CONTENTS of the print edition
Model Auto Review 219
Publication 7 February 200804 Cars in colour 07 Ford Falcon-Comet Dave Turner, England 10 Amazon and Puma Graeme Watt, Scotland 11 Wiking Catalogues Horst Macalka, Austria 12 AutoArt Jags John Quilter, USA 13 De Gaulle Jean Blanc, France 14 Agglo Dave Weber and Kimmo Sahakangas, USA 15 Cars 16,17 Cars black, white, grey and silver 18 Letters 19 News Oxford, Brooklin, Base, Corgi 20 Competitions 24 Truckstop 26 Club news 27 Emergency 28 Buses Old Cars, Ros, Corgi, Schuco, Abrex Rietze, Wiking 29 Emergency Minichamps, Brooklin, Rietze, Brumm, Wiking
EDITORIAL
by Rod WardBACK FOR ANOTHER YEAR
Yes, we’re back, with some changes to the print edition from now on, which I will describe. These changes have taken some time to plan, involving some difficult decisions on my part. Firstly, you will notice that our cover price has been reduced to £3.00, a New Year gift to you! I have also reduced the number of pages in MAR, in the process removing some repetitive pages which were largely ignored. But I have retained all those features and aspects which readers have told me are most important to them.
Some previously regular features will become occasional in future, as there is not always enough material for them. It would have been nice to retain the same number of pages in MAR, but it was becoming very hard to find enough worthwhile news to fill so many pages.
There was another problem, however. If we retained the same number of pages from now on with a constantly decreasing number of readers, we would have had to increase the cover price to £7.00 from this issue. That would not have been acceptable. So instead we have a less costly MAR, with a feasible number of pages to fill each month, as our regular contributors get older. We cannot expect the same flow of material to continue that they supplied decades ago. You’ll quickly get used to our slightly different page order.
Our subscription rates are also reduced, as are stockist trade rates. All subscriptions have been extended pro rata by the remaining value. For example, if 10 issues previously remained on your subscription, you will find that it has been extended to 13 issues. If you are a direct subscriber, check the number on your envelope label. That number is the last paid issue on your subscription at the new rates.
ZINC IS CHEAP AGAIN
Remember when I commented on the steep rise in the price of zinc, the main raw material of diecast models? It was $4200 per ton in Jan 2007, peaking at $4700. By Jan 2008 it had dropped by almost 50%. This means that prices of diecast metal products should now drop (they rose fast enough when zinc prices rose).
SMALL SCALE GROWS
The 1:76 market is booming.
A new range from Hornby and a car range from Base Toys join the fast- expanding Oxford range and new Classix releases. I note that Corgi no longer describe all their car and van models as 1:76 or ‘00’ scale. Surely no-one now doubts my predictions of 1:76 as the coming scale. This is not to say that we all have to convert to 1:76 scale, but it does offer an opportunity for new collectors to start at the outset of a new market.All is not lost for 1:43 collectors, however. Lots of new models are planned for 2008, including a totally new car range this year.
CORGI AUDITED
Corgi International Ltd filed its annual financial report on 15 October 2007 for the period ending 31 March 2007. In this report its auditor, Eisner LLP, gave an unqualified opinion ‘expressing doubt that the company can continue as a going concern’. Corgi have also put a lot of investment into merchandise related to the Golden Compass film, the subject of controversy in the USA, which had disappointing initial audiences.
FERRARI SERIES
A NEW series of 1:43 diecast Ferrari models appeared in Italy last November in the newspapers La Repubblica and L'Espresso, beginning with a Ferrari Enzo. The series will include 125S, 250 GTO, 250 Testa Rossa, Auto Avio Costruzioni 815, Dino 246 GTS, 250 California, 275 GTB, 330 P4, Testarossa, 250 GT berlinetta, GTO, F40, F50, 400 Superamerica, 166 MM, 356 GTB/4 Daytona, 456M, 126 C2, F 2002. 20 models in total, made by Ixo. An information pack is also included. (Notes Bruno Boracco).
