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Post by JohnJ on Feb 1, 2016 7:39:15 GMT -8
Did a little searching on this topic on the forum, and couldn't find a definitive answer. This weekend at the Amherst show, both Rivarossi and Korea Brass had their U25Cs on display. I don't have the eye for prototypic accuracy that some of you have, and I'm just curious if there's a consensus on which is the better model. They both look pretty good to my eyes, though those flat handrails on the Rivarossi are a bit of a bummer. Looks like the price is about the same between the two as well. I'm a DC guy, so better sound/DCC isn't a consideration for me. Here are some comparison shots: Korea Brass:  Rivarossi (I was amused to hear another attendee commenting to the Rivarossi rep how much he loved the green on the Pennsy unit - like most other PRR models, this is far too green.)  |
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Post by atsfan on Feb 1, 2016 7:45:08 GMT -8
Hard to tell from the pictures but the Korea Brass units looks better to me.
As for the flat handrails; did the real unit have them?
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Post by Deleted on Feb 1, 2016 7:47:31 GMT -8
Hard to tell from the pictures but the Korea Brass units looks better to me. As for the flat handrails; did the real unit have them? No. |
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Post by espeenut on Feb 1, 2016 8:22:41 GMT -8
I have two of the Rivarossi ones in Northern Pacific paint and I'm delighted with them. Excellent runner characteristics, good pullers, and seeing as I run them at our club the hand rails and details are all metal and I never have to be concerned with how fragile the details are - I can't say that for any other single model locomotive I own...
...in NP colors you can't detect the handrails so that wasn't a deal killer for me, it was of greater importance that they were metal and quite durable, strong enough that I can lift the unit by its hand rails and they don't bend or break, which any other would surely do under the same circumstances...
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Post by edwardsutorik on Feb 1, 2016 8:49:33 GMT -8
Here's a photo of a PRR U25C:  The "big problem" I see is that box/opening on the roof behind the cab. From the model photos, it looks like both got it wrong, in the opposite direction--one too big, one too small. Perhaps the Goldilocks version will get it just right. I think the Rivarossi handrails are closer to the real one than the KBM. If I had bought one, I would have removed the metal ones and taken a kupla hours to file the handrail section round. Why not? Ed |
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Post by edwardsutorik on Feb 1, 2016 8:53:20 GMT -8
In the prototype photo, be sure to notice the aluminum painted span-bolstered locomotive trucks in the background.
Plus the undec diesel shells over on the left.
And the troop sleeper.
And..............
Ed
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Post by bnsf971 on Feb 1, 2016 9:16:19 GMT -8
...And the Bachmann 70 tonner in the far background... |
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Post by jaygee on Feb 1, 2016 11:13:24 GMT -8
The span bolstered AAR type "B"s on the flats are from U.P. Turbines; No. 61 -75...who gave their lives so Uncle Pete could whirlybird! This worked out better than the U50c in the early '70s. The latter became G.E.'s answer to the Baldwin Centipede !
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Post by markfj on Feb 1, 2016 11:53:32 GMT -8
John, you may want to search the site for a previous discussion on the comparison between the Korean Brass and Rivarossi models. If I remember correctly, the Rivarossi model had finer detailing both on the shell and the truck sideframes. Although I would have to agree that the color of the Rivarossi model (as depicted in your photo) looks much too green to be Pennsy’s DGLE color.
I’ll probably pick one of these up once they start getting discounted to move off the shelves.
Thanks, Mark
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Post by roadkill on Feb 1, 2016 16:15:01 GMT -8
As an SPF and an SPCF (Slobbering Penn Central Freak  ) the Korea Brass DGLE is MUCH better than Riv's, and the handrails are way better, too. The Riv's trucks look marginally better, and have rotating bearings which to me is a useless gimmick. Haven't decided which model to buy yet, tho I'm tempted to pick up a couple of Riv's in PRR, as there's a seller on that evil auction site selling DCC/sound ones for pretty cheap. |
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Post by navarch1 on Feb 1, 2016 18:18:41 GMT -8
I have all the PC numbers on order or in hand from Rivarossi...the KB models I am told are due the end of this month and I have all theirs on order as well. They both have a 6513...so I bought only the Rivarossi one - very happy with the way they run...
