Model Auto Review News Archive

12th February 1999

+ stop + press + Nuremberg + Report + by + Hans-Georg + Schmitt +

CORGI TOY NEWS

NODDY FROM LLEDO

K&R NEWRELEASES

THUNDERBIRDS ARE GONE

EFE LATEST RELEASES

ST PETERSBURG NEWS

HERPA LATE 1998 NEWS

NZG NEW FOR 1999

SCHABAK BMW M5

BUSCH BABIES

EDITOR'S NOTE: this is our first report from the 1999 Nuremberg International Toy Fair, the biggest in the world, and traditionally the place where the future of the toy and model world is decided. Some other news is already noted in more detail under specific country headings in this issue, and other makers will be covered in the next issue of MAR. Some of the extensive lists we have become used to seeing in earlier years will not be published this year. Some companies are producing half-yearly or quarterly release lists, and others will only publicise new items when models are almost ready for release. We can only applaud this sensible new attitude.

1999 may well be in future considered to have been a watershed in our interest field, with the beginnings of consolidation among large industrial ranges, and others giving up entirely the struggle to make a profit from making scale model vehicles. Time will tell. Now back to Hans-Georg's report:

ALBEDO: a surly press officer had no new models to announce...
ANSON: 1963 Thunderbirds and Cadillacs (1947, 1953 and 1973 versions)
will be followed by a Renault Spyder in late 1999 in this large scale
diecast range.
AWM: in 1:87 plastic will come VW Lupo and Bora, Mercedes-Benz Vario van
Deutsche Post and Setra S319 GT-HD in various liveries.
BACHMANN-LILIPUT: This model railway range showed a rail wagon carrying
two Brekina VWs, Beetle British Military Police, and T1b van RAF FireService.
BBURAGO: VW New Beetle and Maserati 3200GT both new for this year in
1:18 scale, the Beetle also promised in 1:24 scale. The company now has
a new owner (see Mattel).
BEST: The early 1998 programme includes Ferrari 312P red or LM69 Piper,
275P2 Ring 65 Stewart-Hill, Porsche 908/2 Watkins Glen 69.
BREKINA: All 1:87 plastic: Opel Rekord C 1966-1971, Opel 1200 (cheap
version of the P1), AvD set: VW Golf 1, Type 3 Variant and Fridolin,
Wartburg Volkspolizei, Henschel HS15K, Krupp K806, Büssing 6500T bus DB,
and trailer for bus.
BUSCH: 1:87 plastic Opel Rekord C (like Brekina), Mercedes-Benz W196
Silver Arrow F1, Chrysler Voyager 1990, Chevrolet Blazer 1997,
Mercedes-Benz A-Class Falk, and Mercedes-Benz ML Tuscaloosa Sheriff.
CDC: Mr Dino Coppola tells me that future development of 1:43 diecast
Detail Cars has ceased, due to excessive competition, though the
existing range will be maintained. All future efforts will be directed
towards the Armour Collection ranges.
CEF-REPLEX: This French range will have various new releases in 1999,
including a special Gendarmerie series. Replex also showed the Rex Toys
range, which were made by CEF (owners of the Replex range) until the
owner went bankrupt, so Replex are trying to sell them in order to
recover some cash.
CURSOR did not display at the Fair, but I hear that Mr Renner wanted to
reissue the first Audi 100, of which he owns the old 1:40 scale mould.
When he asked Audi if they would like to order some promotional models
they in return demanded a large sum of money for a license, too much to
make the job viable.
ELIGOR: Among new releases promised are various versions of the Citroen
Berlingo and, in the Leader range, a Peugeot 203 fire pickup. In the
1:43 trucks range will come Mercedes-Benz Actros race transporter
McLaren, Renault transporter Williams, MAN F2000 transporter
Sauber-Petronas, Scania transporter Jordan, Kenworth MCI, Ford Aeromax
Valvoline and Renault van Danzas.
FALLER has been sold, the buyer is not known, but in any case 1:43 car
production has ceased. It is rumoured that Faller only sold 401 of their
1:43 models in 1998!
POLA-G: In October will come a 1:22.5 scale Unimog with grass mower.attachment
FINE ART: This company displayed a superb Bugatti T57 at $16,000 and
Bugatti T35A Tecla, T35B and T51, at around $8,000 each.
GONIO: This 1:24 Czech sheet metal range will gain aDodge WC-52 post war
fire truck and a VW Schwimmwagen in 1999.
HERPA: Highlights discernible in Herpa's usual flood of news include a
Smart car in 1:43 scale, and in 1:87 there will be Wartburg 353 1985
(including Police, fire, rally etc), Ford 17M bathtub 1960, BMW 3.0 CS
coupe, Ford Escort Mk 1, Mercedes-Benz SL 1974-85, Renault Alpine A110
and Opel Zafira mpv.
ITALERI: 1:24 plastic kits will include Porsche 911 cabriolet, Scania
artic Eddie Stobart, etc.
MAISTO: 1:18 diecast models are promised of Chevrolet Fleetmaster woody
estate, Ford Thunderbird 1965, Jaguar XK180, Mercedes-Benz 500K,
Plymouth Pronto Cruiser, Jaguar S-type, Mercedes-Benz S-class, Ford
Thunder-bird Show car 1999, Smart city coupe, and various Porsche and
Mercedes CLK GT cars. in 1:24 scale there will be Hummer, Mercedes
S-class and CLK, and in 1:43 scale also the S-class, CLK and Thunderbird
show car.MÄRKLIN would like to reissue products under the Gama name, which they
bought, along with Trix, from Dr Mangold.
MATTEL: It is now confirmed that Mattel have bought all world-wide
rights to the Ferrari name, but it may only be for competition cars, the
road car situation is not clear. So there will be new Hot Wheels ranges
in 1:18, 1:43 and 1:66 scales of the Ferrari F1 team, exclusively, plus
Williams in all scales (not exclusive), Jordan in all scales
(exclusive), McLaren in 1:64 scale (exclusive), and Stewart, in all
scales, (not exclusive).
In addition, Mattel has purchased Bburago. (See above for Bburago
release notes). In Mattel's Matchbox 1-75 range there will be more
European subjects such as the Mercedes A-Class, BMW 3 series, Audi TT
etc, and the trend will be towards accurate scale models rather than
fantasy subjects.
MINICHAMPS: A major new range is 1:43 racing trucks. There will be lots
of Nascar and Indy models, reflecting the influence of Minichamps' new
US partner, and a special issue for Summer 1999 will be the Presidential
Lincoln in which John F Kennedy was asssassinated.
NOREV: Many old Norev moulds are being re-activated, and there are some
new models such as a Kronenbourg beer transporter loaded with crates. My
best summary of this range is 1970s quality at 21st century prices.
NZG: The most interesting model in this German diecast range is a 1:50
scale Kaelble KDV 22E 'old-timer' heavy duty tractor unit with Scheuerle
low loader trailer.
POCHER: The large-scale Porsche 911 (993) looks to be almost ready for
release, judging from the display model shown by Pocher.
RIETZE will issue, among many other 1:87 plastic models in 1999, Ford
Focus notchback and Audi TT roadster, plus a range of 1:120 TT scale
model vehicles, as this scale is still popular with model railway
enthusiasts in the East of Germany.
SCHUCO continued to expand in 1998, their turnover up 10% on 1997,
largely due to promo orders from car firms, but they have no such orders
for 1999. Dr Mangold's age is a factor in the currently ongoing sale of
Schuco.  New releases planned include various tin toys, Micro Racer
fairlane Police, Examico Porsche, 1:90 diecast Piccolos including
Isetta, E Type, Trabant, Fiat 500 etc. The 1:43 diecast range will see
DKW Schnellaster minibus and pickup, Mini Cooper, Mercedes 300SL
gull-wing, new VW Beetle, Porsche 996 cabriolet, and possibly the OpelZafira
VITESSE GROUP: Here are a few releases proposed for early in 1999:
Vitesse: Chevrolet Nomad 1957, Citroen Berlingo Multispace, Peugeot
Partner Weekend mpv, Mini Moke open or closed, Jaguar XKR coupe, Renault
Kangoo mpv, Ford Escort WRC MC98, Toyota Corolla WRC 98, Quartzo: Lotus
78 Imperial Japanese GP 77, Lotus 78 Germany 78, Ferrari 156 Monaco 62
Hill or Mairesse, Williams Renault Prost 93, Ferrari 500F2 Ascari 52,
Onyx: Touring car racers: Peugeot 406 STW 98 Aiello or van Ommen, Volvo
S40 BTCC 98 Rydell or Morbidelli, Honda Accord BTCC 98 Gravett, City:
Jaguar Mark II police car, Peugeot 404 taxi Buenos Aires. The Victoria
range has now been sold to a new owner.
The next issue of MAR will see fuller details of many of the ranges
noted briefly here.

