Hello,

I got my first exact scale (303mm) coach in 1972 It was a model of a SBB Bcm Couchette coach from Liliput. I later added a few more from the same series, including the DB Am203 and the FS Az.
It wasn't until 1984 when Roco introduced the Avmz in exact scale that my collection of full length coaches started to grow significantly.
I know that ADE manufactured some exact scale models and kits in the late 1970s/early 1980s.
My question is, who started making models in exact scale? Was Liliput the first, or were there other companies before that?
Today, the majority of companies are making models in exact scale. It is more prevalent in DC than in AC, but with the larger radii now available in C and K Track, some Maerklin afficianados are adopting these coaches too. Companies making exact scale models include:

Roco
LS Models
ACME
ADE
Bachmann (Liliput)
Rivarossi (Lima, Jouef)
RailTop
Heris
Hobbytrade
Hobbytrain
Tillig (Sachsenmodelle)
Hag (EW I)

The other manufacturers making reduced length models are Maerklin, Fleischmann, Piko. Roco, Hag (IC2000) and Rivarossi manufacture some 1:100 or 1:93 coaches.

I would be interested to know when the first exact scale large production model came out and who made it?

Regards

Mike C

Until the '60s Marklin had a policy of selective compression for coaches and locos. I believe they started to make the locos full length from the late sixties/early seventies onwards, but I have no hard and fast proof of this.

I believe the old 110.3 was too long because it used the chassis from the 111.

The 103 and 110 are toolings from the mid sixties when the policy was to compress locos as well.

Of my head, I guess Liliput.

John

Yes, it is true that Maerklin does make some models in exact 1:87. If the model is less than 27cm long, Maerklin decided to make it 1:87 as with that length, it could operate on Maerklin radii without problem. This can present some complications when assembling a consist:

For example, a train going through Switzerland made up of Maerklin and Trix UIC-X coaches (282mm/1:93) combined with a SBB Lightsteel restaurant and passenger coaches (272mm/1:87) would look visually improper to a dedicated modeller. Some might prefer that Maerklin made all models to the same scale, so that combinations could be achieved without having to worry about scale differences. The SBB Lightsteel coaches would probably have come out at about 264mm if they had also been rendered in 1:93.

The same issue also affected earlier releases, and it was an issue for many combining the 24cm metal coaches with the 264mm (Eurofima) and 270mm UIC-X/TEE coaches.
I guess that combining the new 282mm coaches with the older 270mm ones is also another instance where some modellers may cringe.

I did not want to get into the whole toy vs model thing. The topic was more to find out who was the first to make 1:87 coaches.
Looking back on the older Maerklin (and other) items. I am very pleased to see the progress that the hobby has seen in the last 50 years. I wish that Maerklin would introduce some multicoloured interior details and take advantage of some of the other improvements that have occurred over the years. If Roco can have an Exclusiv and a regular product line, there is no reason why Maerklin could not do something along the same lines. I just would like to see something more developed than a Maerklin coach that has an interior that reminds me of 1970s Liliput coaches.

Back to the original topic, thanks for the information about the dates of introduction of the 1:87 coaches. I do remember the coaches and how I thought they were cool because you could flip down the footboards between coaches. I also remember how they used to make a clicking sound everytime they brushed against the catenary masts. Not so funny now, but as a kid, trust me, it was a hoot.

Regards

Mike C