On-line since 2002

> 600 pages
> 1150 manufacturers
> 11000 pictures
> 1.000.000 unique visitors

87thScale.info does not 
spam. If you received a 
spam message with an 87thScale return mail 
address it is forged.

PIC-R    Umex / Minitanks

Roco was founded in 1960 by Mr. and Mrs. Roessler after Mr. Roessler recognized that plastic injection moulding (which was quite a new development then) made it possible to manufacture models with greater detail compared to the metal models that were produced at the time. Initially Roco made Minitank models only, but entered the model railroading market a few years later with HO- and O-scale models. Models in N-scale models followed in 1965.

In 2002 the company, which was privately held, was sold and extensive investments and modernization measures turned Roco into one of the most modern manufacturing plants in the model railway industry. Unfortunately, the investments also led to high indebtedness which ultimately resulted in a bankruptcy in the early summer of 2005.

In July 2005 the Roco assets and trade name were bought by Modelleisenbahn GmbH, this new company will continue production of the Roco models.  

Early models
Additional information received from Frank Noeth

A part of Roco history that is less known.... copies of Wiking models that were made by Roco from 1965 until about 1972. The models appeared just after Wiking had switched to glazed models. There may have been more models so additional information is welcome ! 

Henschel with lowloader

Henschel / VW Transporter / Magirus S3500	DKW / Tempo Matador

Magirus Laddertruck

Roco Minitanks

These models are listed on a seperate page.

Miniatur-Modell series

This series of car and truck models was started in 1980 after ROCO had received a lot of requests from collectors to release the models from the well known ROCO Minitanks series in civilian versions. In the beginning, most of the models were therefor civil versions of the Minitanks models. Additionally, three of the former UMEX Caterpillar models were rereleased by ROCO in 1982. The first model that was specifically made for the Miniatur-Modelle series is the Steyr 91 truck which was released in 1982. Several packs of detail parts were also available.

The production of the ROCO Miniatur-Modelle was stopped in January 2001, with the exception of several models that were used as accessories to the railwaymodels. Additionally, there was one new release (a Mercedes-Benz Unimog wrecker, Australian prototype) to celebrate 50 years of Unimog. 

After Modelleisenbahn GmbH acquired the moulds, several Roco models have been issued again but it is not clear if there is a seperate Miniatur-Modell series or if the models are released as accessories as Roco did before.  

Catalogue scans:

1982/83 4 pages A4

Modellisting: (incomplete)

* Kibri models

Accessories

Two Roco press pictures from 1989, pictured left are models 1359 and 1366, pictured right are models 1542 and 1543.

Back to the manufacturers list        Back to the modellistings page