Continental HO

[squeaky]

I've taken an interest in Continental HO, I'm really taken by the Roco CSD Rh478 "Goggles" but I don't know much about overseas stuff apart from the US HO that I currenlty do.

 

So can anyone point me in the right direction of a simple guide to the different types of locos and the manufacturers and their merits.

 

For instance where do the manufacturers rank - Roco, Fleischmann, Piko etc. Which is best supported country to model, I presume Germany then Switzerland etc.

 

Any help would be appreciated.

[bbishop]

If you can get to Sutton Coldfield on 15 September, come to the European Model Railway Exhibition in the Town Hall (B73 6AB). You will get your questions answered!

 

Bill

[Horsetan]

I've taken an interest in Continental HO......

 

Your wallet will certainly notice. Continental HO prices are some way above US HO ones.......

[mp55aec]

Its not a goggles you want, it will be the earlier type 'Bardot" class 749 that Roco are introducing this year but must have sound!!!!

 

 

The goggles is made by CS trains (now obsolete) Roco and Rivarossi, preferably my choice would be Roco and on the .de auction site not co.uk they are pretty cheap €139 thats about £110.

 

I'm not a thousand percent sure but I think that each depot used to have its own paint scheme until recently thus a rainbow of loco liveries, but now standard CD blue is the norm. Roco have also just made the matching coach stock for these locomotives, get them while you can as they will sell fast!

[mp55aec]

 

For instance where do the manufacturers rank - Roco, Fleischmann, Piko etc. Which is best supported country to model, I presume Germany then Switzerland etc.

 

 

Im a recent convert to HO too, I've only today written a blog on my proposed Norwegian layout, a good place to start is a copy of Todays Railways Europe or some of the excellent Lineside Video production European videos, and there are lots to choose from on their web site, I decided on Norway as I didnt want different types of loco classes running into double figures, I hate to think how much money all the DBAG loco's I like would cost if I purchased just one of each, the Norwegians basically use about 5 classes of Electric and all of 3 classes of diesel loco today!!.

 

Your Czech choice would be like my Norwegian interesting and different,

[Barry Ten]

Best bet is to buy Continental Modeller, lots of good info in the mag, and you can learn a lot just by studying the adverts and seeing what's available for the different countries and eras. I have a few Roco models and they can't be faulted, but all of the main ranges do some nice stuff across a range of prices - it's not *all* eye-wateringly expensive, especially when you look at some of the Piko stuff.

[Horsetan]

....it's not *all* eye-wateringly expensive, especially when you look at some of the Piko stuff.

 

No, but it does make you think at least twice before you shell out.

[Sir Madog]

There is no way around it, when you intend to model continental prototype, you´ll have to spend a lot more when compared to UK or US prototype. Marklin/Trix and Piko offer some modern outline locos, which are cheap, but in both meanings. Piko´s cheap Prussian G 7steamer is not worth considering at all.

[chaz]

I used to run HO German stuff. I took the view that even though the stock was far more expensive than UK outline the quality was much higher (This was in the eighties). Buy a Fleischmann, Roco or Lilliput loco and you could pretty well take excellent running for granted. They were also very well detailed. I wanted the quality, and if that meant fewer but better I was happy.

 

Chaz

[Tim Hale]

If you can get to Sutton Coldfield on 15 September, come to the European Model Railway Exhibition in the Town Hall (B73 6AB). You will get your questions answered!

 

Bill

 

Or you could you for a specialist forum, lots of 24/7 help from very knowledgeable folk.

 

Tim

[Bernard Lamb]

Comment removed by admin.

 

My oh my.

Who got out of bed the wrong side this morning.

Is you remark aimed at one person in particular or am I included under a general catch all associated with the group?

Never had a problem with any one on there and found it a very good source of information. It can put you in touch with some real experts who do not post on forums. If you aproach it with an open mind that is.

Bernard

[Allegheny1600]

Steady on chaps,

This hobby is all about having fun not oneupmanship, there is room for all and we can all help each other, let's just try and get along eh?

In answer to the OP, Barrytens advice, followed by bbshops is probably best and easiest to follow.

Almost all the continental marques have excellent models, some also have hobby ranges, equal to Hornby's railroad range or the P1K or Atlas trainman ranges, too.

Cheers,

John E.

[Tim Hale]

Hi,

 

I agree with all except I would like to push Piko for Central Europe, even their old pre-1989 ranges of wagons/coaches were excellent (but not their locos). My last DDR layout used both old and new Piko with pride of place being a 40year+ dosto 4-car rake with lowmac disc wheels. Very accurate and a good runner.

 

Brawa's diesels are excellent value as are Gutzold but make sure that you buy the post-1989 models as unscrupulous sellers use their modern brand to sell pre-1989 models.

 

The central European countries would buy each other's products with small variations hence some appear in variety of liveries.

 

The Transpress range of books is truly excllent and a great source of info.

 

Tim

[Tim Hale]

Piko´s cheap Prussian G 7steamer is not worth considering at all.