OXFORD NEXT QUARTER PLANS
Plans from Oxford for the first four months of 2008 are listed here. Note the many new 1:76 cars, milk floats and tractor, and the new Land Rovers and taxis in 1:43 scale. There will be another all-new 1:43 range launched in June.
1:76 scale (cars and light vans ± £2.99 each) 76CRE005 Vauxhall Cresta maroon-silver grey FEB 76ZEP005 Ford Zephyr imperial maroon FEB 76SS005 Humber Super Snipe estate white-blue FEB 76ETYP001 Jaguar E Type Ser 1 Convertible BRG FEB 76ETYP002 Jaguar E Type Ser 1 Coupe red FEB 76XK120001 Jaguar XK120 bronze FEB 76MGB001 MGB tartan red FEB 76SV001 Standard Vanguard Ph 1 black MAR 76ME001 Morris Eight Tourer maroon-black MAR 76JJ001 Jowett Javelin turquoise MAR 76ETYP003 Jaguar E Type Ser 1 Conv silver grey MAR 76ETYP004 Jag E Type Ser 1 Coupe OE white MAR 76XK120002 Jaguar XK120 silver MAR 76MGB002 MGB pale primrose MAR 76COR1003 Ford Cortina MkI Goodwood green APR 76MMC003 Morris Minor Conv closed 1962 green APR 76COR2003 Ford Cortina MkII red APR 76MMT003 Morris Minor Traveller 1967 maroon APR 76TM001 Triumph Mayflower white APR 76FP001 Ford Popular 103E Winchester Blue APR 76MO001 Morris Oxford III sage green APR RM102 Routemaster Bus British Rail FEB 76TX4001 TX4 Taxi black MAR 76TK002 Bedford TK box van British Rail yellow MAR 76TRAC001 Fordson Tractor blue MAR 76WE001 W&E standard electric milk float Express MAR C76WE002 W&E standard electric milk float Co-op MAR 76LAN188001 Land Rover Ser 1 88" Civil Defence APR 76LAN1109001 Land Rover Ser 1 109" frame grey APR RT023 Regent double deck bus Devon General APR Bulldog Modern trucks 1:76 scale DAF01CS DAF FTGXF105 SC James Irlam APR DAF02CS DAF FTGXF105 SSC Westfield Transport APR SCA06CS Scania R420 c’nside Stephen Sanderson APR Chipperfields Circus 1:76 scale CH020 Bedford TK Mobile Shop MAR CH021 Morris Minor Convertible Clowns APR CH022 Ford Cortina Mk I Performing Poodles APR CH023 FX4 Taxi Advance Publicity APR CH024 Land Rover Ser 1 88" APR CH025 Land Rover Ser 1 109" loudspeakers APR 1:43 scale BC001 Mini Van Billy Smarts Circus FEB MM049 Morris Minor Van Evening News FEB ANG035 Ford Anglia Van Kodak MAR HA012 Bedford HA Van British Telecom yellow MAR CA010 Bedford CA Van British Rail yellow MAR TX4003 TX4 Taxi Real Radio MAR MIN011 Mini Van Hong Kong Police MAR MV026 Mini Van BMC APR CA015. Bedford CA Dormobile green APR CA017 Bedford CA van Evening Standard APR JM016 Morris J2 minibus Bartons APR MM050 Morris Minor Van Pickfords APR LAN180002 Land Rover Ser 1 80" open top green APR LAN188002 Land Rover Ser 1 88" tilt sand military APR LAN1109002 Land Rover Ser 1 109" open blue APR TX4004 TX4 Taxi Dial-a-Cab silver APR VECT001 Vauxhall Vectra BTCC car Holiday Inn APR
MORE BROOKLIN INFORMATION
Further to the list of new Brooklin releases on page 218.48, we note a rise in price to £56.65 for standard issues and £60.50 for specials. Also, here are the deletions from production:
