Terrakami’s MKII Train

Terrakami announced the MKII train design a while back on the Data Sphere forum.

Some people asked us to develop a new train model with more soft lines in contrast with the heavy industrial look of our first model. Our main idea was to make a model based on not right angles but keeping the design simple and solid enough. And finally here is it!

The MKII definitely has some soft lines in it, and with its aerodynamic design it looks to be inspired by the High Speed trains of today. It’s the train for those wargamers that are the sporty type. The MKII doesn’t really differ in playability from the MKI. It’s just a change in aesthetic. As it is a redesign, the MKII package will give you the same contents as the MKI:

• 2 locomotives with acrylic objective console pieces

• 4 cargo wagons
• Connection magnets (round 4x2mm), 20 units

Haqqislam against Nomads – fighting for control of the MagLev

While the train package doesn’t come with cargo crates, Terrakami was good enough to provide us with some. These are great, and just a short note for you all: Be sure to get your hands on some of these! They are detailed and easy to assemble and affordable as well. I’ll be sure to order some to expand my freight container collection next time.

Note: the Connection magnets weren’t available when the original MKI came out. Terrakami promised to provide these magnets to whoever ordered the MKI before by putting them into the next order. As the MKII is just a redesign of the MKI it features the same specs as the MKI train does; the objective console, the acrylic window, the doors at the back of the tractor, the cargo wagons. It measures 125 cm or 49,2 inch so it could easily cross the needed 4×4 tables of Infinity.

New Design and Construction

The MKII design is magnificent. The tractor, with all its sloped walls and strange angles, looks very complex but in reality it is very simple. You’ll have two sheets of MDF per locomotive, and a construction guide, which was much needed for me as a couple of pieces already fell out the moment I unpacked the sprues. On the guide, all the parts are numbered and it shows a step-by-step construction of the MKII. Great!

I really applaud Terrakami on the design of the tractors. I’m not familiar with the difficulties that arise designing a 3D object out of loose parts, but Terrakami nailed it! Every piece of MDF goes together perfectly and it fits like a glove. I required no glue during construction as everything slid into place and stayed put. Even with all the sloped sides of the tractor, everything looks marvelously designed. Each side of a sloped section has this ‘saw-like’ side to it, that interlocks perfectly with the other ‘saw-like’ side. This way you won’t get those hard edges, as the sides sort-of-like slide into each other.

Construction reminded me of my earlier LEGO adventures, and I slipped into the familiar rush as soon as I opened up the package. Opening up the manual, sorting the pieces, starting to put some pieces together and that hyper focussed mindset that allows you to work without any distraction. You could probably shoot a gun without me noticing! Putting the MK2 together is a great experience for all of you that did some LEGO previously!

Playability

Our review on the MKI already took a look at the playability of the train, you can find it here. I can only agree with everything stated there; it will dominate your table, in a good way.

Comparison between MKI and MKII

The MKI and MKII have a lot of similarities in usability, but they also have a lot of differences between them. For starters, the MKII is considerably easier to construct. This is a big plus for everybody who isn’t a Bob the Builder. The MKII is designed with this in mind and it shows, as most of the parts on the tractor as big plates and not tiny little pieces.

This doesn’t mean the MKII is losing any of the details the MKI was applauded for. The detail is still there in the small exhaust-rasters on the sides of the tractor, the chair of the controller and the sloped and detailed walls on the inside of the train for example. It’s just an aesthetic design change. The space inside the tractor is still the same, so there hasn’t been much change there and the train is still totally compatible with the Paradiso mission for example. The only real difference is the fact that the MKI tractor is accessible through doors in the side, which are missing on the MKII model. That’s no big issue, as the Paradiso mission doesn’t require the side-doors, but it might be an issue if you use it for other game settings. I know I will! 😉

The wagons differ a bit, and where the MKI was more designed with heavy freighters in mind, the MKII has open platforms and don’t feature the upright arms on the sides of the MKI wagons. Probably the biggest thing to compare is the price, and Terrakami seems to push the limits at the crossing of affordable ánd beautiful. I haven’t found a MDF train clocking in at 1,25 meters, with this amount of detail and so well designed as the MKII, that is still so affordable! It will not take a big chunk out of your budget and it will leave you plenty of money to take a look around in Terrakami’s webshop for the best freight containers and crates out there! Yes, this article is about the MKII, but I still would like to remind you of the beautiful detailed crates and containers Terrakami makes! 😉

The detailed containers of Terrakami go well with the MKII

It’s all in the details

What I really like about the MKII sprues is the fact that Terrakami was good enough to provide us all with a template for airbrushing. It’s in the sprue of the tractor, and you can use it on everything; the train, the wagons but also the Terrakami containers and crates. While my own train hasn’t been painted yet, due to airbrushes being a bit difficult to come by around here, I will definitely use the templates provided by Terrakami to bring some symbols and texts on the wagons and tractors in the future!

Recap

All in all, another great product from Terrakami. They have really pushed the limits in designing something that’s both awesome looking ánd affordable. If you are thinking about buying on of their trains, there is only one thing you really need to look for; do you like a aerodynamic design, looking for a way to expand your train to the passenger wagons? MKII is for you! When you are looking for a more sturdy train, really focussed on the industrial setting of the train in the Paradiso mission? Look no further than the MKI! Terrakami did it again!

The Train is 120cm long, has 4 wagons and 2 tractors