At the Spur-1 Days in Ebermannstadt 2025, BMB/Bees Modellbahn announced models of the Bügelfalten-E 10. One particularly attractive variant was the 110 469-4 from TRI, which is currently covered with known TV figures and is also often referred to as a „mouse locomotive“. Some time after the announcement, a letter from the WDR house lawyers arrived at BMB, containing a settlement agreement. This was intended to prevent the model of this well-known and undoubtedly attractive locomotive from being released.
This proposal was not accepted, so that a hearing at the Cologne Regional Court was scheduled a few months later. Although the judge was able to follow BMB’s arguments to some extent, the WDR’s request was granted. The model variant had to be removed from the offer. However, BMB had good reasons not to accept this either.
This is how today’s Friday went in the next instance at the Cologne Higher Regional Court. The second home game was not so smooth for WDR. The court even took such a clear stance that the broadcaster’s lawyers presented a possible verdict and withdrew the injunction. This prevented the situation from becoming a precedent for similar disputes. Such precedents had already occurred frequently in the model sector. Regardless of that, it was an expensive „pleasure“ for the public-service broadcaster to have to endure it, which could have been avoided with the personal contact offered by BMB from the very beginning. It should be mentioned on the side that there were not exactly friendly comments in the Spur-1 forum on this topic, which were equally wrong in this matter as the WDR lawyers.
For us model builders and BMB this means: The Bügelfalten-E 10 with the colorful decals is now available again; already placed orders remain valid according to BMB.
The 110 469-4 has already been released in the webshop. Anyone who wants to know more about it or order the locomotive, Follows Simply follow the link: www.beesmodellbahn.com/vorbestellung-lokomotiven/e-10/
Here's another photo of the pleat:
110 469-4 of Train Rental GmbH (TRI) was registered as DPN 91068 (Köln Hbf – Düsseldorf Hbf) on March 3, 2025 in Düsseldorf-Oberbilk.
Photo: Joachim Bügel/Slg. Tom Steiner