BROOKLIN COLLECTION deletions BRK27A 1957 Cadillac Eldorado BRK40A 1948 Cadillac 61 Coupe BRK41A 1959 Chrysler 300e Convertible BRK88 1931 Studebaker President BRK89A 1949 Checker Cab Yellow BRK92 1967 Ford Thunderbird 4 door Landau BRK93 1935 Studebaker Commander BRK105 1947 Cadillac Series 62 Club Coupe BRK118 1951 Kaiser-Frazer Henry J BRK128 1952 Cunningham C-3 Continental BRK132 1954 Chevrolet 210 Handyman BRK133 1934 Buick 96-S Coupe LANSDOWNE MODELS deletions LDM3A 1956 MG Magnette ZA LDM25 1954 Singer Roadster LDM29A 1935 Triumph Flow-Free LDM30 1948 Ford V8 Pilot US MODEL MINT deletions US16A 1969 Plymouth GTX yellow US16B 1969 Plymouth GTX blue BROOKLIN ROD 43rd deletions ROD01 to ROD06 (January) ROD07 to ROD12 (October) 1:76 CARS FROM BASE TOYS Base Toys have announced eight 1:76 diecast model cars for release now. These are the first cars from this hitherto truck-only range: C1 Austin A40 Farina C2 Armstrong-Siddeley Whitley C3 Ford Cortina Mk 1 C4 Hillman Imp C5 Riley Pathfinder C6 Rover 100 P4 C7 Standard Vanguard Phase III C8 Standard Vanguard Phase I
HORNBY 1:76 VEHICLES
Hornby, the leading maker of 1:76 (00 scale) model railways, has launched a series of 1:76 diecast model vehicles, made for them by Oxford Diecast. This project, under development for most of 2007, gives Hornby their own 1:76 diecast vehicle range for the first time. Many models are similar subjects to those in the Oxford range, but in unique liveries, and others will be of subjects specially requested by Hornby, to suit model railway layouts.
The new range name is Skale Autos (Hornby’s 1:76 region is called Skaledale) and all of these are available now, except for * in April. This range is expected to expand a lot in future..
R7000 Skaledale Gas Works Morris Minor Van R7001 Post Office Telephone Morris Minor Van R7002 British Railways Morris Minor Van R7003 Skaledale & Dist Water Board Morris Minor Van R7004 Television Rentals Ltd Morris Van + ladder R7005 Roy’s Window Cleaning (Morris Van + ladder) R7006 Thos Chaney & Sons Butchers Ford Anglia Van R7007 British Railways Ford Anglia Van R7008 Faulkner Electrical Ford Anglia Van R7009 SkaleAutos Ford Anglia Van R7010 Brannick & Wilson Builders Mini Van Grey R7011 Mixed Concrete Site Maintenance Minivan R7012 Harold's Larder Minivan R7013 Television Rentals Ltd Bedford TK van R7014 Bridge Street Riding School Bedford TK horsebox R7015 Briggs Removals Ltd Bedford TK pantechnicon > R7016 Fine Foods Supermarket Bedford TK ad truck R7017 Farm tractor * R7018 3 x Morris Minor Vans plain colours R7019 3 x Ford Anglia Vans plain colours R7020 3 x Mini Vans plain colours R7021 Ford Zephyr Mk III Don’s Taxi Service > R7022 Ford Zephyr Mk III White Police Car R7023 Vauxhall PA Cresta Aswell Taxis R7024 Vauxhall PA Cresta Black Police Car R7025 Humber Super Snipe estate Skalais estates R7026 Humber Super Snipe estate Skaledale Taxi R7027 Ford Anglia 105E Saloon Pale Yellow R7028 Ford Anglia 105E Saloon Pale Blue R7029 FX4 London Taxi Skale Taxis R7030 Land Rover series 1 Hard Top Skalais Estates * R7031 Land Rover series 1 Weathered Soft Top * R7032 TX4 Taxi: Skale Taxis * R7033 Lincolnshire Roadline Routemaster Bus R7034 Skaledale and District Bus Co Regent Bus R7035 United District Bus Co Routemaster Bus Circus Vehicles: Bartello’s Big Top Circus R7036 Generator Lorry R7037 Lions Truck R7038 Elephant Box Truck R7039 Wild Cats Truck R7040 Giraffe Box R7041 Ballast Truck R7042 Candy Floss Van > R7043 Clown Van: Mini R7044 Long Caravan R7045 Long Camel Truck R7046 Circus Booking Office R7047 Circus Mobile Shop
1:76 MINORS FROM CLASSIX
New 1:76 diecast cars announced by Classix: Morris Minor 1000 saloon, Traveller, Convert-ible top up and top down, at £3.99 each.