The 'toy' range from Corgi (as opposed to the Classics) is, like its partner range, expanding vigorously.

STEADY EDDIE

This Eddie Stobart spin-off pre-school series (see colour pictures in MAR 129) gains a number of new character vehicles. To follow Steady Eddie, Oliver Overdrive, Loretta Lorry and Jock the tanker, 1999 sees Chrissie the Coach, Rick Van Rental, Angie Ambulance and Eddie in hard hat or woolly hat. There is an extensive promo programme via Little Chef and RoSPA, and other companies re being licensed to produce books, playmats, etc. How long before we see Melinda Milkfloat (with big over-riders), or Bertie Boozecruise (a plain white van)? There are also new models in the 1:64 scale Eddie Stobart truck series: Scania two axle rigid truck and Volvo drawbar unit.

SUPERHAULERS

Following the success of the Stobart models, this series is now getting more authentic liveries, some of them scaled-down versions of the 1:50 Corgi range. They include Scania artic James Irlam, ERF artic Tango, Volvo artic Kit Kat, Volvo drawbar TNT, Scania artic Securicor Omega Express, ERF rigid Royal Mail, Volvo artic tanker Cadbury, Volvo race transporter Cadbury Boost Yamaha, and ERF artic tanker Tate & Lyle.

OTHER TOY VEHICLES

There are many sub-headings for the Corgi toy vehicle range in its expanded form, so we'll race though them. Most are 1:36 scale. Emergency Services: Mazda fire pickup, Mercedes Benz Bonna Paramedic ambulance with stretcher bearers, Ford Transit van Police. Working Life: Forklift truck City Forklift Services, Ford Transit milk float, Mercedes box van Parceline, Mercedes concrete mixer Topmix, SD refuse truck Biffa, Mercedes street sweeper Kent Sweepers Ltd. London Scene: FX4 taxi American Airlines, Concorde in new BA livery. The Great Outdoors: Range Rover blue, Land Rover green. Modern Coaches: Plaxton Paramount Stagecoach Service Vehicles: Ford Transit minibus British Airways, Mercedes 207D van Parcel Force and Ford Escort van Shell. City Service (cheaper toys): Scania silo, tipper and box van. Roadside Rescue: Ford Transit Wrecker Highway Recovery, Ford TransitGreen Flag.

The latest licensed diecast range from Lledo is 'Noddy in Toyland', six models released from July to December, to coincide with the new Noddy television series. Prices will be around £8.00 each in UK.

Noddy figure with Noddy carPC Plod figure with Police car
Gobbo figure with van (Big Ears)Mr Milko figure with milk van
Noddy figure with fire engineMr Spark's car 
CORGI GETS STEAM UP
The new range promised by Corgi for 1999 is, we can now reveal, devoted
to steam-powered vehicles. Under the Vintage Glory title, there will be
1:50 steam wagons, road locomotives, showman's engines and the like,
totalling 14 releases from March onwards. They will comprise:
Super Sentinel steam wagon with crates, Tate & Lyle (March)
Fowler B6 Super Lion showman's engine 'The Lion', Anderton & Rowlands
Super Noah's Ark (April)
Sentinel DG steam wagon with trailer, Paul Bros Homepride Flour (May)
Fowler B6 road loco ('traction engine') Talisman, with low load trailer
and board mill cylinder load, Pickfords (June)
Foden overtype steam wagon, Pease -Tate & Lyle (June)
Sentinel DG4 steam wagon, Shepherd Neame brewery (July)
Foden HH overtype steam wagon with furniture removals container, Bishop
& Sons (August)
Fowler B6 Super Lion showman's engine, King Carnival II, 'Over the
Sticks' (September)Sentinel DG4 steam wagon with oil drums, Wynns (October)
Fowler B6 road locomotive ('traction engine') Atlas, Norman E Box Ltd(October)
Sentinel DG4 steam wagon, McMullen's Brewery (November)
Foden overtype steam wagon, Pickfords (December)
Foden overtype steam wagon with water tank, Ind Coope brewery (February2000)
Sentinel DG steam wagon, Cement Marketing Company, Blue Circle Portland
Cement (February 2000)

By Stephen Roff

K&R Replicas have a number of new additions to the 1:43 range availablenow:
ACE54 MG Magnette Mk 3ACE55 MG Magnette Mk 4
KRE54 Ford Escort Mk 2 Nottingham Police Panda Car
KRE55 Ford Escort Mk 2 Heathrow Police Car
KRE56 Ford Escort Mk 2 Metropolitan Police JYH605N
KRE57 Ford Escort Mk 2 Metropolitan Police UYX787S
RES8 Ford Escort Mk 2 Metropolitan Police CYW536W
KRRL49 BRM P25 Dutch GP Jo Bonnier (BRM's first GP win)
KRRL50 Ferrari 500 Rosier Italian GP 1952
KRRL51 Ferrari 500 Swaters Avus Ring winner 1953
KRRL52 Cooper Bristol Mk2 Belgian GP 1952 Hawthorn
KRRL53 Cooper Bristol Mk2 Lavant Cup, Goodwood 52 Hawthorn

The three versions of Metropolitan Police cars are all distictly different cars, different colours, different signs and grilles.

SOMERVILLE PREFECT

Doug McHard of Somerville Models draws our attention to some changes to the Somerville 1950 Ford Prefect 493A. When it was first issued, some Ford enthusiasts pointed out that this model had 'too many' lights at the rear, though these were Ford-supplied lights added on to the preserved car which was measured for the master. They were required by changes to the Road Traffic regulations after the cars were already in use on the road.So, when the Prefect's vulcanised mould wore out at Somerville, Doug decided to alter the master to represent the car as first built, and to make a new mould.

The rear lights have therefore been removed, over-riders added and other detail changes made. The new model has been renumbered 145A (identified as such on the base) and all future deliveries of 1950 Prefects will be of this version.

From now on, therefore, Somerville 145, the original version, is discontinued.

Here's a tale with a moral:
Don't take your collecting too seriously.

A widely-reported dispute came to court in Nottingham in January. It was the story of two brothers, one a policeman aged 33, his 39-year-old brother and the latter's 18-year-old son. A domestic disagreement between father and son resulted in PC uncle arriving, and threatening to arrest his own brother for assault on the nephew. The ensuing argument resulted in the younger man arresting his brother in handcuffs for aggressive and abusive behaviour towards a police officer. Nottingham magistrates arrived at a 'not guilty' verdict and awarded the older brother £1000 costs. This case was the culmination of a ten-year simmering feud over a Dinky Thunderbirds 2 diecast toy, belonging to the nephew. The father accused his policeman brother, an avid toy collector, of tricking the small boy into swapping his Thunderbirds 2 model for a cheap Action Man figure, and they have rarely spoken in the decade since the dispute. So, let's take a lesson from this, it's supposed to be fun, don't let it ruin your life.

