CONTENTS of the print edition
Model Auto Review 221
Publication 7 April 200804 Cars in colour 07 Ertl Force One aircraft: 2 Harvey Goranson, USA 08 Nuremberg Reports from Correspondents 10 Mikansue Alvis John Hanson, England 11 IMU Horst Macalka, Austria 12 Easterners Graeme Ogg, England 13 Edsel John F Quilter, USA 14 Captions: pp 16,17 15 News Cars 16,17 Cars Black, white, grey and silver 18 Letters 19 Hearses Chris Molyneux, South Africa 20 Competitions 24 More Macks Graeme Watt, Scotland 25 News: Truckstop 26 More Little Tanks Robin Godwin, USA 29 Buses and Emergency vehicles
EDITORIAL
by Rod WardA YEAR OF CHANGE?
With the dire predictions in the media about the poor economic climate this year, we expect a certain tightening of belts among the model manufacturing community, but it is nice to see some ambitious plans being announced by a few firms, so all is not lost. For example, Norev are making a ‘Spot-On’ range of reproduction British diecast vehicles, and Oxford will launch a new 1:43 scale range under the Falcon name in the Spring.
Sadly we have to bid farewell to another of our long-standing MAR stockists. Les Duplock of Model Road & Rail in Worcester Park tells me, ‘The lease is up on the shop premises and our trade (and we) have migrated to eBay, which is where the bulk of our sales are now. We shall of course continue to attend the shows we support’. So our last remaining stockist in the Greater London area has closed his shop, though the MRR business will continue by mail order and at shows. Having taken the same decision a few years ago at Modelauto Ltd, I know how difficult this step is to take, if inevitable. Small specialist shops of all kinds are closing all over the world. Les reminds me of a Bermondsey swapmeet we both attended 30 years ago, and that MRR has been with MAR from the start in 1982. Amazing how things change in three decades. Now let’s brace ourselves for what 2008 brings...
NUREMBERG NEWS
This issue sees our first reports from Nuremberg Toy Fair, but I have decided this year that we won’t have all the advance lists we used to publish. In the last few years much of what was promised never appeared, making those lists worthless.
OUR CONTRIBUTORS
Dave Turner is having a rest in this issue, but don’t worry, he’s back in the next MAR with more of the Ford story. Don Elliott is also taking a sabbatical from writing articles for MAR, but the good news is that John Hanson is back, woken from his slumbers. We have some good material awaiting publication, but we always need more...
LAND ROVER BOOK
The new Land Rover Album in the Auto Review series is available now at £5.95, just in time for the 60th anniversary of the Land Rover this year. Over a dozen other titles are in preparation; we need your photos of Riley, Triumph, Jowett, Standard, Wolseley and other subjects...
HELP!
Reader Hans Krähenbühl of Gommen 348, CH-4953 Switzerland, is making for his club a limited edition of 100 Snowmobiles. He needs a builder; if you can do the job, please contact him. He is also seeking Iso Grifo models by Corgi or others, and any other Iso items. Contact him at the above address
BRIAN WARNE
It is with great regret that we report the sudden and unexpected death from a heart attack of frequent MAR contributor Brian Warne of Corby. Brian was a great taxi enthusiast, who assisted with development of the new Auto Review book on taxicabs. It is a pity that he did not live to see it published. On your behalf we offer our sincere condolences to his daughter Claire and to his friends.
Nuremberg REPORT
From Hans-Georg SchmittBen van Roode
Bruno Boracco
Hans-Georg observes, ‘The mood of the stallholders at the 2008 Nuremberg Toy Fair was not optimistic. With falling incomes and rising prices for energy and food, where will the money come from for model cars? After 3.00pm, the aisles between the stalls emptied, a bad sign’. All the photos referred to by the intials below are from Hans-Georg, except K and R. Ben notes that this year there will be permanent price rises, confirmed in conversations with Paul Lang of Minichamps, Francesco Lescari of Mattel and others. That will make ranges priced in Euros doubly more expensive in the UK, where the Pound has fallen against the Euro. Ben had the feeling that there is less new tooling this year.Solido, despite negative rumours, were present with new items. Norev showed a new Provence Moulage range, another name they have taken over. Their CIJ- Europarc repro range will be joined by JRD this year. Norev also launched a Spot-On range, reproducing some of the Belfast products (A,B,C). Ben notes that more small scale models are being released, especially 1:87 . Brekina will make two 1:87 plastic British cars; a Rover P6 and a Morris Minor. Model rail accessory firm Vollmer add 28 1:87 cars to their range this year. Herpa will launch a model yacht almost 500 mm