EDITORIAL MAR 159
A NEW DECADEWelcome back, to another New Year. I hope you managed to contain your impatience, waiting the usual extra couple of weeks for this issue. You will already have noticed a new look to our front cover, as we begin MAR's third decade in publication. (I know you don't like it, but you'll get used to it.) There are other minor changes as you read this issue, but nothing to disturb you too much.
The next few issues will cover more news of 2002 releases, so I invite everyone to supply relevant information. This not only ensures better sales of all models this year, but also means that MAR will continue to be the best reference source in years to come, as we all thumb through our back copies.
AN EARLY SUMMER?
Regarding our 20 year anniversary, it should be noted that, though MAR's first issue was datelined Summer 1982, it went on sale early in the year, the artwork completed in January 1982. The 'Summer' title was to give us time to drum up subscribers, stockists and advertisers before the second issue, planned for Autumn publication. It had taken six months to put together the first issue, find a willing printer and so on. So another six months would be needed to produce the second issue. It was so successful that the pages increased from 32 to 40 by the second issue. I don't intend to dwell on what happened thereafter. Refer to MARs 63 to 72 for an account of the first ten years, and there were not many as changes in the second decade of production. The original cover price (for 32 pages, with no colour content) was 90p, a strategic price point at the time. So how have prices gone in the two decades since then? The cover price is now £3.90, of which 50% is due to the cost of producing eight pages in full colour. MAR would cost only £1.95, if everyone was happy to return to the original presentation, without colour. We now have 48 pages, but if we only had the original 32 pages, another third of the cover price would be saved, making the cover price £1.30. So the price has only risen less than 50% for an equivalent product, especially remarkable when we consider that now we only print half as many MAR copies as we did in 1982. Just taking average inflation into account would have caused the price to rise by almost 200% in that time. What a bargain!
VALUE FOR MONEY?
Or is it? What did other items cost in early 1982?
A Brooklin model cost £16.49 and now costs £49.00, an increase of almost 200%, though you get a much improved product from Brooklin these days. A Brumm model which cost £4.15 in 1982 now costs £13.50, an increase of over 200%, and an Eligor which cost £7.00 now costs £21.00, also a 200% increase. Yup, MAR really is a bargain.
SO WHAT'S NEXT?
Who knows what MAR's third decade will bring?
In this issue I give some ideas for what I'd like to see in future, and I invite more input along these lines. When discussing the needs of a 'typical' collector with manufacturers, it is often dispiriting to hear responses which are confused, unfocused, even antithetical. Many never meet any end buyers of their products, and some are prejudiced against such encounters, regarding collectors as nerdish anoraks with conflicting or impossible standards. Those who do check often misinterpret what they hear, justifying future courses of action which are already decided, or disregarding comments which conflict with their own preferences, perhaps giving undue weight to the tastes of a single 'consultant'. The future will hold fewer, but better informed, collectors and a choice of subject matter which has now shrunk considerably. In many thematic fields, scale models of most significant vehicles have now been made, sometimes many times over, and at many different price and quality levels.
To be certain of decent sales in future, scale model makers will have to choose their subjects, price points and quality levels very carefully. They must listen to potential buyers at every stage, to ensure success for the next decade. But you'll be pleased to know that this doesn't put off new entrants.
I already know of two (possibly three) totally new diecast ranges planned for release in 2002-2003.
BIGGLES ONLINE?
In November we were visited by old friend and MAR stockist in Hyogo, Japan, Soichiro Takabatake of Tandhaus. He photographed everything, including Canine Consultant Biggles, and might just add the pictures to his www.tandhaus.com, website, if the many international members of the Bigsy fan club would like see him there.
IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT
for personal visitors to the Modelauto shop in Leeds
>From March 2002 onwards the retail shop at 120 Gledhow Valley Road will be closed to personal customers, sorry!
>From March 2002 Modelauto Ltd will be a mail order only business, operating from a different location.
We have now operated a retail shop for personal visitors for 25 years, (since 1977 at Haworth, and since 1981 at Leeds), but with regret we now have to discontinue this service.
It has been totally uneconomic to operate the shop for many years now. Only three per cent of our turnover at the most (in the best year of the past decade) has come in from personal shop customers. But the special requirements of a retail shop (in addition to the mail order business) represented more than twenty per cent of our overhead costs.
We can run the mail order business, which represents 98 per cent of our sales, much more efficiently without the sometimes conflicting demands of running a retail shop as well.
We apologise to the following customers:
To the two customers who visited the shop almost every week.
To the ten customers who visited the shop almost every month.
To the other ten customers who visited the shop almost every year.
To everyone else who promised themselves that one day they would visit.
Sorry, there will not be a public-access Modelauto shop in future.
BUT this means a better future for the Modelauto Ltd mail order service, on which we can now concentrate our attention. Just order by letter, phone, fax, email, or online at www.zeteo.com
And please note our NEW telephone number:
+44 (0) 1977 681966 (From March 2002)Special 25% discount offer!
To mark the 20th Anniversary of Model Auto Review, and at the same time give you a final chance to visit the Modelauto shop personally, we are making a special 25% discount offer, for one week only, 5 to 8 February for personal shop visitors only.
Sorry about the short notice of the offer, we only received confirmation the sale of the Modelauto shop premises after the previous issue, MAR 148, had already gone to print!
You can get 25% discount on any purchases between 5 February and 8 February IN PERSON only at the Modelauto retail shop in Leeds. Bring the voucher in the current issue of the PRINT version of MAR with you.