The latest new release from Exclusive First Editions is the DMS, designed by London Transport as the first purpose-built one man operated double deckers, a common sight in London in the early 1970s. and the last bus designed by London Transport.FEBRUARY EFE RELEASES

25701 DAIMLER DMS LONDON TRANSPORT20419 BRISTOL VRIII ENSIGN
25205 BRISTOL RELL WILTS & DORSET12112 CAVALIER TYPE B WALLACE ARNOLD
25504 RML ROUTEMASTER METROLINE22708 ALEXANDER Y TYPE ULSTERBUS
16107DL LEYLAND PD2 STRATFORD BLUE21802 ERGOMATIC LORRY TRUMANS BREWERY
MARCH EFE RELEASES25505 RML ROUTEMASTER LONDON TRANSPORT
25801 DAIMLER DMS WEST MIDLANDS25302 AEC DUPLE COACH GREY GREEN
17209 LEYLAND NATIONAL lDR FISHWICK & SONS16117 LEYLAND PD2 HALIFAX
20122 BEDFORD OB SKILLS19811 DAIMLER CVG6 DERBY CORPORATION
24103 BEDFORD TK DROPSIDE WATNEYS

By Leonid Khoykhin
News from St Petersburg Tram Collection, all 1:43 scale models, North American trams are also available now in 1:48 scale TRAMS: Two new American trams:

150: 1944 BTC Baltimore Pullman-Standard PCC (7404-7428 series) Ltd ed
of 100. From 1939 to 1944 248 PCCs were built for Baltimore Transit Co
by Pullman-Standard. The last order, 7404-7428 was built 1944. After
1949 the cars were repainted to National City Lines orange with grey
roof; after closure of the Baltimore system in 1963 all cars were
scrapped, but car 7404 was saved and restored in Baltimore Streetcar
Museum to its original green and cream with orange belt rail.
132: 1949 Red Arrow Lines DE Car by St Louis Car Co. Ltd ed of 100.
Philadelphia's Red Arrow Lines ordered 14 double-enders from St Louis
Car Co in 1949, numbered 11-24 with PCC-style body on high-speed
suburban trucks They were replaced by LRV vehicles in 1981. Available in
1:43 and 1:48.
TROLLEYBUSES: Four more post-war Pullman-Standard Trolleybuses are outnow:
130b: 1947 Pullman-Standard 44CX Trolleybus, Cleveland Ry 850-899
series, ex Providence, acquired 1953. Ltd ed of 80.
187: 1948 Pullman-Standard 44CX Trolleybus, CTA Chicago. 9323-9367
series. Ltd ed of 80.
188: 1947 Pullman-Standard 44CX Trolleybus, Dayton City Railway. 401-445
series. Ltd ed of 50.
189 :1947 Pullman-Standard 44AS Trolleybus, Birmingham Electric. Ltd edof 50.
Two more ACF-Brill model T46 trolleybuses:
139a: 1951 ACF-Brill T-46 Trolleybus, Metro Winnipeg, ex-Flint, MI. Ltded of 25.
139b: 1951 ACF-Brill T-46 Trolleybus Mexico-City, ex-Winnipeg. Ltd ed of25.
There is a third North American trolleybus:
114: 1943 Twin Coach Model 44GTT Trolleybus, Seattle Transit. Ltd ed of
50. Seattle's trolleybus service began 28 April 1940, 235 vehicles
delivered by Brill (1), PCF-Brill (99; Brill license) and Twin Coach
(135). In 1942 Seattle got more Twin Coaches, model 40GWFT and in 1943,
24 of the 43-seat 44GTT trolleybuses, also by Twin Coach. This batch,
painted grey, was leased from the Office of Defence Transportation.
Seattle bought them in 1947, and repainted them yellow and grey, the
colour scheme from 1946 to 1954. From this series, Twin Coach 955
renumbered 636) is preserved by Seattle Metro Transit.
Next release in our Stockholm Collection is:
142: 1947 Scania-Vabis T30 Trolleybus, SS Stockholm F3-class, AB
Hagglund body. Ltd ed of 50 At its peak the Stockholm trolleybus network
had 193 trolleybuses on 12 routes, the largest system in Scandinavia.
The first trolleybus route in Stockholm opened in January 1940. Between
1947 and 1950 AB Hagglund built for Stockholm 113 new F3 trolleybuses
Scania-Vabis T30 chassis with ASEA electrical equipment, cornerstone of
the fleet for many years. Conversion to diesel bus operation began in
1952 the final route converted in August 1964.
And, last, two more export ZIU trolleybuses:
146c: 1984 ZIU-682 Athens 3001-3132 series. Ltd ed of 25.
177: 1991 ZIU-683 Artic, EMIR Cordoba, Argentina. Ltd to 25.BUSES:
209a: 1949 AEC Regal III 9631E, HKL Helsinki 34-38 series, Valmet DB
Body. Ltd ed. of 25. Helsinki ordered five AEC Regal III buses with
Valmet DB bodies in 1949. Buses 34-38 were used on route 18N until 1961;
later they were bought by an independent bus company in Helsinki and
were in service until 1963-64; after that the frames were used to build
semi-trailers for trucks (Information via Timo Lehtonen).
For more information contact St Petersburg Tram Collection, PO Box No
16, 196158 St Petersburg, Russia. Fax: 7 (812) 164 52 54.
Internet: http://users.nevalink.ru/~sptcE-Mail: proserv@neva.sp~.ru
OOC SECOND QUARTER
Corgi's Original Omnibus Co 1:76 diecast range has these new releases
promised for April-June 1999APRILNorthern Counties Palatine II East Yorkshire
Blackpool Balloon tram PontinsBlackpool Brush tram original livery
AEC 6641T Trolleybus Cardiff Corporation (Streamline)
Weymann trolleybus Maidstone & DistrictPlaxton Excalibur FlightsMAY
Van Hool Alizee Ellen SmithBlackpool Balloon tram 1980s livery
Neoplan Cityliner Parrys InternationalOptare Delta Bartons
Plaxton Premiere Plymouth CitybusBedford OB coach SouthdownJUNE
Leyland Utility bus London TransportBlackpool Brush tram current livery
Plaxton Premiere BassettsLeyland PD3 (St Helens) Blackpool Transport
Plaxton Beaver TrentBUT 9641T trolleybus Glasgow

By Hans-Georg Schmitt
Herpa late 1998 releases, all 1:87 plastic models from Germany:

