I had a little time tonight, so I thought that I would give my recent Maerklin 37326 the head to head treatment against my Roco 78593.
I bought the Roco locomotive when it came out, because the livery was unique. I bought the Maerklin model because I had all of the other Re 6/6.

At first glance the models are both very nicely rendered. The Maerklin model, at least the one that I got, does not appear to have either the misaligned printing (lok number) or the bogie problem that I had read about on Stummi and elsewhere. I probably would have been happier if the model would have come with the grey painted pantographs like most of the other Re 6/6s.

The Roco lok has better sound. It also has a raised crest for the town of Linthal. The windows and wipers are much finer than the Maerklin model, as are the pantographs. What I am not crazy about with the Roco model is that the roof section is painted silver, which I guess is because that section was originally aluminum. I do not know if it was polished at the revision where it received this new livery. but the photos that I have seen seem to suggest that the Maerklin model looks more like the real thing.

Both of the models are labelled for Re 620 088. I do not know if the actual lok has had it's number modified to the new standard (91 85 4620 XXX CH-SBBC) yet.


Here are two photos of the actual lok:
https://trainspo.com/photo/77924/
https://farm5.static.fli...2324524_535d6e0c8f_b.jpg

Here is a photo of the Roco model: https://cache.willhaben....5/987/196_2079842248.jpg
Here is a photo of the Maerklin model: https://www.suter-meggen...ent/bilder/37326_900.jpg

The Maerklin model has a single Swiss taillight. When you activate F1, this changes to dual red lights. I have seen Re 4/4II pushing consists with Steuerwagen with two red taillights, but I don't think I have ever seen this on a Re 6/6 (620). While we are speaking of the lights, the Roco model has a much more prototypical red taillight, which is limited to the outer edge of the headlight assembly. On the Maerklin model, the entire headlight turns red when activated, which is not quite accurate.

All in all, as with many other duplicate productions, each model has it's pluses and minuses, but overall each one is well done.

I think that I am going to run the Roco model with the Re 420 from my 78582 Re 10/10 set and use the Re 620 (620 051) from that set on it's own.
I could also run the Roco model as a Re 10/10 with the Re 420 79251 (420 275), which is lettered for SBB Cargo and would make a good combination.
The Maerklin model will probably get assigned to one of my container trains or perhaps a mixed freight.

I will try to take a photo or two of my actual models in the coming days and append them to this post.

Regards

Mike C

Either way, both are a major improvement over the 7219 that the first Maerklin models with single arm pantographs were delivered with.

Regards

Mike C

SBB locomotive models almost don't need weathering to look real, so clean the real ones are. :)
Well, I saw some Re 460s whose front were really dirty. Just the front due to insects caught at hgh speed.

Regards,
Miguel

Where can you buy 1:87 dead insects ?

Just use full scale insects and a blender!

I am organising a protest march on behalf of insects. Preiser people will assemble at my main station and march round the layout on behalf of insects. However you can do what you want with wasps as they are excluded from the protest.