long. Masterpiece have a 1:87 plastic Austro-Daimler ADR 22/70 1929 top down and top up (D,E). Busch mark their 50th Anniversary this year with their most expensive miniature ever, a 1:87 Borgward Isabella Coupe 1958 in yellow gold, with bumpers and headlights in white gold. Stamped with a 585 mark, it will retail at 2,500 €uros (F). In 1:76 scale, Oxford Diecast plan to release a Jaguar Mark VII, Wales & Edwards milk float, Fordson tractor, and much more. New 1:76 models by Pocketbond in their Classix range include the FX3 taxi (and FL1 hire car), NCB milk float and the Jen- Tug artic tractor which in Jen-Helec form shared its electrical components with the Hindle-Smart mechanical horse as made years ago by Dinky Toys. ABC showed a 1:43 handbuilt model of the three axle Bluebird record car project (G). Edison had as their Toy Fair promo model a 1:43 Innocenti Mini Traveller (H). Eligor showed a 1:43 Renault 4CV ‘Paris-Peking 16,000km rally 2007-2008’ (I). Neo showed their 1:43 Jaguar XJ saloon 1986 in various colours, left or right hand drive. (J). Bruno Boracco saw a nice surprise; a 1:18 Fiat 600D Multipla Taxi made in China for La Mini Miniera of Italy (K). It has opening doors and bonnet, revealing the engine. Minichamps will make a 1:18 Royal Bentley, also to be made in 1:43 scale, perhaps to supplant the unlicensed ones emanating from China. Yat Ming are making eight new 1:43 fire appliances, including 1933 and 1921 Dennis and a 1934 Leyland. New from Starline this year will be a 1:43 1961 Lancia Flaminia Presidenziale above. Corgi have signed up Luigi Colani to design a futuristic electronic car model. Revell will release later in 2008 a 1:18 model in plastic with a lump of metal inside to make it feel heavier. Ben says it will cost around €29.50. Schuco plan an expensive 1:43 model of a Mercedes Gullwing, a limited edition of 30 at €2,999 each. Let’s hope it helps their parent company, Dickie, with their recent problems. Ricko had a 1:87 model of an Audi Alpensieger on display (L), and ADP had a 1:87 Bedford TK box van (M). ADP also showed 1:43 models of the Goliath Rapid 1926-1933, the first product of Carl F W Borgward, the models available only from Modellautos Budig, in Berlin (N). Plus Model from Poland had various 1:35 resin kits, including a Fordson WOT3 of the RAF (O). Another model from Neo of the Netherlands was this Amphicar, who also plan Jaguar Mark VIII and IX (though we also hear of a 1:43 diecast Mark VII, VIIM, VIII and IX this year from another maker). (P). Rietze’s 1:87 Toy Fair promo was a Volkswagen Caddy long wheelbase with windows (Q). Finally, Siku release a new 1:32 Claas Jaguar combine in March (R).
Hongwell
By Maz Woolley and Graeme OggThe Hongwell website has no sign of the 1:43 British cars described in MAR 220, but the Elan and Healey previously seen in 1:72 are now shown in 1:43 scale. They have some 1:43 motorcycles including ‘proper’ BMWs, old BMW combos and horrid Rotax-powered BMW C1s, as well as V-Maxes. Last year they said they wouldn’t do 1:87, but now they have 1:87 Mercedes sports cars. They have a nice 1:72 Golf GTI as well as the long awaited Alfa Brera and Fiat Grande Punto. Editor’s note: The 1:43 motorcycles were made for the Schuco Junior range. Schuco ‘fell out’ with Hongwell: future Juniors will come from two other Chinese factories. Presumably Hongwell own these casting tools. Graeme Ogg looked for the Hongwell British cars on the web, but couldn't find the A60 Cambridge. He did buy a Cambridge, ‘But it is an A55 Mk II’, he says, ‘A bit of a mixed bag. If you’ve been waiting for a Farina A55 for your collection, it’s sort of OK, and quite convincing from some angles, but the grille shouldn’t have a bright rectangular frame, the mesh is matt black and almost invisibly fine, and it is vertical. It should slope inwards towards the bottom. Can they have been looking at an A99? Or a Lancia Flaminia even? The tail fins are too long, don’t rise enough and don’t form that lethally-sharp point with the rear lights. The rear roof pillars are also too narrow. The Vanguards A60 is 103 mm long and 37.5 mm wide, a true 1:43. The Hongwell is 5 mm longer and 2mm wider. The A55 was actually 6 inches shorter, so the Hongwell is either 1:39.5, or represents a car 15 inches too long! Also, the real car narrows at the nose and tail but this model is fairly flat-sided, so at the extremities it is a full 4mm (a scale 6.5 inches) wider than the Vanguards, making it look a bit squashed. My model is unboxed, and reads ‘Austin Cambridge’ on the baseplate. No maker’s name. No Hongwell logo. I have only the eBay vendor’s word that it’s a Hongwell. Maybe it’s a priceless pre-production reject that slipped out the factory door. In that case, it must be too far down the line to correct the basic faults. So if you want a decent A55, you’ll have to try converting the Vanguards A60’.