022644 BMW M 5, red-yellow032643 BMW M 5 metallic techno violet-lagoon green
022651 Opel Vectra STW 98, plain white.
188166 MAN F2000 TLF Fire, Kassel, bright red with yellow stripes.
145329 DAF 95 XF tilt artic Weyand, Wermelskirchen.
145336 Mercedes Actros L glass transporter Offergeld
145343 Mercedes-Benz Actros LH low load artic with pipe, Baumann.
145350 Volvo FH XL artic chrome plated tanker de Jongh (Talke Group).
145367 Mercedes-Benz Atego 18 ton dumper.
188197 Mercedes-Benz Actros LH tilt artic Stute.
187862 Mercedes-Benz Actros LH frig artic, Pfluger, the main haulier for
Stollwerck Chocolate of Cologne.
188135 Mercedes-Benz Actros LH frig artic show truck Culina, based inSaxony.
188173 Scania 144 Topline artic Starlight Express.
037235 Honda Accord STW no. ll, Altfried Heger.
022637 Volkswagen Golf IV two-door-saloon, pearl-blue - candy white.
032636 Volkswagen Golf IV two-door-saloon, jazz blue-metallic - black
magic. Both have separately inserted headlights, hot stamped on the back
to get the appearance of the original.
022620 BMW 7 series facelift, black - green
032629 BMW 7 series facelift, brokat red metallic - biaritz blue
metallic. Headlights and indicators have been altered, there are
engraved windscreen wipers and a three dimensional internal rear viewmirror.
044042 Mercedes-Benz E 200 T Binz BTW 'KBH Hannover', with yellow wheelcovers.
188203 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter pick up with tilt, Fire, Winnenden,Swabia.
051354 Roll cage motorsport interior set for Opel Vectra, Peugeot 406,
Audi A4 and BMW 3 series.188159 Volvo FH XL artic bulker Faxe.
145312 Mercedes-Benz Actros L frig drawbar Bi-Fi - Oppel, Ansbach,Franconia.
145305 Scania 124 interchangeable cargo-box, Thiel.
188142 Scania 144 Topline frig artic Verpoorten promotional truck
operated by Wirtz, in Bornheim. The expensive livery promotes Verpoorten
advocaat.187831 Setra 228 DT Bus Ice-Tigers, travel agency Dr Krugmann from
Erlangen in Franconia provides this team bus for the Nuremberg IceTigers.
Jubilee Range 20 Years of Herpa Miniature Models
187558 Mercedes-Benz dump trucks.
187503 Mercedes-Benz 500SE saloon and Mercedes-CLK Coupe both silver
with red interior, in special box.188029 DAF 95 artic Christmas 1998

NZG of Germany give advance notice of some of their diecast releases for1999:

329 BROYT D800T tracked excavator (reissue) (Feb)
330 BROYT D800W wheeled excavator (reissue) (Feb)
440/1 O&K L651 cable crane with dragline456 O&K TEREX RH30E excavator (Feb)
457 O&K MH5 excavator (Feb)458 O&K RH6 excavator (Feb)459 O&K F156 (Feb)
442 DEMAG KOMATSU H255S (Mar)454 MERCEDES 800 van (Mar)
462 SET: KAELBLE KDV22E8 with SCHEUERLE trailer (May)453 HAULOTTE HA20PX (Jun)

SCHABAK of Germany release a 1:43 diecast model of a 1998 BMW M5 inMarch.

Select a shop

or Search Zeteo

By Hans-Georg SchmittBusch
1:87 plastic models, late 98 releases:

48501 Mercedes-Benz ML-Class, in ruby red with beige interior and
turmaline green with grey interior.
48601 Mercedes-Benz A-Class Avantgarde in grey metallic, with red
interior or blue with grey interior.
43298 FIAT Ducato MTW crew-bus Fire City of Ulm.
44353 Mercedes-Benz 507 Emergency Diver Transport, Fire Service, Vienna,Austria.
44354 Mercedes 507 Belgian Civil Protection.
45211 Ford Thunderbird Convertible, closed.
47321 Fiat Ducato Ambulance Rettungsdienst Stadler.
47811 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter ELW Fire Reinbek.
47816 Mercedes Sprinter crew-bus Polizei47910 Iveco Daily ANWB Road Service NL.
48106 Volkswagen Passat THW staff car.48206 Chevrolet Pickup US Air Force
47407 Ford Probe US County Sheriff
49070 Ford Crown Victoria Ohio State Highway Patrol
47678 Chevrolet Caprice Tennessee Highway Patrol
48900 Smart City Coupe.

Now available from model dealers, the first batch was only for promotionals. Busch supplies the model in a special package with integral ramp, to push into a Smart tower model. The Smart is available in five colour combinations:

Tridion black, body panels red, seats blue
Tridion silver body panels black, seats orange
Tridion silver, body panels yellow, seats blue
Tridion Silver, body panels white seats orange

47906 Iveco Daily Ambulance DRK Karlsruhe
49924 Fire Brigade Set Berlin, three models: VW Passat fire chief car,
Iveco Daily Ambulance, Mercedes LP809 equipment transporter, 3000 made.
Special Models for special occasions: 41546 Mercedes-Benz 170V
Gaffel Kolsch for the Inter-national Model Railway Exhibition 1998 inCologne.
49923 Mercedes-Benz Zero Emission Set for Idee+ Spiel: Mercedes ML-Class
with trailer and A-Class with fuel cell. Only available in Idee+Spielshops.
49926 Fiat Rallye set for Toy-federation Vedes: Fiat Ducato box-van with
trailer and Fiat 500 in race trim.00000 Porsche 356 Veterama Mannheim 1998
00000 Fiat 500 Karstadt
00000 Chevrolet Pickup Al's Victory Service, specially made for Walthers
Milwaukee, USA. It can be ordered directly from Walters (ref 48291) via
the Internet.
00000 Fiat Ducato DRK Landesschule, for German Red Cross country school
in Pfalzgrafenweiler.BUSCH Christmas Specials:
Merry Christmas 1998: Christmas diorama of Mercedes-Benz A-class with a
snowman, two figures and a Christmas-tree.
Merry Christmas distribution of presents diorama.
CMC NEW RELEASES
CMC of Germany announce the following new releases in their 1:24 range
(month of release in brackets):14 MERCEDES-BENZ 300 SLS 1956 O'Shea
12 MERCEDES-BENZ 450 SL red 1973-89 (Jan)
13 MERCEDES-BENZ 450 SL blue 1973-89 (Jan)15 HORCH 853 dark red (May)
16 HORCH 853 yellow (May)
CMC's first 1:12 scale model: 22 HORCH 853 for Horch-Audi centenary(May)

REVELL NEW FOR 1999
New models for release this year in Revell's diecast range, all in 1:18scale:Auto Union 1000S coupe 1958Borgward Isabella coupe (above)
Messerschmitt Kr201 roadsterGoggomobil T250 de luxe
Goggomobil T250 Polizei (below)Goggomobil T250 Feuerwehr (below)
Audi new car 1999 (TT cabriolet?)Volkswagen Golf GTi black

HUNGARO-GERMAN TT
By Hans-Georg Schmitt

Final assembly at their plant in Gyor, Hungary enables Audi to offer
their new TT coupe at an attractive price. The unusual styling was
adopted almost unchanged from the design-study, first shown at Frankfurt
Motor Show in September 1995.
The aim was to build a pure sports car, so only two adults can fit into
this small coupe. In the rear seat even small children have problems
fitting in. The basic version has a 180 hp engine and front wheel drive,
the top model has four-wheel drive and a 225 hp engine with a manual
six-speed-gearbox.

In Spring 1999 the coupe range will be extended with an open roadsterversion.
Audi Quattro GmbH, the Audi accessory company, offered models of the TT
at the launch of the real car, in three scales.

In 1:18 Revell diecast have produced a nice model. (Audi order no13.318C).
Minichamps have again done a very good job translating this
extraordinary design to 1:43 scale. (Audi order no 13.343C)
Finally in the small scale of 1:87 the TT is also available. This time
Audi preferred supplier Rietze won the price competition and they
delivered a very good product. (Audi order no 13.387C) The models,packed
in special coloured boxes,printed with Audi TT Coupe and the Audi
logo,are available from Audi dealers or from Audi Quattro
GmbH.,Auto-Union-Strasse 40; D-85057 Ingolstadt, Germany. Fax0841-44445.
WIKING 1:87 plastic from Germany: colour variations: 8780121 Porsche
tractor (re-issued as an oldtimer-model), 8070325 Citroen ID 19
brown-red, and 0630135 VW Passat Variant with Dethleffs caravan.

