CONTENTS of the print edition
Model Auto Review 241
Publication 7 April 201004 Cars (captions on page 06) 07 DAF car models Paul Nieuwenhuis, UK 09 Ford Explorer Dave Turner, UK 12 Wills Finecast: 1 Max Tomlinson, UK 14 Hearses etc Peter Mace • Partworks Gerald Watkins, Graeme Ogg, UK 16-17 Nuremberg 2010 Ben van Roode, Hans-Georg Schmitt 18 Bond Maz Woolley, UK 19 Oxford Maz Woolley, UK 20 Correspondence 21 Competitions, Club News 24 Book Reviews, Emergency 25 Truckstop 26 Post Bus Daniel Beck, Switzerland • Captions to page 29 27 Tekno Stories Peter Frandsen, Karl Schnelle, USA
EDITORIAL
by Rod WardWHAT A LOT OF GOOD STUFF!
We’ve got loads of good stuff for you again, kiddies! As our Danish Tekno saga draws to a close, our efforts to record the history of model car making continue. Max Tomlinson has come up with another blockbuster; his serialised history of Wills Finecast begins in this issue, partly based on interviews with Bob Wills dating back to 1991. Paul Nieuwenhuis follows up his Auto Review book on DAF cars with a description of models of them. Did you see Paul on the telly, in his capacity as Director of CAIR, giving his views on the Toyota recall situation?
Our spies give us their first reports from the 2010 Nuremberg Toy Fair in this issue, and Swiss contributor Daniel Beck shows us some new Post Bus models. Dave Turner returns with the Ford Explorer and Maz Woolley describes some James Bond partwork models. More partworks from Russia, Poland and Brazil are also included in this packed issue.
Phew! Now I have to get on with an equally interesting selection of material for MAR 242!
... One advance editorial item, which just missed the print edition of this issue:
END OF AN ERA
For almost a decade and a half our MAR competition winners have been chosen by Biggles the bearded collie.
We are sorry to have to inform his many fans around the world that Biggles died on 16 March, just a few weeks short of his 15th birthday. His last year was a struggle, totally deaf and virtually blind. His other ailments finally caught up with him, but he had a long, cheerful and useful life.
AUTO REVIEW: Alvis Album
The latest Auto Review book is now available, an Alvis Album. The next titles published will be ‘200 years of Peugeot’ and the Sherpa van story (including the Morris J van, JB, 250JU, J4 etc), followd by Aston Martin & Lagonda and Hillman & Singer. Future titles will include the stories of Jensen, Allard, Railton, AC, Lotus, Reliant, TVR, Gilbern, Rochdale, Fairthorpe, and many others, plus aviatrices (lady pilots), and many other subjects (20+ others in our plan so far). If you have any illustrations (advertisements, sales brochures, your own photographs etc) or any personal anecdotes you can offer on any subject, please send them to me as soon as possible for inclusion in future publications. I also invite your suggestions for future titles; all ideas are welcome...
Nuremberg 2010: first reports
This is the time of year when the toy and model trade reveals its plans for the next 12 months at the toy trade fairs, of which the Nuremberg Toy Fair is the biggest by far. Those firms which did not survive the Christmas season leave an empty exhibition stand, or appear under new ownership. We get many reports from our network of spies, not all of them for publication. As usual, Ben and Hans-Georg give us their impressions of this year’s show in the chill of northern Bavaria. We are grateful for both of them, in managing to visit and report for us. Ben van Roode was hospitalised twice last year with heart problems, but he felt fit enough to visit Nuremberg from the Netherlands. These days MAR reads a bit like a hospital bulletin. Hans-Georg Schmitt has been moving house (just pause for a moment and think about packing up those thousands of models) and he fell down the stairs while clearing out the old house. No, it’s not as funny as it sounds; he injured his leg, requiring orthopaedic consultation, a support device and an operation in future. That didn’t stop him; he managed to scour the whole Toy Fair for news and promo models, as usual. The deep snow didn’t stop him driving there from Bad Camberg, though it seems that many folk from further north in Germany didn’t make it.
