HO Schwebebahn

 

 

This is the model I was always going to buy. Not cheap at 59 Euros for a static item, but having spent the money to go and see the real thing, and with more leftover Euros than I expected, it would have been churlish not to have one as a souvenier. 

 

Ordered from Modelbahn Apitz, the box arrived quicker than the postcard I sent from Wuppertal, around three days, as opposed to nearly a week for the card. 

 

Nicely packaged, you can happily display the box.

 

To be fair, the box is where most of these will live, as they aren't the easiest things to show off out of it. 

 

While the model is self-coloured plastic, with the real thing being fibreglass, this is perfectly acceptable. Interior detail is impressive, although the real seats don't lean like this! I'd have a look to see if I can level them up, but how you get inside is a mystery, and I don't want to risk breaking anything by investigating too closely. 

 

I can't be sure about the roof detail, it's not easy to examine from normal viewing angles, but I assume it's pretty accurate. The probe on the front, by the way, is to push any stalled cars. There is a pocket in the back for it to locate into. The model wheels rotate freely. 

 

For display, I'll need some track, and handily, there are laser-cut card kits for both the river and road sections. 

 

 

 

I've opted for the road version as it's a lot narrower, and so should be easier to turn into a small display. I fancy adding some street with a few cars. 

Happy with my buy? Yes I am. The Schwebebahn is a unique system, and visiting it scratched an itch for me. The model just puts a cherry on this cake.