Bob
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Post by dtinut on Feb 2, 2016 9:57:53 GMT -8
I think the details look finer on the Rivarossi than the KBM model. Or the paint is heavy.... The color of the KBM is better.
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Post by JohnJ on Feb 2, 2016 10:07:28 GMT -8
Thanks for the replies - I wouldn't read too much into the color; I had to use the flash on my iPhone for the KBM shot as the booth was dark, while I got away with no flash for the Rivarossi shot. The flash makes a huge difference in color rendition. Frankly, the only manufacturer I've seen produce a decent PRR DGLE is Bowser.
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Post by craigz on Feb 5, 2016 8:01:50 GMT -8
Rivarossi. The KBM has screwed up radiators - in that the radiator cores are missing completely. One should not be able to see the fans thru the top of the hood grills...there should be cores there. Most think the Riv has finer detailing and better trucks. The flat handrails are more or less imperceptible on the darker color units. The final plus for me with the Riv is the Loksound decoder.
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Post by scl1234 on Feb 5, 2016 9:28:37 GMT -8
Doesn't KBM only have one shop handling all of its US distribution? If this is the case, language barriers aside, KBM surely could do a better job at communicating the availability of what they have/intend to offer.
When asked about a particular unit, all I got from the distributor (via email) was "These will be shipping soon". Nothing specific about how to order the unit in question. I certainly don't fault the distributor on this response given the language barrier issues.
Maybe I need to find "another" KBM distributor (if there's more than one?)
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Post by roadkill on Feb 5, 2016 10:26:28 GMT -8
Rivarossi. The KBM has screwed up radiators - in that the radiator cores are missing completely. One should not be able to see the fans thru the top of the hood grills...there should be cores there. Most think the Riv has finer detailing and better trucks. The flat handrails are more or less imperceptible on the darker color units. The final plus for me with the Riv is the Loksound decoder. No matter the color those flat handrails jump out at me. Still, thinking about getting one and seeing what can be done with them. If they're brass then I think I can save the stanchions and just bend some new rails to solder to them. |
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Post by markfj on Feb 5, 2016 14:00:37 GMT -8
Roger, if I recall correctly those flat handrails are made from stamped (maybe etched) steel, not brass.
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Post by theengineshed on Feb 5, 2016 14:22:48 GMT -8
I like the DB grids on the KBM model, more visible than Rivarossi's effort. That said no plans to get a KBM unit, maybe more Rivas though... There's about 20 shots on flickr of the Rivarossi, a Bowser Alco, and a Proto GE that I posted last year. I like the Rivarossi U25Cs, outstanding model, fit and finish was better than most Genesis, no blobs of glue, hair etc. Some cruel close-ups here..  ACL 3012 Rivarossi Oct 2014 g by Pete Piszczek, on Flickr  ACL 3012 Rivarossi Oct 2014 d by Pete Piszczek, on Flickr  ACL 3016 Rivarossi Oct 2014 i by Pete Piszczek, on Flickr |
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Post by toml on Feb 5, 2016 14:39:23 GMT -8
They are both great models , but,I side with the Rivarossi loco mainly because they designed the bearing caps to rotate , that is awesome. I'm easily amused.
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Post by roadkill on Feb 5, 2016 17:00:44 GMT -8
Roger, if I recall correctly those flat handrails are made from stamped (maybe etched) steel, not brass. Figures. Just like the Riv U25C of old... *smh* |
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) the Korea Brass DGLE is MUCH better than Riv's, and the handrails are way better, too. The Riv's trucks look marginally better, and have rotating bearings which to me is a useless gimmick. Haven't decided which model to buy yet, tho I'm tempted to pick up a couple of Riv's in PRR, as there's a seller on that evil auction site selling DCC/sound ones for pretty cheap.
