Before I start my review of this model I think I need to answer the following question.
"Why would someone who models the electrified railways of Switzerland want to purchase a German diesel railcar
?" I have just completed a small extension to my "Sustenbahn" layout in the shape of a branch line leading to several hidden storage sidings and thought it would add interest if the line was operated by an imaginary private railway company. This would enable me to introduce new rolling-stock to the layout in a different livery to that carried by my SBB/BLS stock. I scoured the model shops and catalogues in an attempt to find a suitable electric railcar that I could re-paint for the new private enterprise. I considered the Minitrains NPZ and the excellent Arnold RBe540 but decided that I really wanted something a little more individual. As the new extension is seen very much as a local line I thought of using trams from Arnold or Kato but the types produced only really look at home in a large town or city. I looked at the Japanese offerings but rejected them on the grounds of their 1/150 scale, which was very noticeable and their high floors….. I assume that Japanese platforms are quite high like the ones in the U.K. Although there is a good selection of electric railcars from the German manufacturers I considered them to be either too old in design or more suited to mainline use. It was while looking at the German models that I discovered the recently introduced "Talent" diesel railcar from Brawa. It wasn't an electric but it really caught my eye. It had almost everything I was looking for…..modern low-floor design, short wheelbase for the sharp curves on my branchline, an attractive but simple livery that could be easily customised…..the only thing missing was a pantograph !!!
After seeing the unit run impeccably, straight out of the box my mind was made up and all thoughts of getting an electric railcar went out of the window. I would buy the "Talent" and worry about it's suitability for a Swiss layout later. If I couldn't justify it's existence I could always add a pantograph and convert it to some sort of freelance electric unit. I have since overcome this problem by deeming my new branchline economically unsuitable for electrification so it looks like my "Talent" will continue to run as a diesel albeit in a slightly revised livery to the DB one it carries at present.
The Brawa model is based on the Class 643 prototype produced by Bombardier Transportation (formerly Talbot) and is the second of what is likely to be a series of trains collectively known as "Talent"
Class 644, the diesel-electric version, has been in service around Köln for several years but the diesel-mechanical Class 643 is still entering service and I understand that some teething problems are being experienced… I hope that this does not extend to the model version !!
The Class 643 is a 3 car unit consisting of a Bpd, Abp and Bp centre car. The train is articulated with the Bp sharing the inner bogies of the driving cars and is powered by 2 x 6 cylinder diesel engines each developing 315 kW. The clean, modern lines are emphesised by the use of streamlined front-ends similar in appearance to the ICE3. It is basically a low-foor design with the outer ends raised slightly to accommodate the mechanical equipment.
The Brawa Class 643 model is supplied in a colourful presentation box with probably the
best instruction leaflet that I have seen. It is printed in German and English and gives step by step instructions,
with diagrams, of all normal maintenance procedures. Included also are two additional pairs of windscreens. These
are not provided as replacements should your layout be plagued by N-gauge brick throwers but are Brawa's way of
allowing you to change the train's destination indicator. My model, as supplied, had Dusseldorf as it's destination
with the additional windscreens giving a choice of either Bingen or Mainz…..a simple but effective idea. The model
is equipped with nicely detailed dummy auto couplers front and rear but an adaptor coupling apron and coupling
are also provided which allows two sets (or more) to be coupled in multiple should you so wish. 
I
cannot fault the running qualities of the model. Straight from the box it ran smoothly and quietly and tests have
proved it to be capable of very slow speeds even over complex pointwork (including a Peco INSULfrog double slip).
At a setting of 20% on my Gaugemaster controller it consistently covered a distance of 28 inches in 1 minute and
if I have done my sums correctly this equates to a scale speed of just over 4 m.p.h.. I am certain that these figures
could be bettered on long sections of straight flat track but my alpine layout prevents this sort of testing. Brawa
say that the unit is designed for a minimum radius of 192 mm and I have experienced no problems on the Peco setrack
points in my fiddle-yard. The unit is also sure-footed and is easily able to cope with the far from prototypical
gradients on parts of my layout, no doubt due to it's 4 traction tyres and cast metal floors. I am not an expert
on DB AG but based on photographs Brawa really seem to have captured the looks of the Class 643 and assuming you
think the same I would really recommend this model to anyone modelling Epoch 5. Let's hope that they can do something
equally as good for us Swiss modellers in the not too distant future.