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1:64 Scale & Smaller
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Topic starter
18/02/2026 6:46 pm
Many years ago, when I was just a kid and more of a youngster than I am now, I picked up a number of 1/87 scale military vehicles from the Austrian company ROCO.
I still have some that are in existence, like this M55 8-inch armed self-propelled gun. This was meant generally for providing artillery support and not taking on other tanks or leading the way into combat.
This replica has seen better days and remains un-painted but it is perhaps 65 years old ! These are some quick phone-camera snaps.
18/02/2026 7:10 pm
Thanks for photos. Many years ago I had some HO trains, and I bought some Roco military models. They were nice looking.
Ed Davis
Inverness, Illinois, USA
18/02/2026 8:56 pm
For decades I'd see their fully stocked displays in hobby shops; ROCO produced hundreds of well-detailed 1/87 H.O. military vehicles. But I never understood just who was actually collecting them.
How many 1/87 WWII train layouts were RR fans building?
Or how many were creating H.O. train layouts that needed modern military equipment? Were collectors just acquiring these models to display - then why did ROCO choose 1/87?
🤔 🤔 🤨
Tony Perrone reacted
Topic starter
18/02/2026 9:44 pm
ROCO was an Austrian company I believe, and that half-o scale was likely very popular in more space-limited European houses. Here, they were at our local town hobby shop and other hobby stores, too. I happily got a number of the pre-built versions and there were kits and pre-painted editions I understand.
Since I had and liked H.O., Lionel and American Flyer train sets, I wasn't necessarily exclusionary with only one scale and these ROCO armored force/military vehicles have apparently proved perennial and popular. I believe they may still be around and versions from the Far East, authorized or not, are seemingly still produced.
19/02/2026 8:31 am
Another great item Mike. Man, you had a wonderful childhood! LOL!
Topic starter
19/02/2026 3:05 pm
I did, Tony ! Sometimes you don't realize what you had or your good fortune until much later.
19/02/2026 6:22 pm
Hi Mike,
I still have a bunch of these and several other brands that I used for military diaramas years ago. I just took this phone image 5 minutes ago of a few in mywork and model room. Very cluttered but...
Topic starter
19/02/2026 9:10 pm
Very nice collection and a little dust gives it an authentic look ! I don't know if that is a mark of the giant Challenger British main battle tank, but it looks great.
I still have some of the ROCO military vehicles (including a Challenger) which were sold at out local TV/Radio/Hobby shop along with Matchbox and Models of Yesteryear automobiles.
Christopher Moroni and David Green reacted
19/02/2026 11:03 pm
Yes, too dusty unfortunately. That is a Leopard tank on an Elephant transporter. 1/87 by ROCU.
Christopher Moroni and michaeldetorrice reacted
Topic starter
20/02/2026 6:48 am
The Leopard tank looks great on it's transporter ! I still have I think an earlier mark of the German Leopard as done by ROCO in 1/87 scale.
When my Grandfather worked for Diamond-T trucks during World War II, one if their war production items were giant tank-transporter vehicles, used to get the armored units up closer to more forward lines and also to "rescue" disabled tanks to be taken to repair areas. These were powerful trucks and had to be to carry a 40 or 50 ton tank back to repair units !
20/02/2026 7:09 am
"I still have a bunch of these and several other brands that I used for military dioramas years ago."
As I noted in my post above - I wasn't exactly sure to whom & why these 1/87 ROCO military were sold.
David, were there many, like you, who set up H.O. battle scenes and/or military dioramas?
20/02/2026 10:24 am
Hi Chris,
Military dioramas, often battle scenes were quite popular in England where I come from, usually using Britains soldiers and vehicles and quite large. Napoleonic era was a favourite but WW was also big. ROCO made it easier to do smaller displays although 1/35 scale is very popular in Ontario, Canada. Here, it was mainly WW II. I was in a group in the 1990 and assume many are still active.