In Autumn 2021, Märklin and Piko announced the result of their joint project to produce Class (Baureihe) 218 497-6 DB Fahrzeuginstandhaltung Cottbus in special livery. On one half of the diesel locomotive carries the Piko logo on a black blackground to symbolise the steam era and on the other half carries the Märklin logo on a white background to symbolise the modern Intercity livery. This special livery signifies the connection of DB Fahrzeuginstandhaltung (DB Heavy Mainteinance) legacy as a repair shop for steam locomotives as well as its future as the latest ICE maintenance depot.

Foto: Piko.de / Andreas Sitrl

Märklin produces the AC-version in HO-scale (1:87) and in DC-version in Z-scale (1:220) while Piko will produce in DC/DCC-version in HO- and G-scale.

Overall Impressions of Märklin’s BR 218 487-6

True to Märklin’s tradition of fine details, I am impressed with the overall details.

Overall Impression of Piko’s BR 218 497-6

I was asked to make a farewell present for a colleague started his career as an apprentice at DB Fahrzeuginstandhaltung and left as a department head. I thought that the BR 218 FZI Cottbus was a befitting gift for him and a reminder of his years at FZI. He is also a HO-scale modeller; thus, PIko model was an obvious choice.

In terms of fine details, Piko lacks the finesse and you can the obvious differences everywhere. It makes the model look toy-ish. I think Trix modellers would be disappointed to have the only model available in DC/DCC-version. I have seen YouTube videos of DC/DCC-modellers converting Märklin AC-version to DC/DCC.