Can you give an overview of the european model railway industry?
AUSTRIA
KLEIN is a producer of HO models from Austrian prototypes.
ROCO (Salzburg) is one of Europe's most important manufacturers. Roco produces in 0, HO, HOe and N scale.
In 0 there is only a track system.
In HO Roco brings us a wide variety of rolling material from the whole Europe. These highly detailed plastic models, mostly in exact 1/87 scale, are available for both DC and AC systems. Some of the
best known Roco HO models are the German Diesel TEE, the Swiss Crocodile and the Swiss locomotive 2000. The rail system Roco-Line with ballast is one of the most prototypical ones on the market. In
HOe there are models of the Austrian Mariazellerbahn.
In N there are not as many models, but also of interesting prototypes. In the past Roco produced for the US market. I don't know if this is still the case.
HOBBYTRAIN is a manufacturer of models in N scale.
BRITAIN
NB. Most British models are OO scale ie 4mm scale on 16.5mm gauge track.
HORNBY (used to be Triang) produces a range of both steam and diesel prototypes. Has a reputation of being to of being towards the toy end of the market. Though some of the latest models are better.
Also produce a range of Thomas the Tank Engine 2models.
WRENN These are die cast models produced from moulds originally made by Hornby Dublo. Mostly steam outline. Triang bought them, kept the name and hived off the models to Wrenn, now taken over by
DAPOL.
DAPOL Took over the moulds of both Airfix and Mainline. Sold most of the moulds to Hornby, what use they will make of them has yet to be seen.
REPLICA Originally was marketing models produced by Bachmann from the Mainline moulds. Once Bachmann realised what the market was they withdrew their support and Replica where left without a range.
They have now found some to manufacture for them.
BACHMAN See Replica above, since taking over some of the Mainline range Bachman have produced under their own name and substantially developed the range with new, good, steam locos and new mechanisms
for both steam and diesel models. Mainline mechs were a weak point.
LIMA After a shaky start with some British models in HO Lima changed to OO and now have an extensive range of British prototypes, the principle rival to Hornby and of similar quality. Models often
compromised by using parts such as wheels and bogies from the European HO range. Particularly good for modern image Diesels.
GRAHAM FARISH. produce the only N gauge RTR models available apart from a few by Minitrix.
See also "UK model railway suppliers" at <http://www.argonet.co.uk/users/s.freeman/ogaug.html>
FRANCE
JOUEF produces models of French prototypes for the HO scale, 2-rail DC system. For example there is a really fast TGV Atlantique.
GERMANY
ARNOLD (Nuernberg) builds models in N scale. Arnold has a version of Lenz digital for N.
BEMO is a specialist for HOm meter gauge railways. Most of the models are reproductions of Swiss prototypes.
BRAWA (Waiblingen) builds additional material for building landscapes and towns, but also models of small German shunting engines in HO scale.
FLEISCHMANN (Nuernberg) produces model railways in HO and N scales for the 2-rail DC system.
The HO models were first in 1/85 scale, but today the standard scale 1/87 is used. Long coaches are reduced to 1/92 or 1/100. Fleischmann uses lighter colors than the original. The Fleischmann
program is mostly for the central European market. There are old Prussian models and a beautiful ICE. The track system `Profi-Gleis' is with integrated ballast.
In scale N, most of the HO program is repeated. There is a ballasted track system as well. Fleischmann's digital system is called FMZ.
LEHMANN builds the large, weatherproof L.G.B. models in 2m scale.
LILIPUT used to be an Austrian company, but they went bankrupt and were bought by Bachman. Their seat is now Fuerth in German and they produce mostly European locos and cars from epoch II to V.
MAERKLIN (Goeppingen) produces model railways in the scales 1, HO and Z.
The 1 models are expensive and robust, made of plastic and metal. There are some German steam, diesel and electric locomotives and the Swiss Crocodile. All Maerklin 1 engines will operate on 2 rail
AC, and most can also be operated on either AC, DC or digital systems, so you can run them on any layout with 45 mm gauge, provided the curve radius is at least 1 m. There is also a 1 track system
and an overhead wire system with German and Swiss pylons.
The HO models are produced for the 3-rail AC system. They are made of die-cast metal or plastic, and some of them tin plate. Most models are reproductions of central European prototypes, but there is
also the US Diesel engine EMD F7 with US freight wagons. Other prominent models are the Kruckenberg rail-Zeppelin and the ICE. For the epoch I, there are some nice models of prototypes from
Wuerttemberg. Long coaches are reduced to 1:100 scale.
Under the name HAMO, Maerklin produces models for the 2-rail DC system. There are two track systems for the 3-rail AC system: the M tracks, made of sheet metal, and the K tracks, with profile rails
and plastic sleepers. Maerklin also produces an overhead wire system for HO.
The Z models are (nearly) the only ones of this small scale. These models are copies of German, Swiss and American prototypes. A track and overhead wire system completes the program.
The Maerklin digital system is available for all scales.
PIKO (Sonneberg), founded in the GDR, is a manufacturer of HO models from East German prototypes.
RAILEX is a small-series manufacturer of brass models in Z and N scale. The N scale ones are marketed by Arnold.
SACHSENMODELLE (Oybin) produces models of European, mainly German with a slight emphasis on ex-DDR, prototypes in HO scale. There is a model of the famous Soviet sleeping car.
SOMMERFELDT produces the most complete, complicated and prototypical overhead wire systems for HO, HOm and N, for most European railways.
TRIX (Nuernberg) produces model railways in HO and N scale.
In HO there are models for the exotic Trix-Express system (3-rail DC) and for the 2-rail DC system. Trix has some old Bavarian models.
The N scale is more important. Prototypes are German and French. Trix produces the third digital system, SelecTrix.
ZEUKE (Berlin) is the only manufacturer of model railways in TT scale, mostly reductions of GDR prototypes.
BUSCH, FALLER, HEKI, NOCH, POLA and VOLLMER are important producers of houses, landscape material, electric equipment and other accessories for all scales.
ITALY
LIMA offers a variety of models of European rolling material, in HO scale. There are some very interesting models of railcars like the TGV or the German Lufthansa Airport Express. However, some of
the Lima `models' are still cheap plastic toys.
RIVAROSSI is a manufacturer of HO models from US prototypes.
JAPAN
KATO is the best known Japanese manufacturer. Kato makes models of European and Japanese prototypes in HO and N scale.
SWITZERLAND
HAG builds expensive metal models of Swiss prototypes in HO scale, for the AC and DC systems.
There are many manufacturers of very expensive small-series brass models in 1, 1m, 0, 0m, HO and HOm scales. FULGUREX and LEMACO are the best known.
SPAIN
There are ELECTROTREN and IBERTREN. They seem to have HO and N models of Spanish prototypes. Electrotren is Maerklin H0 compatible.