JOHN CHANDLER looks at what's new from these two manufacturers.
Between the two brands, new item announcements have been made for their N, HOe, and HO scale ranges.
Starting with HOe, there are two combinations of stake wagons. RC34580 is a single wagon with no load whilst RC34581 offers a pair of wagons loaded with logs.
This great value HOe starter set RC31034 comes complete with locomotive, four tipper wagons, an oval of track, plus a controller. These are a very popular way to get started in narrow gauge, either as a stand-alone layout or an addition to an existing one.
Founded in 1960, Roco is celebrating the brand's 60th anniversary 'in style' with a functioning model of the EDK 750 railway slewing crane. Available in two variants, Austrian (RC73035/RC79035) and German (RC73036/RC79036) (for two and three rail operation), and controllable either from a Z21 or a PS4 Controller, the models feature full control of the jib extension, raising and lowering, of the hook and of the rotation as well as sounds to match.
Suitable construction trains for each crane are also offered - Locomotive RC70711/70712/78712, construction train set RC76050, and box wagon RC76673 for the Austrian crane - and locomotive RC52538/52539/58539 and construction train set RC67198 for the German version.
Also in celebration of their anniversary, Roco have announced that a Taurus Rh1116 of the OBB will be liveried accordingly with models RC70485/RC70486/RC78486.
Following Modelleisenbahn's announcement a couple of years ago that the Fleischmann HO Range (except for the Profi Track) would transfer under the Roco banner, there are several new releases mirrored in both the Roco (HO) range and the Fleischmann (N) range.
In both brands, the named Motorail train, "Christoforus-Express" is announced comprising two 3-car sets along with a 2-car (Fleischmann FM881911/881912/881913) or 3-car (Roco RC74095/74096/74097) car wagons.
This Austrian RH1043 Locomotive (FM736509) is based on a Swedish design and was used for pulling freight trains.
The streamlined fairing on this Deutsche Reichsbahn BR01.10 Locomotive (FM7174045) meant that it could reach speeds of 150kph. This model is fitted with a Next18 DCC socket.
All the new items are presented in brochures RC80820 for Roco, and FM992021 for Fleischmann.
CLICK HERE to view all Roco New Items
CLICK HERE to view all Fleischmann New Items
CLICK HERE to download a Roco New Items 2020 
CLICK HERE to download Fleischmann New Items 2020