RIETZE RELEASES
By Hans-Georg Schmitt

RIETZE late 1998 releases, all 1:87 scale plastic from Germany.10940 Audi TT Coupe, first in yellow, red and green, soon in metalliccolours.
20930 Audi A6 saloon, in blue, violet or dark grey met.
20970 Ford Focus Turnier estate dark grey, blue met.
30487 Opel Astra Caravan Swiss PTT.30723 Ford Transit Austrian Post.
30773 Ford Transit Schenker30858 Volkswagen Caddy The Johanniter
30861 Ford Ka The Johanniter40209 Mercedes O404 HSV 97-98 soccer team bus.
50672 Audi A6 Avant First Response.
50890 Ford Mondeo Turnier Bavarian Red Cross, City of Wurzburg.
61357 Setra S 315 NF Swiss Post PTT.61603 Volvo B12-600 bus Backer .
62201 Mercedes-Benz O 404 SBG-AirBus. This dark blue Mercedes has the
same 'airliner' livery as the earlier Setra S 315 GT.
62406 Setra S 319 NF WVG Munster Schnellbus.62508 Mercedes-Benz Citaro VZO/CH.
62700 Neoplan Centroliner Citybus.64102 Setra 315 HDH Eurolines.
1:160 (N-scale) releases:16023 Neoplan Megaliner Janssen
16020 Ford Transit Ambulance & Politie (Police NL)

LATEST MINICHAMPS
By Hans-Georg Schmitt

Recent releases from Minichamps, all 1:43 scale diecast in China forGermany:430 086401 Ford Ka 1997 in purple.
430 015901 Wartburg A 312, now coral red and white. Fnas of DDR vehicles
say that this would be the best miniature Wartburg, if only the terrible
shape of the lower white side painting could be corrected. Hopefully it
will be corrected soon. Someone should tell them that this is the saloon
and not the coupe!430 022200 BMW 2002 Turbo 1973-1974.
This milestone in BMW car production was 'the right car at the wrong time',
developed before the first oil crisis and overtaken by it. The car had a
two litre blown engine of 170 hp, good for a maximum speed of 210 km/h.
It was first shown at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September 1973. Publication
of the first official press photographs made headlines German newspapers and
the Federal Parliament was involved.The aggressive front decoration,
with reversed lettering might encourage dangerous driving, especially on
the Autobahn, so the night before the show, BMW sales chief Bob Lutz
(now retired as ex-boss of Chrysler), had the reversed writing on the
front spoiler overpainted to placate the critics. The model is an exact
reproduction of the prototype, with spoiler lettering (though the size
of the lettering is a bit too small), and other details all accurately
reproduced, including the interior, which even has the red instrument
area in the dashboard.
430 032234 Mercedes-Benz 280SL Cabriolet 1968-1971; light blue. The open
version of the legendary Pagoda, only the type emblem on the boot lid
still says 230SL!
430 045601 Opel Kadett C two door saloon 1973-1977 Now available in a
new original colour, cardinal-red with black interior.
430 062332 Porsche 356C Cabriolet in new colour, medium red, with beige
interior and black hood-cover.
430 067121 Porsche 911 Coupe 1964, also in new colour, bright red, with
tan interior.
430 113550 Renault R8 Gordini 1964-1968, the fastest version of the R8,
in typical Gordini blue, in which the cars had many competition
successes, in spite of tricky roadholding, due to the rear engine.
430 113600 Renault Alpine A110 1963-1967, in typical metallic blue with
black interior. This is the street version, but it is equipped with
sport-exhaust system and roll-cage, so we can expect some rally and race
versions. The Renault badges are wrong, too early for this production
period. In 1971 Alpines were included in the Renault model range.
430 132571 Triumph TR6 Roadster 1968-1976 British Racing Green, the
right colour for this interesting British sports car. All together a
very good model, except for the placing of the TR6 emblem on the rear
wings. It should be next to the rear direction indicator lights, but on
the model it is located in the middle between the lights and the wheelcut outs.

SIKU FOR 1999
Sieper-Werke of Germany have 40 new issues to announce in their diecast
model toy ranges for this year:SIKU SUPER SERIES
Scania artic low loader with wheel-loaderEurocopter helicopter 'Polizei'
Articulated city busMercedes ML230 + trailer +Porsche Boxster
Volvo artic car transporterFlair motor caravan with Golf on trailer
Volvo curtainside articMercedes Sprinter baby doctor van
Mercedes Vario lorry with tiltLinde H60 forklift truckRenault Megane Scenic
Porsche 911Mercedes-Benz A160Mercedes-Benz ML230
Volkswagen new Beetle (choice of colours)Volvo rigid truck with silo load
Porsche Boxster touring car racerVolkswagen Golf IV touring car racer
Mini Cooper touring car racerBMW 320i touring car racer
Mercedes tractor + lowload trailer and O&K loader load
Eight-axle lorry mounted craneArticulated tram, German style
SIKU FARMER SERIES 1:32Horse box trailer 'Sport'
MF tractor with fertiliser spreaderJCB Fastrac 2150 tractorBeet harvester
Braud SB6 grape harvesterPlough attachment
MF tractor with front loader and hay trailerFendt tractor with beet trailer
MF tractor with Robusta tank trailerLand Rover Defender with horse trailer
Tractor with rotary cropperSIKU JUNIOR Plastic models:
O&K L45 wheel loader (470mm)Mercedes-Benz Actros tipper (377mm)
Fendt Favorit 926 Vario tractor with front loader (330mm)
Vacuum tank trailer (290mm)
(These are large-scale models, and the length of each is thus given in
millimetres).

MIRA FOR 1999
Mira of Spain plan the following new releases for 1999, First 1:18
diecast models:Ford two door coupe 1949, blue, green, red
Ford two door coupe 1949, PoliceFord two door coupe 1949, Fire dept
Ford two door convertible 1949 Ford two door convertible top up 1949
Chevrolet panel van Police NYPD Chevrolet Corvette hardtop 1954 black
Chevrolet Corvette softtop 1955 goldFord Mustang coupe 19641/2 turquoise
Ford F150 Flareside pickup 1998 red or brownBuick Century coupe 1955
Chevrolet pickup 1953 bluePorsche 911 coupe 1998 silver, red, black
Porsche 911 cabriolet 1998 blue, redFerrari 348 spider 1992 yellow
Porsche Boxster maroon, yellowPorsche 911 coupe sport 1998 silver, red
Ferrari F50 cabriolet 1995 yellow
There are also many new releases and re-colours in Mira's 1:24 series,
including Pontiac Trans-Sport Ambulance, Renault Espace taxi, Renault
Espace fire, Chrysler Voyager Police etc, and there are eight classic
and vintage cars as well. Mira's 1:24 F-1 series includes some
generic-shaped cars with oddly familiar liveries (John Mira Special,
Mira-Mercedes, Mirrari etc).

JOAL NEW FOR 1999
New models planned by Joal of Spain:342 DAF 95XF truck (high cab) with DAF trailer
343 DAF 95XF truck (high cab) with lowbed trailer
344 DAF 95XF truck (low cab) with cement tank
345 DAF 95XF truck (high cab) with covered trailer
346 DAF 95XF truck (low cab) with tanker trailer
347 DAF 95XF truck (low cab) with trailer348 DAF 95XF (low cab) container truck
265 Komatsu WA900 wheeled loader265 JCB Teletruk

RIO NEW FOR 1999
New 1:43 diecast models planned for release from Rio of Italy;SL59 Fiat Balilla Milan Motor Show 32 black
SL61 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Miss Italia 55 blue
SL62 VW Beetle Swiss Post 1963 white-grey
SL63 Citroen DS19 'Assembly Line' 1956 white
SL64 Citroen DS21 Liege Sofia Rally 1961 cream-grey
SL65 Citroen DS19 1967 Radio Monte CarloSL66 Citroen DS19 1967 Pernod livery
SL67 Citroen ID19 1968 Paris Police black
SL68 Citroen ID19 Estate 1959 Ambulance beige-white
SL69 Citroen DS21 Monte Carlo Rally 1967 blue-white
SL70 Citroen ID19 Estate Ambulance Blue Cross white
SL71 Volkswagen Beetle Ambulance Wolfsburg white-black

