In 1997 Arnold Modelleisenbahnen GmbH of Germany introduced its N gauge (1:160) powered model of the Düwag GT6, a popular articulated 6-axle strassenbahn (tram) design. Boasting solid German engineering, the model's chassis uses die-cast metal frames. Circuit boards (used as internal wiring) and weight covers are sandwiched onto the frames using machine screws. One section of the model houses the motor, and a driveshaft with universal joints passes through the articulation to a sizeable flywheel in the other section. Only the end trucks are powered. What looks like a slotted machine screw on the underside of the motor section is actually a rotatable switch that can energize the sprung metal pantograph. The original Arnold drivetrain requires a higher-than-average voltage to run and produces a unique "electric machinery" whirring noise when running.
There are variations of body shells with different roof details, and the parallelogram pantograph is located in different places on different models. Various versions were produced through 2000, for both analog DC and digital operation. An undecorated tram was sold, and clear plastic main body shell halves have turned up for sale as spare parts.
Hornby Hobbies acquired the Arnold company and re-introduced the Duewag GT6 models, with an "HN" product number prefix. These use a new, updated power chassis with a plug-in connector for an optional digital decoder. The design lacks the built-in option to energize the pantograph. The first three models, HN2110 through HN2112, were announced in 2010, but did not appear until 2013 and had silver pantographs instead of black. HN2529 and HN2530 were announced as 2021 products, but did not appear until early 2022.
Four additional models appeared in early 2024 and debuted a different body variation. All of the earlier products are models of bi-directional GT6 trams, with doors on both sides in a double-single-double-single pattern (viewed from left to right) and flush vertical windshields. The new products are models of a uni-directional GT6 version, with four double doors on the right side, no doors on the left side, a sloping recessed front windshield and a flush rear window. Furthermore, the second model version comes equipped with either the usual parallelogram pantograph or a lever-arm pantograph of more modern design. - R. D. Kerr
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Product No.: | 2975 |
| Year Made: | 1997 | |
| City/System: | Lille TCC | |
| Colors: | Red-white-red; angled stripes | |
| Vehicle No.: | 379 | |
| Route/Line: | T - Tourcoing | |
| Writing: | TCC logo | |
|
Product No.: | 2976 |
| Year Made: | 1997 | |
| City/System: | Bochum Bogestra | |
| Colors: | Beige with green belt stripe | |
| Vehicle No.: | 279 | |
| Route/Line: | 306 - Bochum / Buddenbergplatz | |
| Writing: | ||
|
Product No.: | 2977 |
| Year Made: | 1997 | |
| City/System: | Mainz | |
| Colors: | Orange/beige | |
| Vehicle No.: | 232 | |
| Route/Line: | 11 - Finthen / Hbf Gonsenheim | |
| Writing: | ||
|
Product No.: | 2978 |
| Year Made: | 1997 | |
| City/System: | Bochum Bogestra | |
| Colors: | Red/white | |
| Vehicle No.: | 46 | |
| Route/Line: | 306 - Bochum / Buddenbergplatz | |
| Writing: | ||
|
Product No.: | 2979 |
| Year Made: | 1997 | |
| City/System: | Bochum Bogestra | |
| Colors: | Beige with green belt stripe | |
| Vehicle No.: | 282 | |
| Route/Line: | 306 - Bochum / Buddenbergplatz | |
| Writing: | Sparkasse ad | |
|
Product No.: | 2980 |
| Year Made: | 1997 | |
| City/System: | Genf CGTE | |
| Colors: | Red with white belt stripe | |
| Vehicle No.: | 795 | |
| Route/Line: | 12 - Carouge | |
| Writing: | CGTE | |
|
Product No.: | 2981 |
| Year Made: | 1997 | |
| City/System: | Zürich VBZ | |
| Colors: | White/blue | |
| Vehicle No.: | 1543 | |
| Route/Line: | 4 - Tiefenbrunnen | |
| Writing: | VBZ Züri Linie | |
|
Product No.: | 2982 |
| Year Made: | 1997 | |
| City/System: | Gent LIJN | |
| Colors: | Black/white with 2 yellow bands | |
| Vehicle No.: | 60 | |
| Route/Line: | 12 St. Pietersstation / Korenmarkt | |
| Writing: | LIJN | |
|
Product No.: | 72983 (Arnold Club) |
| Year Made: | 1997 | |
| City/System: | Bochum Bogestra | |
| Colors: | White with red balloons | |
| Vehicle No.: | 88 | |
| Route/Line: | 88 - Bogie / Party Bahn | |
| Writing: | Bogie Party Bahn | |
|
Product No.: | 2984 |
| Year Made: | 1997 | |
| City/System: | Innsbruck | |
| Colors: | Yellow/red | |
| Vehicle No.: | 85 | |
| Route/Line: | 1 - Bhf Bergisel / Hungerburgbahn-Talstation | |
