Piko 51449 Expert MAV Rh431.194 Electric Locomotive VI HO Gauge

Expert MAV Rh431.194 Electric Locomotive VI 1:87 scale model produced by Piko. This model is ready-to-run straight out of the box and would make a excellent addition to any model railway collection. Features: Analogue DC Model Best suited to Epoch VI Model Railways This model mainly operates in Hungary This model is decorated in MAV company markings This model is best suited to 358mm radius curves Details The MÁV Class V43 is a classic Hungarian electric locomotive that became the backbone of electric traction on the Magyar Államvasutak (MÁV) network. Designed in the early 1960s to replace ageing electric and steam locomotives such as the V40, V60 and Class 424, a total of 379 V43s were built between 1963 and 1982. The first seven prototypes were constructed in Germany, with the remainder produced under licence in Hungary by Ganz-MÁVAG and Ganz Villamossági Muvek. With a B'B' wheel arrangement and a power output of 2,220 kW, the V43 was capable of speeds up to 130 km/h (later limited to 120 km/h), making it versatile for both passenger and freight services. Its distinctive box-like body and robust early semiconductor traction electronics earned the class the affectionate nickname “Szili.” Over the decades, successive upgrades led to subclasses such as the V43 1000, 2000 and 3000 series, which received improvements including better suspension and digital control systems. In the 2010s the class was renumbered to modern UIC-compliant designations (430, 431, 432 and 433). Remarkably durable, many V43 locomotives have served for 60 years, a testament to their reliability and the extensive maintenance regimes developed by MÁV depots. Today they remain a compelling prototype for Eastern European electrified layouts, ideal for both era-specific and contemporary modelling scenes.