at my favourite scale of trains! Today is a good day 😁
Since this is a Kato model, you can easily find it from American, Japanese, and British sellers! So it can be easy to obtain for 009 modelers around the world!
Meanwhile, Bachmann's upcoming Tallylyn model and matching coaches are currently only being localized for the US market. While Bachmann UK has a 009 range without these models being distributed by their US counterpart.
Kato also sells chassis only versions for kitbashing, but the black part of the body (running board, smokebox, and firebox) is included. Those also do not include a tender.
The 1/76 00-9 is also 1/86 HOe. for which ROCO, BEMO, Tillig, Lilliput (Bachmann), Minitrains are manufacturers. You may consider that irrelevant to UK but the Welshpool railway runs Austrian Zillerbahn loco and stock which ROCO produce. 00-9 is a catch all for gauges less then 1000mm for which BEMO and Tillig produce HOm (12mm,TT gauge). The locos for the Hertz mountain are available in both HOe and HOm. There is also HOf (Z gauge) for those with good eyesight. However small packages are big money beware.
It is certainly easy to fall in love with narrow gauge. I am very excited to watch this review😁
Word regarding the traction tyres. Many people have said they’re unnecessary on this model, and they’re right, the chassis for these are available separately and don’t have them equipped.
I believe the reason is that many years ago, Kato released a model in N gauge of a heavy Mikado, which while being regarded as one of the best N gauge steam locos of all time wasn’t equipped with traction tyres and couldn’t pull more than a few cars. Kato had to release a spare wheel set with traction tyres (not sure if they sent them free to people who had bought the locos) and all the subsequent runs had them fitted as standard.
I've been on the Ffestiniog Railway - Nice little Loco 🙂🚂🚂🚂
You might want to try the Bachmann Quarry Hunslet. Some people have problems with them but I’ve got two and they both work fine (one better than the other oddly). The detail is great and they can operate on very tight radius track. Perfect for a micro layout
Great review! The Bachmann Baldwins, Farlies, Quarry and Mainline Hunslets from Bachmann look incredible! I haven’t heard such good things about Heljan’s offerings…
This loco has an interesting past in that when the first batch were shipped many people complained that theirs had broken due to the improper packaging. Kato/ Peco offered a return of the loco in exchange for a new one with updated packaging at no extra cost to the customer. Probably one of the best moves they could've made.
That happened with mine, it went back to rails of Sheffield and they fixed it.
Really good review, not over zealous but realistic. In my opinion model railways are ridiculously priced nowadays. If modellers got together and didn't buy stuff for six months then everything would reset to half price. I know it's supply and demand but most locos are very basic, and are essentially electric motors and a plastic "Toy" body.
Excellent, I do hope this means that you will be doing the Bachman Thomas narrow gauge locos at some point in the future. Nice review.
As far as I understand, DCC isn't a big thing in Japan, so Kato products don't generally have DCC provision. While I appreciate the price is high, I imagine that the volume of sales will be a fraction of what Kato usually makes in N gauge.
I'd love to see more of the 00-9 gauge reviews from Peco and as for the body I think it's plastic as they use the same machinery that they do for their N-gauge and 00-9 rolling stock which is done in-houce in Beer, UK, which is impressive especially when every other manufacturer has their locos/rolling stock produced in China.
Cute little loco, love it..!! As Always a Great Review all round..!
Thanks for your Efforts, Sam.
Cheers All, Kim in Oz. 😎
The Bachmann 009 Mainline Hunslets while expensive are absoloutly wonderful
Shame about the lack of DCC, but it’s at least a lot easier than fitting or removing DCC decoders from brass locos! Thanks as always Sam.
These typically sell for around 14,000 yen in Japan, which is about £75. For that price I think it's great. I bought all 4 variants from Amazon Japan.
Your point about a die cast body makes a huge difference in performance. No need for traction tires. I have a few OO9 and H0e with diecast bodies in the collection. Great review, I hope to see more maybe a H0e Liliput? BEMO's H0e with their adjustable wheels to conform to different track? Maybe a Bachmann Bladwin Class 10-12-d? Or how about the Japanese Tomytec narrow gauge collection? Looking forward to your next video.
Thanks for the great review. I have the exact same one of these and am pleased with it. I honestly can't see why the grab handles were not preinstalled and why I had to. It's not that much of a problem but there can be no practical reason for having to do so. I did find if heavy handed that the top of the grab handle would break off if you weren't careful enough - my error but why did I even have to installed them. Anyway it's a good little loco and I run mine with a set of Peco Bug Boxes.
