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Why 0e Scale?

Narrow gauge vehicles are among to the most delightful representatives of railway equipment. Models in O-Scale (1:43,5 / 1:45 ) and larger give you the feeling of “real” railway atmosphere. Because of their larger size they have more detail and are more reliable in service. The real Narrow-gauge railways had to fight with small money and small space, but there was a rising need to move people and good in and out a specific area. So there were mixed trains (goods and passenger cars in Germany called “GmP”) in the hours with lesser traffic. This atmosphere can be recreated in model railroading in a small space using Oe equipment. Om and Oe are the narrow gauge versions of O-Scale, thus they need less space.
Narrow-gauge modelling is a fine alternative to normal gauge. Even in smaller rooms there is space enough for Oe. It offers all possibilities to recreate narrow gauge atmosphere in a limited size. A fastidious schedule can be arranged with only a few vehicles. Even scratch building of vehicles is easier, and free-lancing is the order of the day - narrow-gauge railways always had a low budget, and so we find here thing that we would not see with the normal gauge railway companies. It had often had to be improvised to keep things running. Scratch-builders and kit-bashers might like to see that individual parts of our program are also available.
The track width of 0e is uniformly 16,5mm (equal to H0-Scale), so our models can be combined with vehicles of “Fleischmann’s” Magic Train program or those of other manufacturers.

Ready-to-run models

All our model vehicles can be obtained in kit form or completely assembled. Although the assembly of the kits normally does not cause any difficulties, the strong point of ready-to-run models is, you can use them immediately right out of the box. Our ready-to-run models are assembled individually by hand, so it is possible, at extra charge, to make your special model following your personal desire i.e. special coupling, individual colour schemes and/or lettering, sub-assemblies, and changes of detail can be carried out. Please contact us for your customising needs!

Kits

Our model trains are manufactured from highest quality polyurethane plastics including most detail parts; only break-sensitive parts are cast from finest brass. So you do not need to own an watch maker’s shop to assemble our model kits. Body and framework are cast as one piece, and all drillings etc. have been made by us in their proper places. There is no need for you to make any drilling templates.
All detail parts are properly matching and can be fixed with cyanoacrylate glue. Building groups such as housings and chassis are bolted together. Larger parts such as body and boiler, etc. have been prepped for priming by sand blasting. This facilitates painting and gives the finished model a realistic appearance.
As far as technically possible, our model train kits are supplied with pre- assembled drive units. The steering gear of the steam engines are made of dyed plastics and most parts are snapped together. The models are driven by a “Faulhaber” motor with precision-turned flywheel by a tear and age resistant flat strap. The wheel run in brass bearings. All the other gearing is of snap-together construction (mostly ball bearings) and completely enclosed. The current is taken directly from all driving wheels by bronze sliding pick ups. The couplings are functional renderings of the original devices; NEM couplings optional.
The passenger wagons have a detailed interior. The burnished RP-25 wheel sets on pointed axles run in trucks. Only the models of the Saxonian bogie car can be ordered alternatively with standard bearings or with ball bearings for their wheel sets. A lighting for the passenger vehicles is not intended, since a model-faithful illumination is complex and thus expensive and, on the other hand the outstanding running of our drives might be severely impaired by increased current consumption.

Colour schemes and lettering

The models can be painted with all commercial lacquers such as enamel, acrylic or automotive lacquers. Especially the paints from Weinert, Tamiya and Humbrol work very well. Small details can be set off using a fine brush Humbrol or Revell paints directly from the cans. The vehicles should be painted semi gloss. The surface of this type of paint is smooth enough and the decals can cling well to it. The next step should be a little Solvaset, or Micro Sol (decal softener) on the decals. After being completely dry, the decals should be covered with a small amount of clear semi gloss varnish.

Service

In this catalogue you find an extensive program of traction vehicles, cars and accessories. In order to prevent misunderstandings and further inquiries, please give us the following specifications with your order on:

  • the specific version of the model(s) you want
  • what type of coupling you prefer (original coupling/NEM type, etc.)
  • kit or a ready to run model.

Dear customer, when you need our assistance or help during the assembly of your model(s), should you miss a part or you have any suggestions, please contact us.

On the these pages we show you our entire program. Enjoy browsing through it.

Kind regards, your Henke-Team.

Last update: 08.09.2005

 


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