New Otmm 64 from Fleischmann

In December 2023, Fleischmann released a labeling variant of the Ed089. It is identical to the Otmm 64.

Example

Since the beginning of the 1950s, the DB has been experimenting with the Otm car type. It was important for the customers that the car had the option of unloading the load from the side in a measured manner so that it could be loaded onto a truck using conveyor belts or similar. At the same time, the wagons should have a significantly larger loading volume, such as the DRG Talbot gravel wagons. In 1954 the time had come: the first prototypes of the then Otmm 52 were put into service, followed a year later by the Otmm 54. The car was developed by Talbot in Aachen. Up to the Otmm 70, later Ed(s) 090 and Fc(s) 090 and 092, there were seven car types, with the Otmm 57, Otmm 61, Otmm 64 and Otmm 70 each having over 3,000 units. This article is about the new product from Fleischmann, the Otmm 64, later called Ed 089.

The last versions of the Otmm were also delivered with a cover, such as the Otmm 64 as the Ktmm 60. The Otmm 64 was built from 1959 to 1962; There were also differences in design. The cars had a loading volume of 33.5m³. The wagon was built for cargo that is insensitive to moisture, such as coal, gravel or gravel. A total of 5,561 Otmm 64 cars entered service.

Components were modified over the course of the procurement period. From 1965 onwards, all cars received their new computer-friendly designation: the Otmm 64 became the Ed 089, later Fc 089. The number range of the Ed 089 was: 540 7 000 ... 541 1 569. Previously they were in the number range 607 598-609 999 and 620 000-623 159 sorted.

The predecessors of the Otmm 64 model have already been reported here:

New two-axle self-unloading wagon Ed089 from Fleischmann - DM-Toys.

Therefore, the predecessors can be dispensed with until 2021. A Minitrix car has also appeared in the meantime. It is a DR Fcs 8460 that was purchased used by the DB. There it was originally an Otmm 64. This was already the 3rd edition of the car, interestingly all under the same order number (15931), but with 3 different company numbers.

Fleischmann was the third member of the group to appear in a car set in 1995 with his Otmm 64. Like its counterpart with a roof, it had an unloading function that was operated with the thick arm from the middle of the car. It wasn't until 2008 that the shape was remembered and further variants were brought out. To date, 13 variants have appeared, 6 of which are based on the German model, 3 private cars and 4 ÖBB cars. A new design of the car was released in 2022, this time without the thick arm in the middle.

Let's get back to No. 3 in the Otmm family, the current innovation from Fleischmann. Compared to the Otmm 64 mentioned above, the thick arm in the middle of the car is missing. It is a new design for 2022. Unlike its predecessor, it didn't take 13 years for the Ed089's brother, the Td928, to appear, but only a few weeks.

Like its brother, the Ed089 is loaded with coal, which also acts as the weight of the wagon. The only stupid thing is that a load is shown here that doesn't even make up half of the load volume. If it bothers you, you can add more imitation coal, preferably glued so that the coal stays in the car.

The underside of the car clearly shows the relationship to the Td928. The same chassis was used here as in the original. This saved additional mold costs. Like its brother, Fleischmann has installed a new form of spring for the close clutch. The spiral spring can be clearly seen in the photo.

The relationship to the self-unloader with a roof can also be seen on the front sides: On one side of both cars there is a continuous ladder going up, and on the other side there is a ladder divided by the stage railing. This part therefore only needed to be constructed once and can be used for all variants of both cars.

The dome distance is satisfactory at approx. 3 mm. The car has design-related deviations (material thickness of the model), but these are still tolerable and drove over all possible rails and switches on the club facility without uncoupling.

Main dimensions of the new Otmm 64 in mm

Use on model railways

The wagon is one of the standard freight wagons and can be used in a variety of ways for bulk goods. It had partially replaced the classic open freight wagons. These include coal, gravel or gravel. These goods were transported from the producer in block trains, but can also be delivered to the recipient as individual wagons. In my opinion, a wagon train whose wagons all come fresh from the AW is less true to the original. Here, model railroaders can try their hand at “wheathering” the cars to get a more varied picture. The brown interior of the car also seems unnatural to me when it is loaded with coal. If that bothers you, use black paint with a brush. Here, the school paint box with the opaque colors may be sufficient, as the author tested himself.

Conclusion           

With the second edition, Fleischmann presented a model from Era IV. As already mentioned above, the first cars were put into service in 1959, i.e. in Era III. The car was in use until Era V, more precisely until 1995. There are several possible variations here.

The cars sold to the DR have also already been announced, but are not yet available for delivery. Of course, foreign cars are also possible, as very similar cars were produced abroad. Let's see what else Fleischmann has to offer us. The author's wish is that Fleischmann would overcome his phobia of Epoch III. Let's wait for the next trade fairs in Nuremberg.

Klaus Kosack

Literature:

G. Wolff, The two-axle self-unloading wagons, Freiburg 1993
S. Carstens, freight wagons, volume 4, published special design wagons, Nuremberg 2003
S. Carstens et al., DB AG freight wagons, Fürstenfeldbruck 2014
German wagon archive, keyword Ed 089, loose-leaf collection, Munich from 1994
DB – DV 939d, edition January 1967, Minden 1967