Kato, as a japanese manufacturer, focuses on the Japanese model train market, and it is a different landscape compared to the west.
Model railways in Japan tend to be small scale ones you can assemble and disassemble right away in a small flat (apartment) room, and the average age is way lower than the established old demographic in the west. That is why Kato has Unitrack (modular track with ballast), small optional detail parts not pre-fitted, not DCC friendly, and generally plasticky (as many Japanese models in general do), yet pretty detailed.
Japanese models can be really cheap for a full or half consist of a train, but it seems like they jack up their prices for their overseas models, and I think its because 1) they look at the market price for these in the west, and adjust for it, and 2) its more niche than their domestic counterparts, making it a bit more expensive to produce.
SAMbody needs to get busy making OO-9 rolling stock. I'm thinking an Uncle Fredrickson's balancing train in OO-9 would be a good start.
Since you mention 009 track, I can think of another use for it: replicating a 15in gauge system (like the Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway or the Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch) in 0 scale (1:43). This has been achieved already.
I have a few narrow guage locos now… some have die cast bodies, some don’t.
And all the ones that DO have die cast are Thomas and Friends loco’s.
Admittedly, I only have two other loco types to compare (small England and double fairlie) but still, I find that amusing
Hey Sam, love the review of the small England. I have Princess, and I love running her when I get the chance. For 009 locos, I might suggest the Bachmann Quarry Hunslet engines, and N Scale, I love to see you look at Dapol's Panniers. I got one in blue, and I love the little guy.
Great review! I think narrow gauge locos have something standard gauge locos don’t have. This is my favourite type of gaugeish for locos!
Hi Sam, have you seen Hornby's latest 8F? Have you noticed how it actually has the smoke box door from their tender-drive 1980s model, with moulded dart and lamp iron?
I have two of these. I have Princess in FR Maroon and the newer release of them as Prince in FR Green. As far as more OO9 locomotives to look at, Bachmann Branchline makes some other FR engines that would go well with Prince.
I love narrow gauge. I like On30. You get an O scale model on HO track. But even better would be this scale being almost HO scale on N scale track. Bigger models in smaller spaces.
Just to clarify for some people, N gauge is 9mm gauge track. OO.9 is OO scale running on 9mm gauge track. Represents 2ft to 2ft 6" (some people use TT gauge track 12mm gauge to represent 3ft gauge and scratch build stock).
Pretty much all if the issues raised come down to the model being a Japanese model for japan, that just happens to be a UK prototype being sold over here - it's a straight Kato model which Peco are acting as distributers for. As a Japaense model a lot of the complaints are irrelevant - absolute prototype fidelity is less important that general impression, small details needing fitting are standard, DCC isn't widely used, traction tyres are a must-have, N gauge couplings (pre-fitted to models for the Japanese market, wiith the 009 couplers in the box spare). Even the price isn't as much of an issue - being manufactured in Japan cuts out a huge chunk of shipping costs (whilst out of stock, an online listing for a Japanese website converts to below £90 without being marked as discount).
Ultimately it's a model of a "kawaii" loco for the huge Japannese N market that just so happens to be suitable for UK 009, not something intended for a small portion of the smaller UK market.
Spot on. Just shows how behind the Japanese market is compared to the rest of the world. 👍
RRP in Japan is only 19,800 Yen. They just love ripping westerners off, same for their other foreign models like the Class 800, Big Boy and Rhaetian Railway stuff. The domestic price is far cheaper than what is being sold in the home country of the prototype.
Nice review, my grandson has recently got one of these ready for when he starts to build his 009 layout. Which, I'm sure he'll be filming and posting updates on his Dylington Model Railway channel once he gets started on it. So keep a look out for that... Cheers James 🙂👍
The day is finally here! Welcome to the narrow gauge club, Sam!!!
The Bachmann Linda with tender would be a companion with this, ive got the sound fitted one and its very impressive
Finally! i've been waiting for sam to review a 009 Locomotive, and now its here!
Absolutely - got some more to come soon too!!
Great to see you reviewing a 009. I’d be interested in seeing you compare this to Bachmann’s 00-9 Ffestiniog engine, “Linda”.
I have waited a long while for you to get into OO9, it is a personal favourite scale of mine, and the new Bachmann models definitely blow this one out of the water, you should take a look at them for sure! Also the possibility to review more Thomas & Friends models which will always be good for the views! xD
Thanks for the high quality content as always, Sam!
