Hiro vs. Hiro

The Plarail Talking and Normal version are almost the same. The Talking one has its speaker in the tender and uses 2x AAA batteries to power it. There are two buttons on the coal, one is for the sound and the other the on and off switch. The Talking Model has a longer type coupling connected to the locomotive. All the new Plarail 2013 Talking Engines free roll when switched off and are not slow. Both Hiros use a C Size battery for the locomotive. When I raced them together it seems the Talking one is quite faster than the normal Hiro. The talking one speaks Japanese and I think only few people in the Western world would understand it. I can speak Japanese but this dialect is quite hard to understand. The details are just the same and no changes bar the modifications needed to accommodate the Talking effect. So which would i recommend, the Plarail TS-07 Hiro, or the OT-O4 Talking model? Well the latter has more features than the former, and is definitely value for money at a rake of £18.00 (this is with postage) on eBay. The normal one has no sound but it is still good quality. I think I recommend both models, get them both like I did. But if you can only buy one, then that's up to your opinion. If I had to recommend one over the other, it would be the Plarail OT-04 Talking Model.

Got mine on Hobby Search but you can find them on eBay too. Here is a video I've found which is really useful: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zSfrWSUr7oc

Thuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu

[Super]

Thanks for the help Tales

Not sure that bulky white coupling is needed as it doesn't look like there is a need for wires running between the tender and engine. At least they could have made it black to be less noticeable. It does look beefy enough for the rough play of children so they can't be separated and maybe that was their intention. I can't tell from the video exactly but does your talking version have painted windows on the cab or a sticker (I hate the stickers) Talking version does seem to be a good runner and not too noisy.

As both Hiros are the same, there are no stickers. The Plarail model is an absolute beauty when it comes to accuracy to the real character. The TrackMaster model is a better of as a "representation" of Hiro rather than a "model". The plarail one is just a beauty, and its one of my favourite models of all time.

[Super]

Thanks Tales

I might have to look into the Plarail version to deface and replace the Trackmaster "Not A Hero" Polar Express we have that have stickers for the cab windows.