NO 1:50 CORGI COACHES
We are told that Corgi have dropped the promised 1:50 ‘Seaside’ coaches from their 2008 range. A number of items were withdrawn from the late 2007 releases: two 1:50 Burrell Showmans engines, 1:50 Mercedes Actros Pulleyn, 1:50 Scania tipper Yuill, 1:76 Scania R Hadfield and Renault Trafic van AA.
US MAGAZINE COLLAPSES • By Willie Coon
I have a bit of bad news from here in the USA.
Toy Cars & Models, went out of business as of the January edition. It has been interesting reading, though it had little on anything in 1:43 scale, mostly large scales. But it is a real shame when any publication dealing with our hobby can’t afford to stay in business today. (Editor’s note: I guess they couldn’t reduce the magazine in size or price - our only recourse for survival. Sadly there seems to be little future for ‘full-size’ model car magazines in conventional distribution).
Club News • collated by Rod Ward
Brisbane Diecast Model Collectors Club: Newsletter Editor Tim Braby sent me a PDF copy of the newsletter from this Club, which has been going for 25 years, though he has only been Editor for a year. The newsletter is very professionally produced, and has lots of adverts from local businesses, always a sign of a go-getting Editor. He says, ‘We send out about 120 newsletters every two months or so, to coincide with our swap meets’. Most Queenslanders seem to buy on eBay, so he notes that, ‘Unfortunately the local shop scene is not very exciting, unless you’re keen on American muscle or the local race scene. Most stock comes straight from China, so importing from dealers in the UK or Europe can be very expensive. Entire ranges of models are missing from our shores, yet we get flooded with Mr Mattel's products’. Contact him at Tim.Braby@brisbane.qld.gov.au
West Australian Model Collectors Club: The Editor of Showcase, the WAMCC Club publication, Chris Harris, also packs his pages with advertising and with colour illustrations. If you’d like to see the results, you’ll have tojoin the WAMCC; phone President Martyn Overy on 9310 1790.
South Hants Model Auto Club: The SHMAC magazine, Wheel Nuts, edited by Sue and Stu Leake, has lots of articles and photographs, though it has no advertising at all. Surely there must be businesses in Hampshire which would appreciate exposure here? They describe a visit to the BRDC clubhouse where the extensive collection of the late Tony Bellm is on display; 3000 model cars! To join the SHMAC and advertise, contact Secretary Dave Painter on 01264 366408.
Maidenhead Static Model Club: Wheel Bearings, the MSMC magazine, edited by Cliff Maddock, includes reports on the Hogs Back brewery, Canadian totem poles, and the Dinky Toy Collectors Association. If you’d like to join the MSMC, contact Membership Secretary Alan Simpson on 01494 813903.
New Zealand Model Vehicle Club: Miniature Auto, newsletter of the NZMVC, edited by Ron Ford, is in its 38th year of publication. To join the NZMVC, contact Eric Brockie on (03) 448 9276 or email austinrk@paradise.net.nz
Copyright Modelauto Ltd
e-mail mar@zeteo.com