Club News
Collated by Rod WardI still enjoy receiving Club magazines and newsletters from around the world. Think Small, from the Sydney Model Auto Club, includes an interesting article on the Ansair Flxible Clipper, of which we had a Trux model as our prize in MAR 219. The Wessex Model and Toy Collectors newsletter Wessex Smalltalk notes that amusing local celebrity Fred Wedlock came along to present their charity cheque to Alzheimer’s Support and to entertain the members. In Wheel Nuts, the South Hants Model Club organ, Chris Derbyshire describes a ‘Dinky Sunbeam Talbot Mark 2 saloon’ offered on eBay, which he bought for ‘less than £60.00’. Dinky never made this car, of course, and it turned out to be a conversion based on the Dinky Sunbeam Alpine. Though Chris says the ‘overall result is very pleasing’, surely only a Sunbeam nut would pay almost £60.00 for a chop. In the Maidenhead Static Model Club newsletter, Wheel Bearings, Chairman John Ward notes that the MSMC has had an astounding start to the New Year, with superb attendance at the January swapmeet.
Let’s hope that is a good omen for this year.
MINIATURE HEARSES
In the collection of Chris MolyneuxTo make a start on a comprehensive hearse listing: additions from readers invited. A few more new funeral car releases are expected in 2008.
BREKINA Germany 1:87 plastic: Mercedes-Benz BROOKLIN UK 1:43 handbuilt: Ford F1 Ranger 1952 Packard-Henney Junior 1953 Gunmetal/Metallic Grey Pontiac 1953 Hearse, code 3 Australia BUSCH Germany 1:87 plastic: Cadillac 1970 hearse #42904, Cadillac Barnes #42905, Cadillac Wellington #43466, Ford tinplate, Ford plastic #47709, Ford AA Gravedigger monster truck #47718, Ford, plastic, mini scene with tyre being changed, Halloween scene Black Death, Halloween III scene in cemetery, Miniature cemetery with embellishments, Renault Espace. CAST FROM THE PAST USA 1:25 Cast iron: Horse Drawn + casket grey, Miller-Meteor 1924 + casket grey CHESHIRE UK 1:43 handbuilt: Daimler DS 420, black CORGI UK diecast: Mercedes-Benz 300S1956 (Maltese conversion) black, Plymouth Suburban black, Plymouth Suburban grey DAYS GONE UK diecast: Packard 1933 delivery van (conversion by Anthony Sharland) DIAPET Japan 1:43 diecast: Lincoln + ornate canopy gold DINKY UK diecast: Oldsmobile Superior ECOCAR Hong Kong, diecast: Ford s/w conversion ELEGANCE France 1:43 resin handbuilt: Cadillac 1950 Flower Car EG123 white, Cadillac 1950 funeral service van EG124, Cadillac 1950 Hearse EG125 white, Cadillac 1950 Hearse Limo EG134 white, Cadillac 1976 Landau Coach Hearse EG162, Cadillac 1976 Landau Limo Hearse EG164, Cadillac 1976 Limo Landau EG166 blue/black, Cadillac 1938 Flower Car (with flowers) EG 110F, Rolls-Royce Phantom II Woodall-Nicolson EG129 black ENCHANTMENT LAND USA 1:43 resin: Buick Flxible Landau B5, Buick 1947 Limo Flxible B6, Cadillac 1966 Flower Car C23, Cadillac Meteor Limo Hearse 1947 C12, Cadillac 1966 Superior Limo Hearse C16, Cadillac 1947 Flower car C19, Chrysler 1947 C7, Chrysler Flower car,1947 C8, City Limits Coroners Office, Ford 1935 Siebert Limo Hearse F3, La Salle 1938 carved panel hearse L4, La Salle 1938 Limo Hearse L5, La Salle 1940 Limo Hearse L13, Packard 1937 art-carved hearse P20, Packard 1937 art-carved flower car P21, Packard 1948 Henney Limo Hearse P4, Packard 1937 Funeral Service Van P24, Packard Henney Limousine Hearse P13. ERTL USA 1:18 tinplate-diecast: Chevrolet 1938 Coach Askew Houser #3, Ford 1950 Askew-Houser #4 grey/black, Graham 1927 Askew Houser #5 coloured squares, Hot-rod flying coffin, Knox 1904 delivery wagon Askew Houser #2. GEMS AND COBWEBS UK 1:43 diecast: Jaguar Mk IX 1959 Woodall-Nicholson GC 25 black GULP MODELS Italy 1:43 handbuilt resin: Fiat 