Tom
Glad you’re doing some 009 stuff
Hi Sam. Kato is known for using plastic. They don't use die-cast
That's the first time I've seen a full stop on a nameplate! They could not even get that right mukka! 😂
Regards from Oz. Gaz
bloody delighted youve started looking at 009. Ive got a 10-12-d and a fairlie from bachmann and i love them. Thanks for this video and enjoy the foray into the wonderful little 009 world. (please review the new bachmann diesels because im looking at them and want them to be good :) )
was really hoping you’d get into 009 someday, and that day has finally come!
Now go and marvel at Bachmann's offerings. Try their Ffestiniog double Fairley.......with sound and freak out at the price. Heljan's L&B Manning Wardel and Baldwin locos are nice too. Peco now making a wide range of matching stock for both lines locos to haul.
Welcome to the world of N-scale and its couplers. For something really tricky try replacing a spring on a Dapol Easi-shunt coupling. With a very high proportion of OO9 modellers building loco kits on very old Farish or Arnold chassis, or using Kato or Tomix bogies there isn't that big a DCC market in this scale.
If you are looking for more N scale stuff try KATO N Gauge Chibi Convex Set Innaka Street Freight Train 10-504-1 Model Railway Diesel Locomotive
Those slate wagons look right at home on that loco and maybe with a smaller brake van as well. I think I've seen something real-life-size similar here in America, at a Museum. Some small locos did get imported to America from Europe in the early days of Steam Engines for independent short-line railroads like mining or logging or maybe something industrial. You could Kit-bash it to look more like any of the prototypes of that size loco your trying to model, I think that's why it looks like it dose.
i'd say take a look at some of the wagon peco has, ive heard its quite nice, theres also a few fun locos bachmann have made such as quarry hunslets, mainline hunslets & the Baldwin 10-12D, theres also there Double fairlie which is an interesting engine itself.
Yes, i wanted to see this engine reviewed by you and it is finally here! Edit sad that my favorite locomotive did kinda bad....
well it's about time you reviewed a 009 locomotive. I've got 2 of these in the ffestiniog livery 1 in green 1 in red
Awesome video Sam's trains it's Duke's basis
Thanks Brian - yeah that’s what I’ve heard!!
@@SamsTrains you're welcome Sam's trains
Gauges: Exist
Sam: Gotta catch em all!
welcome to the 009 world. as for loco recommendations, well there are plenty of those that you could have a look at in the future. The Ffestiniog in particular has quite a few of it's own. Along side the small George England locos, you have of course the double fairlies, the penrhyn main locos, Linda and Blanch, which were 2 4 0 saddle tank and tender locos at present. besides the Ffestiniog recommendations, you also have the north wales quarry hunslet locomotives, the Lynton and Barnstaple Manning wordle tanks, and the baldwyn 10 12 d 4 6 0 locomotives. plus there is also rolling stock to look at including the ffestiniog slate wagons and carriages. the range is pretty varied in 009 world, and is continuing toe xpand.
An excellent review, it was nice to see something a little different and I’m looking forward to the next one. 009 is certainly a little different to everything else.
The only other comment i’ve got is, I think 009 should have its own category although that does mean you’ll end up with three different charts.
Keep up the good work and as I said I’m looking forward to the next one.
have fun
Duke looks good in red
Decent review here Sam, I have seen only one other review of one of these before and overall they do look quite nice, 009 for me is a scale I would like to try out especially as bachmann did the double fairlie locomotives that run on the Ffestiniog railway so I do have plans to try it out at some point.
Thanks David - there’s definitely some interesting offerings in oo9!
Whether you see this engine as Duke or Bertram, they're still a one of a kind engine!
Having seen some of Bachmann's OO9/HOn3 Scale Engines in action, they're fairly decent for what they are. I've never seen them taken apart, however.
I would say that Bachmann has the best OO9 models by far. I have heard the few from Heljan are, naturally, iffy--so Bachmann doesn't have that stiff of competition. The fact that Bachmann's 009 models have cab interiors actually makes them remarkable for 009/H0e. Many H0e/H0n30 locomotives just have the motor in the cab, especially those from Minitrains (which tend to be pretty cheaply made). The ones from Lilliput and Roco at least have a lot of diecast to them (and I think the Bemo and Tillig ones do too), but can be pretty expensive.
The Prince locos are £150 rrp, but they actually use the 'KATO/PECO OO-9 Locomotive Powered Chassis', which is only £65 rrp.
So, £85 for the body and tender, which are plastic with mediocre detailing.
It would be cool to see what you could 3d print to put on the powered chassis.
that makes the very poor fitting even sader, who they think they are? Lego?
and when it's not metal, at least don't make it wobbly
The RRP in Japan is 19,800 Yen.