What has the brand new superman movie got to do with a German model train manufacturer? The connection between these two is a hyper-realistic Märklin model train set of 14 meters by the same across used as background for one of the major scenes. One of the decisive battles between good (Superman) and bad (Lex Luther) is staged on this enormous Märklin rail set.

The huge set was created due to an idea of the director Bryan Singer and his writers. For 14 weeks twelve model makers, five carpenters, three scenic artists, four specialists for finished models, a CAD design engineer and two electricians were busy assembling this miniature scenery from hundreds of individual Märklin kits. Bryan Singer chose Märklin as a result of an extensive market research. Besides the great choice of trains and model kits the main reason for partnering the German Märklin company was the high quality of their beautiful, detailed models. “Their trains and model kits are simply exquisite” said Guy Hendrix Dyas, production designer of “Superman returns”. They built a superlative model train set mimicking various landscapes including a miniature Metropolis with its high skyscrapers, imitations of little villages in the Swiss Alps and the Scottish Highlands. Even German castles, American landscapes like Mount Rushmore and delicate harbour facilities were parts of this unique set. Most remarkably, the design crew used two different scales of miniature trains, i.e. H0 and Gauge 1 to achieve forced perspectives. The artists used 280 metres of rails in both scales, 21 electric circuits and various kinds of trains. All locomotives and wagons have been treated with paint or – to speak the language of model makers – “carefully weathered” and partially re-varnished.

On occasion of the movie Märklin offers a once-only special edition of “Superman” trains for H0. This set reserved to Insider Club members includes an electric locomotive “Superman" and a diesel locomotive "Lex Luthor", based on a dual system locomotive class 185 and the general-purpose locomotive "Hercules" designed together with Warner Brothers for the animated film. The “Superman” set with the article number 36837 may be ordered at a suggested retail price of € 218.

Märklin Club Members will also appreciate the high side gondola with a load of "Kryptonite", which glows mysteriously green while operating – just like the “real” kryptonite in the movie. The wagon with the article number 48706 will cost approximately € 16,90 (suggested retail price).

Kryptonite Wagons are available at short notice. Engine sets will be delivered at the end of the year. Orders should be placed at your Märklin’s specialized shop before September 30th, 2006.