Electrotren MMC container wagons.

[ellocoloco]

Just received my first version of the new Electrotren MMC wagon. This type of wagon was announced last year and is being produced in a number of versions and sold under Jouef, Rivarossi and Electrotren. The first I have received is HE6069* in RENFE Era V blue with a DHL 45' container. I have two other references on order for later in the year with different containers so should have a reasonable length train by the end of the year.

The model has a diecast mainframe with plastic bogies and added small details. Its free rolling and has kinematic mounts. It does seem to sit a little high when comparing buffer heights against a Roco MMP and 319 but overall I am very happy with it and look forward to building up a decent length train. My only criticism is that DHL is a pretty boring choice of load. I'll be mixing up the containers a little once I have a full train.

The model comes with latches (top) to be spaced depending on what the load will be and also some handrails which are really quite awkward to fit!

With Roco close couplings there is about 1mm between buffer heads which is great. My usual moan is that I will have to alter the packaging if I am going to leave the Roco units in place.

I haven't worked out what these holes are in the frame. They look like they should be for a different variant of the model but looking through the numerous versions available, I can't see what so may have to get some filler!

Thoroughly recommended.

*HE6069 isn't on the Electrotren website or in the Hornby Int'l catalogue. I did email Hornby customer service who had no knowledge of it.

[ellocoloco]

There has been a new release of the MMC wagons and I am even more impressed with these ones. Again, a lovely detailed model and the containers are excellent.

I think I prefer the use of 20' containers with the models and the 45' DHL ones from the previous release will probably get sidelined and I'll use something else. The wagon comes with plenty of brackets to mount either one, two or three containers or leave the wagon empty and as it is diecast so running unloaded shouldn't be an issue.

I reckon ten is the minimum for a decent length train so fingers crossed for a new version in the January announcements. There is also a version with a Maersk 45'er which I did have one order but I think I'll wait on new releases. The other two RENFE versions with the Boluda and Railsider loads are out of era for me. Could well be an opportunity for Hornby Int'l to release some containers packs along the lines of those previously in the Electrotren range to allow variation of wagons and encourage multiple purchases!

And no. I have not tried either phoning or faxing! sunglasses

(Not my best photos. The wagons are identical in colour to the previous DHL loaded ones and make a fine rake.)

[ellocoloco]

As I continue my homage to the Electrotren RENFE MMC container flats I have now added two HE6044 models to my fleet. I originally had these on order in 2022 but cancelled them due to budget restraints at the time and my dislike for the 45' container load. Two years later and seeing there is nothing much of interest for me in Electrotren's 2024 announcements, I decided to go back and extend the train I have. By this time Hornby had sold out on line and a quick search on Ebay found Gaugemaster selling two at around 30% less than RRP so I ordered both and got them two days later. A result!

The wagons are as good as HE6069 and HE6064 and with these makes a fairly impressive train. I have been using both Roco 319s and Mehano 333.3s in TC Taxi livery to pull them around the attic floor until I bother to actually start a layout.

I have now noticed a slight variance in the blue used on these three wagons. Both HE6069 and HE 6044 look the same shade. These were announced at the the same time. HE6064 (top) looks slightly darker. I think this could have been better and I hope that any further releases match the lighter blue of HE6069&44 which are closer to the blue used on the Electrotren 4-wheel container flats and Roco's MMP wagons. Prototype pictures show both the yellow and red brake wheels so I'm fine with those.

My only disappointment as mentioned is the choice of loads. I would much prefer these to have come with a mix of 20' and 40' containers rather than the 45' one included. Today I spent a good couple of hours adding the containers mounts to three of my wagons - a fairly frustrating tasks and one that makes me realise I need glasses! I have set out two to carry both 20' and 40' containers and the other to take 3 x 20'. My next job will be to butcher that packaging as it is one designed to surround the supplied load. Fortunately I'm not one of the people who worries about boxes! During the course of the year I will add the mounts to the remaining wagons, sort out different loads and modify the boxes.

Hopefully 2025 will bring some more of these in Era V blue. As mentioned I reckon 10 is the minimum number for a realistic train - and I'm still a couple short!