Piko 28337 H0 - Set of 2 DB AG telescopic freight cars, Era V

Two-wagon set of telescopic hood wagons for steel coil traffic in Deutsche Bahn livery

Cold-rolled steel coils cannot take rain, yet they weigh tens of tonnes – and it was for exactly this cargo that wagons with sliding telescopic hoods were developed. This two-piece PIKO H0 set presents such wagons in Deutsche Bahn colours of Era V, the period when the German freight operator was reorganising itself and steel traffic remained one of the mainstays of its business. Together the models form a ready-made section of a train that suits both electric and diesel motive power of the era.

Construction is based on fine injection moulding that faithfully captures the prototype's proportions and the characteristic rhythm of ribs on the telescopic hoods. Numerous separately applied details and a carefully worked wagon floor raise the modelling standard, while clean paintwork and sharp printing keep the lettering legible without a magnifier. The models' substantial weight translates into stable tracking and quiet running even in a long freight rake. Both wagons carry NEM 362 coupler pockets with close-coupling mechanisms, keeping vehicle spacing realistically tight.

Model specifications:

• scale: H0
• item number: 28337
• manufacturer: PIKO
• contents: set of two telescopic hood wagons
• length over buffers: 276 mm
• railway administration: DB AG
• era: V
• power supply: DC
• coupling: NEM 362 coupler pocket with close-coupling mechanism
• minimum radius: 358 mm
• finish: fine engravings, detailed wagon floor, substantial weight
• ready-to-run model, no assembly or painting required
• age recommendation: 14 years and up

Please note: these wagons have no drive of their own.

They are trailing vehicles for trains hauled by a locomotive – to set them in motion you need a locomotive and a powered track. The minimum radius is 358 mm, so the set fits into moderately sized track plans as well. The wagons contain no electronics, which means they can be run on analogue and digital layouts alike.

About telescopic hood wagons:

Telescopic hood wagons entered service in the early 1970s to improve the carriage of moisture-sensitive steel coils. The design is based on a four-axle bogie flat wagon of the UIC S family carrying light, sliding hoods. When pushed together, the hoods expose up to two thirds of the loading area, so a crane can lower coils straight into the prepared cradles and the wagon is covered again almost immediately. This cut handling times at steelworks and ports enough for the type to spread rapidly across Europe – besides the German railways it was used by ÖBB, SBB and SNCB among others.

The most widespread variant is the Shimmns family, identified in the DB catalogue by design numbers. The Shimmns 708 has a loading length of 10,800 mm and a loading width of 2,400 mm, a maximum speed of 120 km/h and a tare weight of 22–24 t, which with the appropriate brake class allows payloads of several dozen tonnes. Five load cradles are built into the floor and twelve adjustable securing arms prevent the coils from shifting sideways. The prototype negotiates curves down to a 35 m radius, which suits the tight sidings of steelworks.

In Era V, after the formation of Deutsche Bahn AG and the transfer of freight operations to a separate Cargo organisation, telescopic hood wagons remained the standard tool for steel traffic in western Germany. Over time the rigid aluminium hoods began to give way to lighter sliding tarpaulins, but the wagon's distinctive silhouette with its tall ribbed roof remains one of the most recognisable in freight operation.

Prototype specifications (telescopic hood wagons of the Shimmns family, figures for the Shimmns 708):

• type: four-axle bogie flat wagon with sliding telescopic hoods
• purpose: carriage of steel coils and other weather-sensitive steel products
• in service: since 1971, with DB, ÖBB, SBB and SNCB among others
• loading length: 10,800 mm
• loading width: 2,400 mm
• tare weight: 22–24 t
• maximum speed: 120 km/h
• minimum curve radius: 35 m
• load equipment: five coil cradles, twelve adjustable securing arms

About the manufacturer – PIKO:

PIKO has been in continuous operation since 1949, and its base in Sonneberg, Thuringia, is one of the best-known addresses in European model railways. More than seventy years of experience have produced a broad range in scales H0, TT, N and G, covering everything from starter sets to the highly detailed PIKO Expert series. The brand's freight wagons are noted for their careful finish, legible printing and good running qualities. PIKO is also among the leading producers of models of Polish rolling stock, including PKP, PKP Intercity and PKP Cargo vehicles.