PIKO G Gauge Sets

It's been a while, but PIKO buildings seemed to have good quality to me. 

I usually bought some LGB locos and I had a couple PIKO buildings

They are Ok quality, not up there with LGB but servicable. Some early locos had issues with wheels, the material, and the axle journals are not great, but can be made to run as well as USAT... not as tough as Aristo.

Greg

PIKO makes a very good product but it is not the level of quality from LGB Germany days.  PIKO is produced in Germany and does have great value for your dollar compared to what some LGB sets run.  However, the LGB red/cream set you are talking about I have seen some dealers advertising a price around $299 for the set and it has sound/lights/smoke for the Stainz.  That is a very good deal even though the sound on a Stainz engine is not the same as one of the Moguls, but again you get sound!  The set comes with track and transformer so a very good deal compared to the pricing when LGB Germany was in business.  If you were really considering only getting one set then I personally would go the LGB route.

Even LGB by Marklin I can tell a difference from my stuff from the Germany days.  The Germany product was in my opinion where the bar was set at.  Marklin still does a good job and still makes some pieces that I get each year.  I have the Christmas Piko sets/cars and pleased with them as an alternative to LGB.  I will not however be shifting the majority of my collecting to them for as stated before, good but still not the LGB level of detail that I prefer.

The PIKO track is spot on though and on par with LGB as far as I am concerned for it looks the same and interchangeable.  A PIKO set still would not be a bad purchase, but just realize that it is not LGB but still good in quality for what it is, does and costs overall.  But depending on who is using the train, yes if handled improperly the PIKO would most likely damage before LGB would.

Hope this helps.

David

I have the Piko 0-6-0 w DCC Sound and have to agree with Greg on component quality. I would go with the Marklin Stainz set. 

Thanks folks for the info, good to have some advice without the sales pitch thrown in. I want a European set, not an American set. I see Piko offers some Euro stuff but LGB is, of course, the go-to for European.

I'll have to keep my eye out for the Stainz set. I agree, the $299 price tag is good. If the sound (really a static chuff) is the same as it was in the 1990s, it isn't terrible but it isn't very good!

Thanks again for the advice. Once I recover (ha!) from York, I'll turn my attention to LGB. Sure do miss the old school LGB from Germany....what great stuff that was!

I pretty much agree with the comments already posted. In my long years in the hobby, I have consistently ranked LGB and Marklin as firms offering the highest-quality general market electric trains. LGB quality was hard to beat and the current product, at least in my experience, appears to be equally good. You'll find a good selection of Large Scale product at Trainworld. Didn't see a $299 LGB set there when I checked this morning, but their pricing is still very good. Large Scale garden railroading has long been a favorite part of the hobby for me, and if I ever move to a home with a decent fenced-in yard again, you'll most likely find me out building another garden pike. I have plenty of LGB to run on it, that's for sure. Have not purchased a Piko train set, but I have owned and built a good number of their excellent building kits over many years.

I too am looking into G Scale for my new layout. I have come across USA Trains. Does anyone own and run their trains and what is your opinion about their quality...?

I talk about the major players on my web site, and USAT opinion there.... www.elmassian.com  .... They are good quality, and good attention to detail and good runners... I have about all that they make...

Greg

lgb is the best!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have the Piko 2-6-0 in Rio Grande paint and it is very close yo the LGB I own. 

I bought mine for well under $200 delivered.....a good deal. 

kenv posted:

lgb is the best!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You apparently never owned a overprced LGB Mikado that will continuously tear up its gear train after a few hours of run time??

Sorry but I'll take the USA Trains Prestige series with all metal gear trains anyday...esp. the cute lil' 0-6-0 die-cast metal Docksider! Or the AML 0-6-0...another cute lil' loco!

I have some of the recent Piko product and am very pleased with it, especially the diesels and rail buses. I also like Marklin Gauge 1 and Marklin Maxi but that is another story.

Miketg

Piko Buildings are Quality kits  I have many. Due to the scale of rolling stock I only own 1 engine there newest version Camelback Sounds as good as my QSI Loco's runs great for our club indoor events for a year and a half. AAAA+++++ plus to Piko as they seem to be the # 1 in 1/32nd scale sound and smoke equipt locos.