ROCO NEW FOR 1999
Roco of Austria have an extensive range of plastic models promised for
1999 release. First the HO scale (1:87) models:VW T4 crew cab with tilt, fire Friedrichshafen
VW T4 crew cab with tilt emergency truckUnimog U1300 crew cab fire pickup
MAN 63022A fire command post Celle
Oshkosh high performance fire appliance, yellow or blue
Mercedes-Benz LF25 fire appliance ItzehoeMagirus TLF16 fire appliance Lenggries
Magirus LF16 fire appliance Railway fire service
Ford FK1250 fire minibus with pump St Gilgen
Ford FX1250 fire minibus with pump Flachau
Set: VW T4 + Magirus LF16TS fire MunichMercedes G Wagen fire Weisenfels
Land Rover fire WindeckSet: VW T3 fire minibus and pickup Salzburg
VW T4 minibus German motorway policeUnimog U1300 German police
MAN 630L2A Police control centreSet: VW T3 minibus and T4 minibus Swiss Police
Set: VW T3 Gendarmerie and VW T3 PoliceVW T3 Pickup THW blue
Volvo FH12 artic THW blueMAN 4522 6x6 THW camouflage
Set: VW T3 + boat on trailer THW blueVW T3 pickup UN whiteUnimog U1300L THW blue
VW T4 minibus baby doctorPinzgauer 4x4 red crossFord PK1000 St John's Ambulance
VW T3 hightop ambulanceUnimog U1700 with low load tailer Schwarzbau
Mercedes-Benz SK94 3 axle tipper SchwarzbauVW T4 minibus DB-AGVW T4 van Miele
VW T4 pickup with tilt SonneVW T4 armoured security van
VW T3 heating oil tank pickup BrentraVW T4 van DSB
Unimog U1300 with double trailer Schuon
Unimog with front loader, municipal yellowUnimog Loctrac road-rail vehicle DSB
Ford FK1000 vanFord FK1000 van Brezl bakery
Mercedes-Benz L5000 with coal delivery containerSteyr 680 drawbar Brau AG
ROCO N-scale models 1:160Volvo FH12 artic Jagermeister
Mercedes-Benz 1850 artic SudsalzROCO TT-scale models 1:120
VW T4 van Mühlen KölschVW T4 van SpeeROCO MINITANKS 1:87 scale
MAN 454 8x8 with Wiesel x 2 white UNUnimog U1250L pickup German Army
Unimog TLF1000 fire German Army UNMAN 6x6 Roland LVB German Army
Ford FK1000 ambulance German ArmyUnimog U1300L pickup German Army range control
VW T3 double cab pickup German ArmyFord FK1000 minibus German Army
Fod FK1000 van German ArmyWiesel light afv German Army
PzH 2000 self propelled howitzer German Army
VW T3 double cab fire vehicle German ArmyTiger 1 Pzkpfw VI Tunisia German Army
PZKpfw IV medium tank German ArmySet: VW T4 camouflage, VW T4 blue German Army
Set: Unimog towing Bo105 helicopter on trailer German Army
Set: Gepard AA tank on railway flat car German Army
Set: M348 fire and Unimog fire US ArmyM35A2 with cargo hoist US Army
Jeep Military Police US ArmyGMC 6x6 truck with stars US Army
VW T3 pickup + box body US Army

JEMMPY LATEST NEWS
New 1:43 resin kits (painted or unpainted) or fully-built models fromFrance:140 Schlesser-Renault Buggy Dakar 99 Schlesser
141 Schlesser-Renault Buggy Dakar 99 Servia144 Lotus Elan Coupe S1
145 Lotus Elan Coupe S2-S3146 Lotus Elan Coupe S4147 Lotus Elan S4 Sprint Coupe
143 BMW 325i road car 1986149 BMW M5 road car 1986

FALLER CAR-SYSTEM
Faller's Car-System is a means by which HO scale vehicles drive freely
along roads made to the same scale. It is quite magical, as no guidance
process is obvious to the viewer. Whilst the bodies of the vehicles are
essentially standard production items made by Herpa, Brekina, Wiking or
Roco, the propulsion system is entirely unique to Faller. This is not a
'slot track' system. Each vehicle carries its own motive power, with a
motor and rechargeable batteries, and runs on rubber tyres. The front
wheel steering is controlled by a powerful magnet attached to the
wheels, which are turned by metal sections buried in corners of the
Faller moulded plastic roadway. Similarly, electrical relays can control
the stopping and re-starting of vehicles. This fascinating system is
fairly expensive, but offers many possibilities to amaze your friends.
There is now a wide choice of vehicles available from Faller in the
Car-System, trucks, buses, emergency and utility vehicles.

NEW MINICRAFT KITS
Minicraft of the USA have a deserved reputation for producing plastic
kits of unusual subjects, often from tooling originated by other
companies. In common with many other companies, Minicraft has now moved
its tooling to China. This has resulted in higher quality, lower cost,
and now in production of original new models in China. The Minicraft
1999 release programme is as follows (scale and month of release inbrackets):Jaguar SS-100 1939 (1:16 Jan)Rolls-Royce tourer 1907 (1:16 Feb)
Ford A roadster 1941 (1:16 Feb)Mercedes SS cabriolet 1928 (1:16 second quarter)
Ford V8 Bonneville hot rod (1:16 second quarter)
T-55 Main Battle Tank, Russia (1:35 third quarter)

ALEZAN OFFERINGS
Alezan's 1:43 range of resin models from France majors on competition,
sporting road cars and exotica, including show cars. The latest models
are all available as its, prepainted kits or handbuilt.225 Alfetta Spider Pininfarina 1972226 Citroen AX Superproduction 1987
227 Citroen AX Sport Gr A MC 88228 Cizeta Moroder V16T Presentation 1988

REVELL KRUPP TITAN KIT
By Hans-Georg Schmitt

On 20 November 1811 a businessman called Friedrich Krupp founded a new
firm trading under his name. Krupp made his break-through with the
development of the seamless rolled railway wheel tyre. In 1887 Friedrich
Krupp Jr took over the firm and, together with Rudolf Diesel, developed
the first Diesel engine. It was not until 1919 that the first truck was
built, a five tonner with a 45 hp engine, solid rubber tyres and
four-speed gearbox. After the Second World War there was a great demand
for trucks, so the reborn company presented the new Krupp Titan to the
public in October 1950 at the Paris Motor Show. Everything was new, in
particular the type SW6 six-cylinder two-stroke 210 hp. Diesel-engine.
The chassis was also redesigned, giving the SWL 80, as the eight ton
platform truck was known, a roomy cab with space for four people.
Externally the Sudwerke designer relied heavily on the styling of
American cars. A chrome strip runs along the bonnet and the powerful
rounded bonnet is decorated with the three Krupp-rings.
The Krupp Titan is Revell's second 1:24 plastic kit of a 1950s heavy
duty truck. The model has an authentic chassis, a perfect reproduction
of the SW6 engine with Roots blower, steerable front-wheels, highly
detailed cab, seven solid rubber tyres on authentic Trilex rims,
accurate exhaust and brake systems. Two different cab versions, each
with appropriate decals, give an opportunity to built two different
Titans. The parts are nearly flash-free, and the assembly is shown in an
instruction booklet.

News from Ford
By Hans-Georg Schmitt

In Autumn 1998 two new models were launched in Europe by Ford. First was
the Cougar coupe, based on the Mondeo platform. It was developed in the
USA and also built there. The car was presented first at the Detroit
Motor Show in January 1998, the European launch was postponed to late
Autumn, due to quality problems, the same experience which Opel had with
their Sintra.
The Cougar, shaped in Ford's 'New Edge Design', is available with two
engines, a 131 hp two litre, and a 2.5 litre developing 170 hp. The
length of the coupe is 4.70 metres.