The show must go on
says Ben van RoodeYou do not need to be Einstein to realise that the current economic troubles have an impact on the model car business. Exhibitors and visitors at Nuremburg were in good spirits but the amount of new tooling was greatly reduced compared with earlier years. In these circumstances rumours flourish. Paul Lang, CEO of Minichamps, denied rumours that his company had been sold to ‘an unknown Chinese buyer’. He told me that three years ago he and his wife bought back the ownership from Action, the US company. So the Lang family once again owns the company. It was a surprise to see the takeover by the German Dickie Simba group of Majorette, including their Solido brand. On the Schuco stand there was a display of Solido models and the 2010 Solido catalogue was included the Schuco press kit. It must have been ready before the deal was completed. Chinese manufacturers like Motor Max and Welly are improving their quality and adding more new tooling than the other big firms. Corgi had their own exhibition stand, separate from Hornby, but they were largely showing the models we already know. Lyndon Davies of Oxford Diecast is having great success, adding a lot of new models to his various ranges, and also distributing Cararama models. Another successful range is Neo, made by Replicars. These resin models in small series are selling well, which is helping Replicars through difficult times, according to boss Jaap van Dijk. There have been significantly more releases in the Premium-X resin range, made by Ixo, though they seem to have been watching Neo closely in the models they offer. Lots of duplicates. Model cars are luxury items and I heard talk of sales volumes falling by around 12%. In other trends, more diecast brands are introducing radio control to their models. Good or bad is not the question here. It is about attracting buyers of models, who may become collectors in future. Another notable development is that makers are turning to smaller scales. 1:18 seems to have reached its peak. There are more models in 1:32 and 1:24 scales. Signature is launching a 1:43 range with the same type of cars it makes in 1:18 scale, which is a good sign. It also looks as if the American market may turn more to 1:43 scale. We will have to wait and see. At the other end of the scale, there are some really big models, such as the co-production by Premium Classixxs and Schuco of a 1:18 Porsche race transporter. CMC will bring us the famous Ferrari race transporter in 1:18 scale. It will be impressive to say the least, at a price around €400. I also saw a 1:6 model of a long wheelbase Maybach 62 limousine by an unknown Chinese maker, priced at around $1200. One model, and your collection room would already be half full.
No crowds at Nuremberg
notes Hans-Georg SchmittThe official statement said that there were about 76,600 visitors, a 2% increase. But this was only foreign visitors; many Germans stayed at home. There were no crowds in the aisles between the stands. The Solido-Majorette stand was missing, as Dickie-Simba had taken over the brand. They displayed a small range of Solido models. The Minichamps stand was bigger than ever, no sign of any rumoured financial problems. All of the industry is in a similar situation, with its back to the wall. Another problem is that pirate copies made in the Far East make life harder still. Spark, previously distributed by Minichamps, are now on their own again, and handling their own distribution. Norev exhibited their new Spot-On range. Mattel’s Elite range had a new Musicians series; 1:18 scale models of the cars of Eric Clapton, Nick Mason, and others. Revell displayed new wooden kits reproducing the designs of Leonardo da Vinci.
Selected new releases planned
Here are some selected new releases for this year proposed by various manufacturers.
Not all may appear this year, based on previous experience: Bing 1:43 (by Starline for Brekina): Opel P2 and Blitz vans. Classix 1:76: Austin K8 ‘Three way van’ van and estate car, Trojan van (like the classic Brooke Bond Tea ‘little red van’), Berkeley and Bluebird caravans. CMC 1:18: Bugatti T57 Atlantic 1938. Fiat 642 RN2 Bartoletti race transporter. Mercedes-Benz SSKL 1931 German GP. Ferrari 250TR 1957-58. Ebbro 1:43: Lotus Europa. Lotus Elan S1. Epoke (Denmark) 1:87: Bedford TK. Ferguson tractor. Franklin Mint 1:24: Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost tourer 1911. Hauler (Czech) 1:87 kits: Sentinel steam waggon. Herpa 1:43: New Trabant nT. IBG (Poland) 1:35 kits: Chevrolet C15A. Bedford QL variants. Italeri 1:32, 1:18 and 1:12: Piaggio Apes, Pokers, porters, many new variants. Ixo 1:43: Morris Oxford III saloon. Ford Granada Mk II 1982. Jeep Laredo. Talbot Sunbeam Lotus Phase 2 1982. Mini Cooper 1999 David Bowie. Bucciali TAV3, Cord 812 convertible 1937. Mercedes-Benz 200V G5 field car 1938. Chrysler Airflow 1936. Panhard 6CS 1935. Joal reissues of old castings: Pegaso 1960s trucks and Blaw-Knox bulldozer. Kyosho 1:43: Toyota Prius plug-in hybrid. Minichamps 1:43: Aston Martin Vanquish S 2004. Aston Martin V8 Vantage 2010. Aston Martin DB9 2009. Aston Martin DB9 Volante 2009. Aston Martin DBS 2010. Aston Martin DBS Volante 2010. Aston Martin Rapide 2010. Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud II 1960. Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud II convertible 1960. Plus Model (Czech) 1:35 kits: Morris Commercial CS8 military truck early and late variants. Premium Classixxs 1:43: Hanomag-Henschel vans, minibuses, campers. Porsche Type 64 Berlin-Rome. Borgward RS1500. Borgward Hymer Caravano. 1:18: Mercedes-Benz race transporter Martini- Porsche. Premium-X 1:43: Lotus Elan M100 open or hardtop. Revell 1:18 diecast: Aston Martin DBR1 1959. Schuco Piccolo 1:90: AEC Gold Leaf Lotus race transporter. Fiat 642 RN race transporter Ferrari. Schuco 1:43: new 2010 BMWs, VWs and others. Signature 1:43: Mercedes-Benz 770K. Mercedes-Benz G4. Maybach SW35 and SW38. Audi 100 four door and two door 1972. Spark 1:43: Triumph Spitfire Le Mans 1965 team cars. Mini Wildgoose camper. Lola Mark I 1980. Jaguar XJ12C race version 1977. Jaguar XK120 roadster 1950. Jaguar XK120 coupe 1952. Austin Healey Sprite Frogeye. Austin Healey Sprite Mark III 1964. Austin Healey 100/6. Austin Healey 3000. Aston Martin DB2/4 coupe. Aston Martin DB2/4 cabriolet. Aston Martin One-77 2009. Aston Martin Vantage V12 2009. Aston Martin Cygnet 2010. Allard J2X 1999. Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz 1959. Cadillac Eldorado Seville 1959. Cadillac 62 sedan 1959. Chevrolet Impala 1959. Oldsmobile Toronado 1966. Buick Riviera 1965. Delahaye 135 Figoni Grand sport 1936. Bugatti T57S Gangloff cabriolet. Delage D8-120 Pourtout 1937. Voisin C27 Aerosport 1934. Talbot Lago T150C SS Figoni coupe 1937. Sun Star 1:12: Mini (Morris and Austin). Vitesse 1:43: Mitsubishi MEV, New Colt, Pajero, Lancer, L-200. WSI (Dutch-Chinese) 1:50 trucks: Scania, DAF, Iveco, Mercedes, Volvo, MAN. Spot-On by Norev: remade classic toys: Austin- Healey 100-Six. Jaguar XK-SS/ Triumph TR3.MGA roadster. Rover 3 Litre P5. Ford Thames Trader artic.
CLUB NEWS
Collated by Rod WardWheelspin, the magazine of the Coventry Diecast Model Club proudly trumpets 35 years publication non-stop 1975 to 2010. It must seems like it’s ‘non-stop’ for El Presidente Will Roe, who edited Wheelspin for many years and is now back at the tiller again. A nostalgic memory for me is a photo of a trolleybus in St Helens, where my grandad had his butcher’s shop. I was intrigued see that Will’s wife used to be a clippie on these buses. The Maidenhead Static Model Club newsletter, Wheel Bearings, records the death of their joint President, Sue Richardson. Sue was a pioneer of our movement, with her husband Mike, in their Mikansue business, with the Modellers World retail shop in Eton Wick, manufacturing white metal kits and being involved with Modellers World magazine. Sue was a renowned expert on classic toy makers, and wrote many standard works on the subject. In later years Sue and Mike moved to France, to help alleviate Sue’s illness, but she finally succumbed to cancer. I am sure readers will want to join me in extending their condolences to Mike. In Wessex Smalltalk, the Wessex Model and Toy Collectors newsletter; I must have touched a nerve (or funny bone) with editor Barry Lloyd, for having fewer jokes, so he included: A blonde was asked why she used the password mickeyminnieplutohueydeweylouiedonaldgoofylondon? Because she was told it must be at least eight characters long and include one capital.
Book Reviews
Lastauto Omnibus Katalog 2010. various authors, German text. 292 pages, many colour-photos, paperbound 230 x 300 mm. Published by and available from ETM EuroTransportMedia V&V GmbH. Handwerk-strasse 15, 70565 Stuttgart, Germany. Price €14.90
This year, as every year, commercial vehicle enthusiasts have their bible. Issue 39 includes every commercial vehicle in the world, trucks, vans, buses, trailers, bodywork, special vehicles and components.
Hans-Georg SchmittPorsche Panamera Moment by various authors, German text. 176 pages, 100 photos. Hardbound with dust jacket. 275 x 395 mm. Published by and available from Delius Klasing Verlag, Siekerwall 21, 33602 Bielefeld, Germany. ISBN 978-3-7688-2654-9. €49.90
A sports car with four doors may be a difficult concept, but Porsche launched it at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September 2009. How the idea developed from design to real car, and how it was introduced to its exclusive clientele is shown in this sumptuous book.
Hans-Georg Schmitt
Copyright Modelauto Ltd
e-mail mar@zeteo.com