1400B 1958 GLP 4211 black, Fiat black, Tatra German Staff car 3-axle black, Unknown make + roof scroll black HISTORICAL MODEL USA 1:18 wood: Buick Eureka 1925 unpainted, Cadillac 1930 black/landau bars, Henney Packard 1928 blue/windows, Horse-drawn 19th Century with casket, Packard 1928 black/ carved HOMBURG MODELL Germany 1:43 diecast: Jaguar E-type Harold and Maud TW 4061 black HAUTEVILLE France 1:43 diecast: Opel Kapitan 1958 Corbillard (hearse) #59 JO-HAN MODELS USA 1:25 plastic kit: Cadillac blue JOHNNY LIGHTNING USA var diecast: Ghostbusters Cadillac 1959 diorama, Surf Hearse, Fright’ning Lightning, Ford Falcon 1965, Munsters Drag-u- la 1:43, KOVAP Czech 1:30 tinplate: Ford 1924 black LEMAX USA 1:30 poly-resin: Horse and carriage, two figures. (Spooky Town collection) No 03322A LLEDO UK 1:60, diecast: Sheffield horse-drawn mortuary van; Code 3 Pasture Promotions SP11 black MATCHBOX UK diecast conversions: Cadillac S&S, Holden Utility Victoria flower car + coffin, Mercury, Mercedes-Benz MILESTONE UK 1:43 diecast: Jaguar Mark IX 1959 GC 25 MINICHAMPS Germany diecast: Ford Mondeo Code 3 removal van, Citreon CX Break 1980 MINIROUTE SVM 1:43 : Citroen DS Corbillard Currus #64, Peugeot 504 Corbillard MONOGRAM USA 1:24 plastic kit: Boot Hill Express MODELLAUTOS BUDIG Germany 1:43 diecast: Ford Granada black NOCH figures Germany 1:87, plastic: Cemetery scene gravedigger, minister, coffin, mourners #15865 Vienna PEERS, STEVE UK various, paper mache; plastic: Horse drawn no horses 1:18 paper mache, plumes, Horse drawn no horses 1:43, Hand drawn bier with coffin, Hand drawn bier with coffin and cover, Hearse 1:25 + plumes, whitewalls PIRATE UK white metal kit: Ford ‘T’ 1925 black PRALINE Germany 1:87 plastic: Cadillac Ambulance, Cadillac Station- Wagon, Mercedes-Benz sedan PROVENCE MOULAGE France 1:43 resin: Jaguar Mark VIII K692 black RC2 USA 1:25, tinplate: Dodge Panel 1947 with casket Askew-Houser #6 black/silver scroll RIO Italy 1:43 diecast: Citroen ID19, Mercedes-Benz 300D black, Mercedes-Benz 300D silver RICKER PEWTER USA 1:25 pewter: Funeral scene of horse-drawn hearse and cemetery gates on a base SCHUCO Germany: Mercedes-Benz van Bestattungsinstitut 00039 1:18 black Tinplate, Mercedes-Benz Piccolo 170v 1:90 diecast, Mercedes- Benz 170V 02267 1:43 diecast SOLIDO France 1:43 diecast: Borgward Isabella SE1016, Cadillac 1931 black, Cadillac 1931 white SIKU Germany diecast conversion: Mercedes-Benz SPEC CAST USA 1:18 tinplate: Chevy Wagon 1954 code 3 Askew-Houser #7 white, Chevy Panel 1957 with US Casket & soldier Askew-Houser #8 black / silver AH, Studebaker 1916 Askew-Houser #9 gold STARTIN UK 1:35, handmade clay model: Rover one-off, donated to me by Colin Field, UK in 1994 black SUNSET COACH USA 1:18, 1:43, diecast; church truck and casket 1:18, Cadillac Crown Royale 59 1:43 white, Cadillac Crown Royale 1959 casket +trolley 1:18 PMSC-02M maroon, Ford Model T 1921 with trolley & casket 1:18 PMSC-07B black, Oldsmobile Comet Landau 1958 1:43 black TRAX Australia 1:43 diecast: Holden FX 48-215 hearse, HoldenFX 48-215 flower car, Holden HZ Van with coffin TOP MARQUES UK 1:43 diecast: Rolls-Royce Phantom V 1959 RR 14 black VF MODELLAUTO Germany, 1:43, resin hand-built Bentley Brooklands on base VFRD 3, Cadillac H & E 1959 CC 0004, Rolls- Royce Silver Spirit on base RRC 003, Rolls-Royce Silver Spirit III on base RRC 20 V&V Czech 1:43 diecast: Garant 30K 1956 hearse WIKING Germany 1:87 plastic conversion: M-Benz WESTERN UK 1:40 diecast: Chevrolet Suburban Kims ZAUGG Switzerland 1:43 handbuilt: Chevrolet 1951 hearse MISC HEARSES: Approx 1920 hearse, wood, 1:25 RSA, Citroen Handbuilt 1:43 UK, Gondola glass Venice
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