Hobbyshops in Berlin and Hamburg

[gavino200]

I'm planning a little trip to Germany in March. Berlin and Hamburg mostly. I'd like to go to a train store when I'm there (maybe one in each place). I want to buy a German N-scale  train when I'm there. Maybe a U-bahn or S-bahn. But I'd don't want to visit a ton of stores. I'd prefer to pick one or two of the best stores with the best selection and chose something there.

 

I've been searching Berlin hobby stores. This one looks good. But it's not clear how much N-scale they have. Also, it seems a bit Marklin heavy. Doesn't Marklin use a special kind of track?

 

https://www.modellbahnen-am-mierendorffplatz.de/

 

This one also looks good.

 

https://www.modellbahn-pietsch.de/

 

If you were going to visit ONE hobby shop in Berlin to buy an N-scale German train, which one would you pick?

 

 

Same question for Hamburg. 

 

 

Edited December 16, 2017 by gavino200

[railsquid]

I'd go for "Modellbahnen am Mierendorffplatz", they have a good selection of new and 2nd hand N gauge stuff.

[Yavianice]

I don’t know of a Berlin U-Bahn in N scale. S-Bahn In N scale is available, from Arnold (the really old types). They are also quite expensive and rare in good condition. Hobbytrain will produce the latest version of the Berlin S Bahn sometime next year in N gauge.

[railsquid]

3 hours ago, gavino200 said:

I'm planning a little trip to Germany in March. Berlin and Hamburg mostly. I'd like to go to a train store when I'm there (maybe one in each place). I want to buy a German N-scale  train when I'm there. Maybe a U-bahn or S-bahn.

 

 

As Yavianice said, the old Berlin S-Bahn is available but hard to find. Various Berlin U-Bahn bodyshells are available on Shapeways, but obviously far from an RTR option, e.g. https://www.shapeways.com/product/WH227KL27/berlin-baureihe-g-n-scale?optionId=62018505

[Suica]

I guess Turberg would also be an option. http://www.turberg.de/

Right across the street from the main store they have a smaller shop for used models.

Turberg is usually considered to be quite expensive but from what I've heard they have a good selection.

 

Even though I live in Berlin, I almost never visit model train shops. Most of them are just too far away for me. And the visit would probably end up in a disappointment anyway. I only visit the bi-monthly collectors' fair (there's one planned for March 11th). Here are a few impressions:

Edited December 16, 2017 by Suica

[gavino200]

That 

2 hours ago, Suica said:

I guess Turberg would also be an option. http://www.turberg.de/

Right across the street from the main store they have a smaller shop for used models.

Turberg is usually considered to be quite expensive but from what I've heard they have a good selection.

 

Even though I live in Berlin, I almost never visit model train shops. Most of them are just too far away for me. And the visit would probably end up in a disappointment anyway. I only visit the bi-monthly collectors' fair (there's one planned for March 11th). Here are a few impressio

 

 

 

 

 

That looks fantastic. I'll be travelling from Berlin to Hamburg on March 11. But maybe I'll be able to stop by early. Where are they located? Do you know how early they open?

[Suica]

It's here. 

They open at 10. 

[gavino200]

3 hours ago, railsquid said:

 

As Yavianice said, the old Berlin S-Bahn is available but hard to find. Various Berlin U-Bahn bodyshells are available on Shapeways, but obviously far from an RTR option, e.g. https://www.shapeways.com/product/WH227KL27/berlin-baureihe-g-n-scale?optionId=62018505

 

Thanks. I saw think we'll stick to something brand new and RTR (with the exception of DCC conversion). But as far as I know German trains are built with a decoder socket. No?

[gavino200]

5 hours ago, Yavianice said:

I don’t know of a Berlin U-Bahn in N scale. S-Bahn In N scale is available, from Arnold (the really old types). They are also quite expensive and rare in good condition. Hobbytrain will produce the latest version of the Berlin S Bahn sometime next year in N gauge.

 

Thanks. I saw the Arnold S-bahn. And I've seen some ariport shuttle models (Munich) so I just assumed there was a wide variety of these available. Never assume.

[railsquid]

1 minute ago, gavino200 said:

 

Thanks. I saw think we'll stick to something brand new and RTR (with the exception of DCC conversion). But as far as I know German trains are built with a decoder socket. No?

 

I guess so, though most of my German trains are second hand, and as I don't care about DCC I don't really keep track.

[railsquid]

3 minutes ago, gavino200 said:

 

Thanks. I saw the Arnold S-bahn. And I've seen some ariport shuttle models (Munich) so I just assumed there was a wide variety of these available. Never assume.

 

Unexpectedly, I acquired 3 out of 4 sets in my collection here in Japan.

 

s-bahn-et-165-all by Rail Squid, on Flickr

[kvp]

N gauge is pretty much standard, 2 rail with DC or DCC. Maerklin has a special 3 rail H0 standard, but all their N gauge stuff is sold under the Minitrix brand as normal 2 rail. You will be surpised by the number of DCC socket types in use nowdays from the classic 6 pins to more exotic smd sockets.

[Welshbloke]

Just beware of Ibertren. I think they offered 3 rail N years ago as well as conventional 2 rail? Obviously the models would only be of historical interest now but I know I'm not the only one with a few early N items which occasionally get a run.

[bill937ca]

i just picked up another Arnold GT6 tram and in the box was a little card for the dealer. As of now their website redirects to their ebay page. There are two locations in Berlin.

 

https://www.ebay.de/str/toyauctiondeshop

 

 

Japanese language blog with coverage of MIchas Bahnhof. This blog says the shop is mostly second hand.

 

https://blogs.yahoo.co.jp/nicky2526/43757845.html

 

 

Edited August 20, 2018 by bill937ca

[bill937ca]

Another Berlin model train store.

 

Modellbahn - Pietsch GmbH *

 

Prühßstraße 34 * 12105 Berlin *

Modellbahn Tel.+Fax : 030 706 77 77 *  
Öffnungszeiten : Montag bis Freitag 9.30 Uhr bis 18.00 Uhr, Sonnabend 9.00 Uhr bis 13.00 Uhr

 

https://www.modellbahn-pietsch.de/ueber-uns/

 

Video in German.