Models of this car are available, first in 1:43 scale, made by
Minichamps. In Summer 1999 the Cougar will also be available in 1:18scale.
As others have done with their new models, Ford re-named the successor
of the Escort. So they came to the name Focus. Following the first news
about the new name, the German magazine Focus protested, and after a
financial settlement (and enrichment of some lawyers) Ford got the use
of the name. This new car-range also uses 'New Edge Design', developed
by the head of design, Claude Lobo, who has since retired early, But
why? Three or five door hatchbacks are available, as are a four-door
notchback saloon and an estate, once again called the Turnier. The three
door hatchback and Turnier are available as model cars in 1: 87 and 1:
43 scales, but the hatchbacks are already sold out, only the Turniers
are available from Ford dealers. The 1:43 model is made by Minichamps,
accurate to the last Ghia emblem on the inserts in the rear doors behind
the windows. Only the front end has the distinct 'edges', but the body
and interior, especially the dashboard with its wood insert is
reproduced to a standard which will be hard to beat by other model
firms. The Focus Turnier in 1:87 scale is made by Rietze, who also
reproduce the design very accurately. The 1:43 models are packed into
special blue card boxes, printed with Ford logos and information about
the new models, the 1:87 box has a special card box folder, also giving
the information.

NEW MODELS IN ITALY
By Bruno Boracco
BBURAGO: 1:18 diecast model: Porsche GT3 Cup. 1:24 diecast models:
Volkswagen New Beetle, Alfa Romeo 156, Volkswagen Golf IV, Alfa Romeo
156 Polizia and Carabinieri, Ferrari F 300. 1:43 diecast models: Porsche
911 Carrera 97, Corvette convertible 98, and BMW M roadster.
BEST MODEL: 1:43 diecast models: Ferrari 312P coupe 69 and Lola T 70coupe.
ART MODEL: 1:43 diecast model: Ferrari 250 spider California 57.
BRUMM: 1:43 diecast models: Ferrari 158, Morgan MX-4 Super Sport 35,
Ferrari 512, Cooper T 53, Fiat Abarth 750 and 850 TC, Fiat 600 Multipla
Carabinieri, Fiat 600 Polizia Stradale and Fiat 1400B Polizia Stradale,
Fiat 600 Multipla 'Enciclopedia Motta' and Fiat 1100E van 'Olio Carli'.
PROGETTO-K: 1:43 diecast models: Alfa Romeo Alfetta GTV 6, Alfa
Giulietta 77, Fiat 850 coupe and Fiat-Abarth OT 1000 (which had the Fiat
850 coupe body).
1:43 resin models: Fiat 1100/103 Familiare 54, Fiat 1100I cassonato 54,
Fiat 1100/103 TV, Alfa Romeo Nuova Giulia Super 73, Lancia Fulvia F&M
Barchetta 69, Fiat 600 Lucciola (coachwork by Francis Lombardi), Fiat
600 Giardinetta estate built by Viotti, Fiat 600 cabriolet built byLombardi.
EXEM: Austin Healey Sprite Sebring, resin, Asa 1000 resin, Fiat 124
spider Pininfarina 66 Simca Abarth 2000 64, Porsche Abarth 695 GS 62,
Alfa Romeo SZ long tail 62, Osca MT4, Fiat Abarth 1000 64, Lancia Fulvia
Sport Zagato 1.3, Fiat Abarth 1300 OT 67, Simca Abarth 1300 62, Alfa
Romeo Duetto 1.3 and 1.6 1966. Le Mans series (resin) Maserati Birdcage
long tail LM 60, Austin Healey Sprite Prototype LM, Ferrari 121 55.
OFF'43: Fiat new Fiorino, Alfa Romeo F12 double cab and Matta4 x 4, allresin.
MAMONE: 1:18 resin models: Fiat 850 coupe and Autobianchi BianchinaCabriolet,
JOLLY MODEL: 1:43 resin models: Ferrari 500 Mondial berlinetta and 225 S
Vignale, 1:87 model: Ferrari 225 S Vignale.
BANG 1:43 diecast models: Ferrari 250 GT Sperimentale 63, Alfa Romeo
2000 sprint and Mercedes 300 SL spider 52.
SOLIDO: 1:43 scale diecast in China for Alfa Romeo: the 156 and 166 road
versions (not the same mould as the Majorette models), the 156 Italian
Superturismo Championship 98 and the Nuvola dream car. The 156 race
versions are available now from Alfa Romeo dealers, and soon the road
versions as well.

LESLIE HURLE BATH
Obituary by Rod Ward

It is with deep personal regret that I have to report the death of
Leslie Hurle Bath, on 19 January at the age of 73.
Leslie was a lifelong collector of, and enthusiast for, model vehicles
and a pioneer in the field of model car distribution.
Leslie's eventful life began in Amsterdam, where his Dutch mother met
his English father. The Second World War left its mark on Leslie; being
half-English and half-Jewish was not a popular matter with the German
occupying forces. He almost drowned when the shop intended to evacuate
him to England was sunk in Rotterdam harbour. His father returned from
internment in a German camp, only to die in Amsterdam under the
post-Arnhem blockade with which the occupying forces starved so many
Amsterdammers to death. This left the teenage Leslie and his mother with
no income, so the young entrepreneur decided to resurrect his father's
prewar textiles distribution business. This meant much travelling in the
austere postwar years to mills and factories all over Europe, but
especially to England and Scandinavia. Leslie's facility for languages
(of which he spoke many fluently, and could make himself understood in
many more) and his outgoing demeanour enabled him to build up a business
in the old family home in Amsterdam where he married and brought up his
two sons, Larry and Randolph.

In the 1970s, commercial pressures made the textile business more
difficult, so Leslie looked into turning his hobby of collecting toy
cars into a business. He had attended all the early meetings (at Dr
Cecil Gibson's house, for instance), knew all the main retail shops and
took all the magazines, so it seemed possible. Replicars was initially
set up jointly with Barry Lester of Auto Replicas fame, but soon Leslie
was out on his own, travelling from country to country taking orders
from shops and dealers, and placing his orders with manufacturers. Back
in Amsterdam he was feverishly unpacking deliveries and packing up
orders in the cellar of the old house on the canalside.

Leslie specialised in sourcing unusual ranges and signing them up for
distribution, often persuading firms to resurrect old moulds or dig out
old stock. Almost single-handedly he created the international
collectors market for current diecast model cars, distributing products
from dozens of countries, based on his personal contacts, his charm and
his humour.The boom years of the 1980s witnessed a move from city to countryside
for Replicars, larger sales and more staff. Replicars was still
synonymous with Leslie, however, but he knew he would have to retire oneday.
He was very happy that his son Randolph, returning to the Netherlands
after some years working overseas, showed an interest in, and an
aptitude for, the business.

Now it is Randolph who is synonymous with Replicars, which goes from
strength to strength with the aid of his team.
Those of us who were old friends of Leslie still kept contact with him
in his retirement, and we enjoyed a short holiday Leslie spent last year
when he stayed with us in Yorkshire. He was still as full of mischief,
humour and plans as when we had first met more than 20 years before. His
lifelong interests in jazz and cars allowed him to build up a wide
circle of like-minded friends around the world who shared his
enthusiasms. We all owe Leslie a great debt as one of the creators of
the model car world as we know it today, and we will miss him.
We pass on our condolences to Leslie's sons, Larry and Randolph, and to
Randolph's family, Koro, Yacine and Marvin.

