Gabs (G50) covered wagon Roco

As usual at Roco, the wheels are not the right diameter (11 instead of 10.6); but the axles are unusually short: 23.8 instead of 24.8, which is explained by the fact that the model is of Klein Modellbahn origin. Roco does not hesitate to sell — expensive — a wagon which, as we will see, is largely non-compliant with the original.

So, a more precise examination makes it possible to identify a number of mistakes, mainly at the ends: vertical body uprights and oblique reinforcements are different; position of the label holders, towing hooks, and steps, non-conforming; no door opening stop, etc.

I thought for a moment that, because of the manufacturers’ Austrian origin, the model was the ÖBB Gabs, but not at all: the latter has metal walls arranged very specifically. Actually, they took the Italian model and simply modified the roof and replaced the doors that are aluminium on the latter.

I did not complain because I knew all this from the Loco-Revue forum, but, in my great naivety, I hoped that, given the price, Roco had corrected (or rather remade) the mould. But alas it is not so.

To end on a positive note, the marking is consistent, except the centre distance of the bogies (14.66 m instead of 16.66 m).

Main characteristics: tare 28 t; maximum load C: 51.5 t; working volume: 157 m³; working area: 52.6 m². Opening of the doors: 4 m × 2.15 m.

Because of its exceptional loading surface, this wagon was known as “ballroom”.

See a comparison between SNCF and FS Gabs versions. We can see that the body of the Roco model is closer to that of the Italian wagon