I find the LGB ( electric ) based Playmobil trains of superb quality in all respects . The 14V motors are not the most powerfull ( comapring to 24V) but very good still. The 4052 i think is one of the best looking G scale trains ever, might not have the detailing of G scale trains by e.g LGB but is a superb looking very well propotioned train and by far my favourite train , with the two motors also is quite fast !!!!
Playmobil over the years created an impressive number and variety of different engines ( the wetsern train is superb looking also i should add ) and many wagons of various types and many supporting sets such as the steck train station 4300 which for a steck hardcore enthusiast like me is one of the best steck sets of all time if you ask me . i think all steck houses should have these bases as the 4300.... Using the LGB tracks which are of superb and the best of qualith with very good conductivity brass alloy was expensive but associated the playmo locos with the VERY BEST OF OUTDOOR TRAINS. The coming of the RC trains and the plastic tracks have the benefit of lower costs but i think they are far far inferior in all respects, even the plastic of recent models is far inferior that the plastic used in the old trains. Given the clientele of these old trains I am confident to say i think playmobil used the very best of plastic they used ever for their old trains
I am also new to trains as apart from a western train and some western wagons i bought in the early 90s , i bought my trains in 2010/2011 and i have over 85metres of LGB track. There are truly superb and i would love to see playmobil going back to LGB and not these cheap plastic but i doubt that this will happen as Maerklin who bought LGB wouldnt benefit from licencing these tracks again....