Only flying is nicer
By Hans-Georg Schmitt

'Only flying is nicer', was the advertising slogan for the Opel GT
Coupe. It was a complete surprise when Opel presented the new GT sports
coupe at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 1965. The exciting body lines
followed the American design known as the 'Coke-bottle-shape', also used
in 1968 by the Chevrolet Corvette. A flat front end with pop-up
headlights, bulging front wings, slimmer sides in the door areas, then
powerful rear wings and a razor edge tail were the hallmarks of the Opel
GT. Public reaction was overwhelming, so in 1968 production began The
body was produced in France, Chausson built the body-in-white,
Brissoneau & Lotz painted it and did most assembly work, then the nearly
finished bodies went to Opel Bochum by railway, for final assembly with
powertrain, engine and wheels. The mechanical base for the GT was the
Opel Kadett type B. Two four-cylinder-engines were available, one 1.1
litre of 60 hp and a 1.9 litre with 90 hp.. From 1968 to 1973 103,463
Opel GTs were built. In those years many model cars of this exciting
sports car were made in different scales. In 1:43 GAMA (today Schuco),
Solido,Norev and Dinky France made good models. In 1:66 and 1:36 Schuco
was present and GAMA also made a very accurate model in 1:12 scale,
mostly from plastic with remote control, operating headlights and
opening doors. Now, on the 30th anniversary of the original, Schuco have
again made a model of the GT, now in 1:43 scale with a very accurate
metallic silver body.
The window frames are chrome and separate inserts.
The windscreen wipers and outer rear view mirror are photoetched. Matt
black dominates the interior, typical of its era, the central console
has wood finish and the steering wheel has silver spokes and a brown
wooden rim. The wheel rims and hub caps are chromed, the baseplate is
very well detailed. This model was given by Opel to press correspondents
in a special red and black box with a comprehensive press pack for the
30th anniversary of the launch.

When the model will be available from Opel dealers or from model car
shops is still to be decided.

SOLIDO NEW RELEASES PLANNED FOR 1999
Here are the plans for this year from Solido of France. Expected month
of release in brackets, e.g. (6) = June.1:18 diecast
Citroen H van, new livery (1)VW Karmann Ghia I coupe (1)Renault 4L saloon (2)
Chevrolet pickup 1946 (9)Chevrolet tanker 1946 (9)Ford Fire car 1936 (10)
Ford truck 1936 (10)Ferrari F355 TAT racing 1997 (1)Renault 8 Gordini MC 67 (2)
Lancia Stratos MC 78 (3)Peugeot 206 WRC rally (TBA)Volkswagen Beetle 1999 (7)
Citroen H Vache qui Rit (1)Ford Checker cab (10)Fiat 500 with trailer (5)
VW Beetle with roofrack (5)Renault 4CV with roofrack (3)
VW Karmann Ghia with skis (3)Citroen H fire ambulance (2)Renault 4L Fire (2)
VW Beetle Fire (2)1:43 and 1:50 diecastFord V8 1936 new livery (1)
Citroen C4F ambulance 1930 (2)Ford flat truck 1936 Dunlop (3)
Peugeot 203 new livery (1)Peugeot 203 Fire (1)Citroen 15CV TA Circus 1952 (2)
Dodge breakdown Yacco (1)Renault 8 Gordini 1134 (2)Citroen 2CV France 3 (1)
Citroen Mehari (5)Citroen Mehari 4x4 (5)Mini 'John Cooper' (1)
Land Rover Defender County (1)Renault Kangoo new livery (1)
Renault Kangoo Fire (1)Land Rover pickup (4)Fiat Multipla 1999 (6)Alfa 156 (9)
Alfa 166 (9)Renault 5 Maxi Turbo, new livery (1)
Renault 8 Gordini, new livery (1)Land Rover Defender rally (2)

RENAISSANCE MEN
Etienne Dhont, along with his colleagues at Renaissance Models in
France, Yves Chauchon and Pedro Goncalvès, updates us on future plans.
After developing an admired range of 1:43 competition cars, they have
been busily developing 1:24 models, both their own and for a rangecalled CTR.
In Renaissance's future 1:24 scale programme are Renault R5 Turbo,
Porsche 911 SC RS Rothmans 84, Porsche 911 Turbo S Colucci LM 93,
Porsche 935 K3 LM 79 winner, Ferrari TR59-60 LM 60 winner, and Ferrari
801 F1 1957. The Mercedes-Benz CLK-GTR is awaiting more cockpit and
engine bay detail and the Nissan R390 gT1 LM 98 would require difficult
and expensive decals.
The CTR 1:24 forward programme includes Peugeot 306 Maxi Evo 2 and
Renault Maxi Mégane Bastos. This 1:24 effort means less 1:43 releases,
but possibilities this year include the Alfa Romeo 159, Lister Jaguar,
Ferrari 250P, Porsche 935, Porsche 917K Peugeot 206 and Ford Focus WRC
(with or without approved water pump?)

BOOK REVIEW
DINKY COLLECTION MODELS
by Jan Ellenbroek, Dirk Schleuer and Horace
Dunkley, A4 Ringbound, with or without promo model. Available from: Jan
Ellenbroek, Postbus 1227, 7301 BL Apeldoorn, Holland.
Now that the Matchbox-made Dinky Collection range has been on sale for a
decade, this Dutch-German-British trio have produced its definitive
history. It is intended to update the ringbinder with supplements in
future. The whole story to date is included in the nice white binder,
from the rebadged Matchbox 1-75 series of 1987, used by Universal to
establish the trade mark when they bought it. All 1:43 standard issues,
specials, Code 1, Code 2 and Matchbox-packaged Dinky Collection castings
are included. The many detailed colour photos show all the variants
clearly, so you can tell which version you have in the collection. 500
of the books are supplied with a special limited edition Code 2 Dinky
Collection Chevrolet Bel Air in a blue striped box. If you want to order
a set, or just the book, contact Jan at the address given above. Fans of
Matchbox's Dinky Collection models will find this book to be an
essential work of reference.RCW

VEREM NEW FOR 1999
New models promised from Verem, Solido's low-volume associate, in 1999.
Month of release in brackets (6) = June.Dodge 4x4 water tanker Pinder Circus (2)
GMC tanker Pinder Circus (3)Peugeot 203 public address Pinder Circus (5)
GMC mobile office Pinder Circus (7)Tiger tank (2)Half Track with turret (8)
Unic rocket launcher (4)GMC 'Lot 7' military (10)Renault Simpar 4x4 military (3)Peugeot 403 pickup military (8)Peugeot 203 estate military (2)
Citroen Mehari 4x4 military (11)Dodge 6x6 tanker fire (2)
Citroen Mehari 4x4 fire (11)Dodge 6x6 tanker fire (10)
Renault Clio 4 door fire (12)

BRUMM NEW FOR 1999
New models planned in Brumm's Italian-made 1:43 diecast range:
FERRARI 158, the F1 World Champion with John Surtees in 1964
In the 1964 F1 world championship, Ferrari used several engines, the V6
Dino used in 1963, the V8 and, in the last Grand Prix Championships, it
tested the V12 boxer designed by Forghieri. For the first time the
vehicles denominated 156, 158 and 512 had a monocoque body frame and
fibre glass bodywork altered at the back to allow the housing of
different engines. In 1964 the Ferrari make won three races and, with
Surtees, the world championship title. Ferrari participated in the USA
and Mexico Grands Prix with the blue and white colours of the NART
stable. In 1965 it adopted a 12 cylinder engine, together with the V8,
without, however, repeating the success of the previous year. The model
is available in the followlng variations:R289 Ferrari 156 Austria 64 Lorenzo Bandini
R290 Ferrari 158 Italy 64 John SurteesR291 Ferrari 158 Mexico 64 Surtees NART
And in a Limited Edition of 3000;R291B Ferrari 158 Mexico 64 Bandini NART
LE MANS limited editions, 5000 piecesS043 Ferrari 512M LM 71 NART
S044 Ferrari 512M LM 71 FrancorchampsS045 Ferrari 512M LM 71 Filipinetti
S046 Ferrari 512M LM 71 MontjuichS047 Ferrari 512M LM 71 Gelo Racing Team