Copyright 2012 William P Turner/Poolsiderails.com
POOLSIDE RAILS
Where Paper Crafting and Model Railroading Collide
Herpa’s Catwalk Hauler
If you collect model vehicles or feature them on your HO scale model train layout you know that Herpa is a German manufacturer of excellently detailed vehicles. Their line features a wide variety of cars, mostly European but some American, and a huge number of trucks. Herpa engineers are always looking for something new and unusual to offer their customers.
Their model of the German super yacht Catwalk all by itself is certainly new and
unusual. Scaled to precisely 1/87 of the original, the model Catwalk stretches a
little over eighteen inches long. Add to that a Goldhofer roller trailer with a finely
detailed yacht carrier, Volvo GL and MAN TGX four-
Each unit in this model, the two tractors, the Goldhofer, and the yacht, is precisely and realistically engineered to traditional Herpa standards. There is no additional detailing needed anywhere in this set.
But if you buy the Low boy set with Catwalk Riwatrans you won’t be getting the entire yacht Catwalk. European roadway height restrictions necessitated the removal of the top of the cabin and the flying bridge in order to get this monster down the highway.
This means you also need to purchase Mercedes Benz Actros L low boy semitrailer with Catwalk upper deck "Riwatrans" in order to get the entire yacht. The Catwalk turns out to be something of a convoy before she even touches the water!
Catwalk herself is an amazing ship in the real world. Built in Germany in 2006, she measures a hefty 133 feet long and 26 feet wide. Her twin diesels push her along at 16 knots when cruising, 19.5 knots at full throttle. For all that, however, she’ll go just 1,300 on a full tank of gas. That tank holds 7583 gallons of diesel, which means she gets a whopping .18 miles per gallon. Hmmm – not for the petrol conscious, is she? She’s flagged in Gibraltar, which means you’ll most likely see her next time you’re cruising the Med.
It turns out the Herpa hauler set is almost as exclusive. They are currently sold out, although you can find them online at several different hobby dealers.
Bring your wallet, though. Herpa’s MSRP for the Catwalk transport set us just under 200 Euros, which works out to around 267 USD – not a bad price for that huge “wow” factor. But then you have to add the 60 Euro Catwalk Upper Deck Set, which ups the total by another eighty bucks. Still, you get a super yacht, that incredible trailer and no less than three highly detailed heavy duty tractors for around $350. Considering that the real Catwalk costs around $11 million, you’re getting yours at a real deal!
Will the Catwalk find a home on ourrailway here at Poolside Rails? Sadly, no. Although our railroad’s fictitious prototype runs from Paris to Peking, there is simply no portion of my HO scale garden railway long enough and flat enough to accommodate these two vehicle sets realistically. But ours is a garden railway. We’re not all that keen on displaying a $350 in my garden, and perhaps she might look better on a mantle anyway.
You can learn more about this amazing set from our Resources Page (scroll down to Herpa), or directly from Herpa.
She may be a huge extravagance, but you would certainly be the only kid on your block to own a super yacht!
Your model railroad layout or collection or miniature vehicles will never be the same once you add the Low boy set with Catwalk "Riwatrans" from Herpa.
Photo: Herpa.de
HO Scale Vehicles