 

I strongly disagree, it is an excellent and accurate model. Several contributors to DSO forum have created very detailed models with a minimum of effort.

 

Tim

[Guest oldlugger]

Many of the continental HO manufacturers produce fantastically well detailed and accurate models (Roco, Güztold, etc). The only thing that lets these models down is the over scale wheel flanges and tyre widths, although there have been improvements in recent years. There are some wonderful models out there and most are silky smooth and quiet. Roco was light years ahead of any British manufacturer until quite recently (when Bachmann first hit the UK rtr market).

 

Simon

[mp55aec]

Hi

I agree with all except I would like to push Piko for Central Europe, even their old pre-1989 ranges of wagons/coaches were excellent (but not their locos).

 

 

Is it true that PIKO and Schlicht (spelling?) had export quality and Comecon quality for the models they prduced?, I was told the export models were of a better finish,

[Bernard Lamb]

Is it true that PIKO and Schlicht (spelling?) had export quality and Comecon quality for the models they prduced?, I was told the export models were of a better finish,

 

No.

The models were designed with the export market in view but were on sale at home. The same scenario occured with all sorts of products. Practika cameras comes to mind. The GDR desperately needed foreign currency. The price in the west was far less for many exported "luxury" products than the price in the east.

You could buy model trains f you could :-

a) Find a shop that stocked them.

B) Could afford them.

 

To take up Tim's point re Piko wagons. The G10 van is as good as any other make if improved with new wheels and couplings and the odd detail. Basic proportions are excellent.

Bernard

[Tim Hale]

When Piko made the move to accurate goods and passenger stock, the group* consulted the MEC's in the DDR to ensure that they made the wagons and passenger stock that was wanted and that the best compromise on accuracy could be reached.

 

Their strengths were the quality of the moulding techniques which resulted in accurate models however their weakness was their metal components - poor quality motors, wheels etc.

 

The company offered the basic range of standard bauart goods wagons: G02, G20, OM10, OM20, R10 etc. only later did they expand the range with longer wheelbase wagons and more specialised types. The best example of their passenger stock was their doppelstockwagen or dostos, only in the past two years have Rivarossi offered anything as good with their new and excellent version.

 

The story of Piko is more complicated than the last few paragraphs, their rebirth in 1990 established them as masters of moulding, capable of producing anything to rival Roco etc. however their locos still lack the finesse of their main rivals. Gutzold was part of the Piko group but like Sachsenmodelle, split from the core- their latest locos are truly excellent and are as good as anything from Roco however the end is in sight as the company is up for sale.

 

Tim

 

*There is no equivalent of the DDR organisation, Piko was a brand formed of disparate manufacturers.

[squeaky]

Thanks for all the replies, i've been doing lots of research and I want to get a D753 or RH478 which I believe are the same??

 

Can anyone tell me which is better a Rivarossi or Roco version?

[squeaky]

Price is a factor, however I've found a recent Rivarossi from Hornby with DCC sound for £150 which is cheaper than I can currently get a Roco version, the Roco version with sound is about £200

[mp55aec]

Have you looked at .de not .co.uk on the famous auction site? I have seen non sound models from roco for €139, and as you say with sound €239

[Sir Madog]

Piko´s G 7.1 lacks a lot of typical detail for this class. At about € 110,00 I don´t think it is really a bargain, compared to what you get from Bachmann at this price. H0 Manufactur in Eschwege is producing a detailing kit to bring it up to par, but that´s another € 150,00 you have to cash out.

 

[Tim Hale]

Rather than compare the Piko G7 with Bachmann it would be more useful to compare with Model Loco, the only other source for this loco. The Model Loco kit is approx. 300eu. and is a rather crude kit.

 

The add-ons from HO Manufactur are also needed for the Model Loco kit as it is lacking in many of the later additional details applied by the DRG.

 

Even so the basic model from Piko is both reliable and accurate, the problem is that some work is required and this is not usual for Most German enthusiasts who expect everything to be RTR

 

 

Tim

[squeaky]

I've been doing lots of research on Continental modelling and I've decided on Italy. I really like the D.752(753) locos which were originally built in the Czech Republic. Some of them have found their way to Italy and have been repainted into various interesting colour schemes.

See here http://www.hornbyinternational.com/en/rivarossi/1601-diesel-locomotive-d-753-732-rt-in-rail-traction-company-livery.html

 

One of the things I would like to clarify is wagon movements around Europe. Can say a DB registered wagon find its way into Italy or do they tend to stay in their country of ownership?

 

The main reason for this the lack of FS branded models.

[mp55aec]

You can even see UK registered wagons in Italy and I remember seeing FS bogie vans here even before the tunnel was open and they plied the train ferry. I think the only wagons you may not see would be 'domestic" use like postal services or out of gauge vehicles.

 

There standard Italian diesel is if I'm correct the D345 type, produced by several maunfactuers in HO. There are several types of DMU there from the old 668 to the new type minuetto low floor cars.