BRAWA 46578 - H0 local transport car ABn 404 DB

BRAWA 46578 - H0 local transport car ABn 404 DB

Role model information

With the conversion programs for 3yg and 4yg wagons, the Deutsche Bundesbahn was able to counteract the shortage of wagons caused by the war for the first time in the mid-1950s. However, the new construction programs were initially limited to the development of urban rapid transit and express train cars. Only after this did the Federal Railways have the capacity to develop new local transport cars (n-cars).

The constantly growing demand for traffic and the fact that the 3yg in particular only has a short service life were designed, led to the first prototypes of the new n-cars in 1958. Based on the findings of the previous new developments and the prototypes, the three basic types were created with 5 1st class compartments in the middle of the car and two large 2nd class compartments (AB4nb), three large 2nd class compartments (B4nb) and two large 2nd class compartments and a luggage compartment Driver's compartment (BD4nf). While tests had been carried out on the prototypes with side panels made of aluminum, normal steel and also corrugated side walls, it was ultimately decided to use stainless steel (V2A) paneling for series production. Since the cars did not have to be painted to protect against corrosion on this material, the n-cars were sanded below the windows with a so-called peacock eye pattern. This grinding pattern, in conjunction with the silver surface of the V2A, quickly earned the n-cars the distinctive nickname “Silberlinge”.

With a few exceptions, the n-cars were light with bogies of the Minden-Deutz design Equipped with block brake (MD42), which gave way to disc brakes (MD43) in later series. In order to change passengers as quickly as possible, the usual end entrances were omitted and these were arranged around a third of the car as double entrances with revolving doors.

The basic design of the n-cars proved so good that between 1960 and 1980 Around 5,000 wagons were built by various wagon manufacturers but also in the repair works (Aw) in Karlsruhe and Hanover. Initially, the space conditions in the very cramped driver's compartments of the BD4nf were not entirely optimal, which quickly earned the nickname "rabbit box" among the staff and led to resentment and safety concerns. As a consequence, the Aw Karlsruhe redesigned the driver's cab so that in 1972 a control car with a full-fledged driver's cab was created with no possibility of transition to the next car. These changes make the Karlsruher head very different from the previous rabbit box with a car transition end.

From the mid-1980s, the Federal Railway began modernizing the cars, some of which were over 20 years old. After several design studies, the Aw Hannover combined the advantages of the individual programs to form the new Hannover design. New additions included the mint green paintwork and new translating windows with plastic frames. This design, which was also installed with other interior colors by PFA Weiden or OFV Verona, can still be found today in the n-cars, which are now painted in the current corporate identity of DB AG.

Further conversions again affected the control cars. The two types presented so far were only suitable for diesel or electric traction by changing the control table. A new driver's cab was therefore designed in the Aw Wittenberge, based on the DB standard driver's cab of the BR 111, in order to be able to use the control cars more freely. Numerous old rabbit boxes and Karlsruhe heads were then converted into Wittenberg heads. In order to cover the need for more push-pull trains, DB AG also included normal 2nd class carriages in the conversion program.

Model details

Design differences according to variants
Differently designed car floors with different heating designs
Complete replica of the brake system
Multi-part interior fittings appropriate to the era
Short coupling kinematics
Differently designed roofs with fine replica of the weld seams
Axle storage in metal axle holders
Replica of the tangentially wavy wheels made of metal
Precisely fitted windows corresponding to the era
Details engraved with sharp contours
Variant with interior lighting contains interface with soldering points

Technical details

Length over buffers: 303 mm
Interior: built-in
Interior lighting: prepared for BRAWA order no. 2212
Short coupling kinematics: installed

 

Characteristics:

Manufacturer:	BRAWA
Item number:	46578
number of pieces:	1 piece
EAN:	4012278465784
track:	H0
scale:	1:87
model series:	Passenger car Silberlinge/local transport car
Company number:	50 80 31-33 024-6
Railway company:	DB
country:	EN
epoch:	IV
Electricity system:	DC
operation mode:	DC analogue
Length over buffers:	303mm
coupling:	NEM 362 shaft with KK kinematics
Interior decoration:	equipped with interior furnishings
Interior lighting:	prepared for BRAWA order no. 2212
Age recommendation:	14 years and older
WEEE no.:	DE14862574