| Writing: | ||
|
Product No.: | 2985 |
| Year Made: | 1998 | |
| City/System: | Rheinbahn Düsseldorf | |
| Colors: | Beige with gray belt stripe | |
| Vehicle No.: | 1283 | |
| Route/Line: | Düsseldorf Hbf / über Südbrücke | |
| Writing: | ||
|
Product No.: | 2986 |
| Year Made: | 1998 | |
| City/System: | Bochum Bogestra | |
| Colors: | Beige with green belt stripe | |
| Vehicle No.: | 279 | |
| Route/Line: | 306 - Bochum / Buddenbergplatz | |
| Writing: | AEG Lavamat ad | |
|
Product No.: | 2987 |
| Year Made: | 1998 | |
| City/System: | Bochum Bogestra | |
| Colors: | Yellow/orange | |
| Vehicle No.: | ||
| Route/Line: | 306 - Bochum / Buddenbergplatz | |
| Writing: | Javaanse Jongens Cigarettentabak ad | |
|
Product No.: | 2988 |
| Year Made: | 1998 | |
| City/System: | Mainz | |
| Colors: | Beige with gray belt stripe | |
| Vehicle No.: | 128 | |
| Route/Line: | 11 - Finthen / Hbf Gonsenheim | |
| Writing: | Afri Cola ad | |
|
Product No.: | 2989 |
| Year Made: | 1997 | |
| City/System: | (undecorated) | |
| Colors: | Light yellow | |
| Vehicle No.: | none | |
| Route/Line: | none | |
| Writing: | none | |
|
Product No.: | 2990 |
| Year Made: | 2000 | |
| City/System: | Rheinbahn Düsseldorf | |
| Colors: | Orange | |
| Vehicle No.: | 679 | |
| Route/Line: | Dienstfahrt | |
| Writing: | Arbeitswagen | |
|
Product No.: | 2991 |
| Year Made: | 2000 | |
| City/System: | Rheinbahn Düsseldorf | |
| Colors: | Beige with red belt stripe (compare to HN2111 below) | |
| Vehicle No.: | ||
| Route/Line: | 5 - Düsseldorf Hbf | |
| Writing: | Persil ad | |
|
Product No.: | 2992 |
| Year Made: | 2000 | |
| City/System: | Essen | |
| Colors: | Yellow/blue (similar to HN2112 below) | |
| Vehicle No.: | ||
| Route/Line: | 107 - Bredeney | |
| Writing: | ||
|
Product No.: | none |
| Year Made: | ---- | |
| City/System: | ---- | |
| Colors: | (clear plastic shell spare parts) | |
| Vehicle No.: | none | |
| Route/Line: | none | |
| Writing: | none |
Notes:
The prefix "7" added to the product number 72983 denotes a special "Arnold Club" offering.
A prefix "8" added to a product number indicates it was factory-equipped with a digital decoder.
|
Product No.: | HN2110 |
| Year Made: | 2013 | |
| City/System: | Vestische Strassenbahn | |
| Colors: | Beige with green belt stripe | |
| Vehicle No.: | 377 | |
| Route/Line: | 305 - BO Querenburg / Hustadt | |
| Writing: | Jägermeister ad | |
|
Product No.: | HN2111 |
| Year Made: | 2013 | |
| City/System: | Rheinbahn Düsseldorf | |
| Colors: | Beige with red belt stripe (compare to 2992 above) | |
| Vehicle No.: | 2701 | |
| Route/Line: | 705 - Neuss / über Südbrücke | |
| Writing: | Persil ad | |
|
Product No.: | HN2112 |
| Year Made: | 2013 | |
| City/System: | Essen | |
| Colors: | Yellow/blue (similar to 2992 above) | |
| Vehicle No.: | 1723 | |
| Route/Line: | S - Sonderwagen | |
| Writing: | ||
|
Product No.: | HN2172 |
| Year Made: | 2015 | |
| City/System: | Vestische Strassenbahn | |
| Colors: | Green with white belt stripe | |
| Vehicle No.: | 369 | |
| Route/Line: | 23 Bottrop-Pferdemarkt / über Gladbeck-Horst | |
| Writing: | ||
|
Product No.: | HN2173 |
| Year Made: | 2015 | |
| City/System: | Gotha | |
| Colors: | Blue/yellow | |
| Vehicle No.: | 579 | |
| Route/Line: | 1 - Hauptbahnhof | |
| Writing: | ||
|
Product No.: | HN2529 |
| Year Made: | 2022 | |
| City/System: | Heidelberg HSB | |
| Colors: | White/light blue | |
| Vehicle No.: | 218 | |
| Route/Line: | 1 - Betriebshof | |
| Writing: | ||
|
Product No.: | HN2530 |
| Year Made: | 2022 | |
| City/System: | Heidelberg HSB | |
| Colors: | Red | |
| Vehicle No.: | 238 | |
| Route/Line: | Rohrbach Süd | |
| Writing: | Coca-Cola ad (script lettering) |
|
Product No.: | HN2602 |
| Year Made: | 2024 | |
| City/System: | Wiener Linien (Vienna) | |
| Colors: | White/red | |
| Vehicle No.: | 4801 | |
| Route/Line: | 21 - Schwedenplatz | |
| Writing: | System logo | |
|
Product No.: | HN2603 |
| Year Made: | 2024 | |
| City/System: | Essen | |
| Colors: | Yellow with blue stripes | |
| Vehicle No.: | 1639 | |
| Route/Line: | 104 - Hauptinednol | |
| Writing: | none | |
|
Product No.: | HN2604 |
| Year Made: | 2024 | |
| City/System: | Essen | |
| Colors: | Silver/white with red stripes | |
| Vehicle No.: | ||
| Route/Line: | ||
| Writing: | König-Pilsener ad | |
|
Product No.: | HN2605 |
| Year Made: | 2024 | |
| City/System: | none | |
| Colors: | Red | |
| Vehicle No.: | ||
| Route/Line: | ||
| Writing: | Coca-Cola (block lettering) and logos |