(You don't have to cut it out of this issue of MAR. Just bring in the magazine, and draw our attention to the page, to show that you are a reader of Model Auto Review).
You can visit the shop from Tuesday 5 February to Friday 8 February 2002 between 10:00 and 4:30 to take advantage of this offer.
Note: not all our stock will be available by then, as some will already have been packed up for removal elsewhere.
The Next Decade By Rod Ward
RIGHT! That's enough looking back. We have completed two decades of Model Auto Review. Now we should use that experience to look forward to the next decade. What do we expect to see? What would we like to see? First I will approach the question of what we would like to see in model form. Not the actual subjects to be modelled, that is far too large a subject, and often mentioned in MAR, but rather how they are to be made. Frequently manufacturers complain that whatever they do, it displeases someone, and that collectors moan all the time, but they don't make any positive contributions to the process of model development and manufacture. I am therefore setting out here a simple aide memoire to aid all makers (industrial or artisan) to determine their priorities:
GET IT RIGHT FIRST!
We hear lots of anguished cries from collectors about all the effort and expense put into development of model vehicles, often superbly finished and detailed, which are totally the wrong shape. 'What is the point of selling these models?' they ask, 'Can't they see that it's wrong, before they put it into production?' It is all the more aggravating, if a lot of effort has been put into highly-detailed printing and tiny components, all added to what is basically an incorrect model. 'It must cost the same to make an accurate model as it does to make an inaccurate model', is the cry. True, but they have to know what they are looking at, in order to know if it is 'right'. With the tight security which accompanies all design and pre-production stages, it may well be that by the time anyone with intimate and detailed knowledge of the real vehicle sees a prototype, it is too late, and the model is already in production.
We therefore offer the following advice.
Before you add all the details, make sure you get the basic shape right first. To give you some idea of the balance of effort required, here is a suggested approach.
Basic design: 90% of effort and investment.
The overall shape, proportions and 'feel', must be both technically and sculpturally correct. Accurate wheels and tyres are essential, not generic ones, nor undersize-oversize tyres. Chromework must be in the correct areas, and nowhere else. Accurate interior and clear window mouldings if visible. Genuine colours and livery details. There must be no compromises. Get it right, or don't release it at all. I cannot emphasise this enough. If you stop at this stage, with a simple but accurate model, you will have satisfied 90% of the requirement, and will get excellent sales.ADD ONE, DEDUCT FIVE?
Then we have ten categories, which most collectors can take or leave, providing the above parameters are met. If they are not met, the model will not be acceptable by modern standards. But the manufacturer can go on to add some of these features, at his peril!
Opening features.
Doors, bonnet, boot etc. If well done, join lines don't show when closed, and hinges unobtrusive: add 1%. If badly done, with large gaps, and poor fit, or inclusion means that other components are compromised (such as door window frames missing): deduct 5%Tampo-printed or decalled details:
May include badging, lettering, chrome strips, or full printed liveries on commercials. If well done: add 1%. If they are overscale, inaccurately placed or not authentic to the vehicle modelled: deduct 5%Exterior detail components.
Including external rear-view mirrors, mascots, door handles, aerials etc. If they are well done: add 1% If they are clumsy, overscale, inaccurate: deduct 5%Photo-etched components.
These may include chrome strips, grilles, frame beading etc. If thay are well done: add 1% If they are clumsy, overscale, misapplied or inclined to become detached or spring off: deduct 5%Interior details.
May include door linings,upholstery patterns, interior mirrors, pedals, instrument. If well done: add 1%. If they are badly carried out in any way: deduct 5%Chromework
If accurate: add 1%. If parts are plated, which were not finished in this way on the real vehicle, or if characteristic chromed parts for this vehicle are not plated: deduct 5%Baseplate detail.
most baseplates will include some manufacturer's details, country of origin etc, but if a reasonably well detailed chassis or underside is also shown: add 1%. If detail on the underside is inappropriate to vehicle, or, on the other hand, totally missing: deduct 5%Steering and other working features.
In the unlikely event that these features have been achieved without compromising scale detail (for instance: having to set wheels too far inside arches to make space to turn them effectively): add 1% If the addition of features has compromised the scale representation in any way at all: deduct 5%Liveries and colour schemes.
Accurate representation of factory colours on cars, correct period operator livery on vans etc: add 1% Non-original colours, non-prototypical liveries (never used on this vehicle or anachronistic): deduct 5%.Packaging.
If sound, sturdy and informative about contents, protecting the model without unnecessary size, add 1% If over-large, over-fussy, hard to unpack, uninformative about contents when closed, likely to damage the model, or obviously so expensive that it has added a significant amount to price of the model: deduct 5%.This will already have raised thoughts in your mind about how your 'favourite' models would score. It seems obvious that there is no point in accepting anything which doesn't fulfil the first 90% of the value. A modern product must be accurate and authentic to be worthy of consideration, and robust enough to withstand handling, so how would a typical 1:43 model fare, for instance? We tend to use Minichamps as a baseline these days, and their current releases would certainly score somewhere between 90% and 99% in most cases. But it is easy to see that a solid and decent 90% could easily be reduced to 60% by a few badly reproduced additional features. Hint to manufacturers for the next decade of production: it would be far better not to attempt these additional details, and to hold on to your 90% score instead. I outlined this approach to a couple of makers whose otherwise excellent products have, in the past, sometimes been let down by some apparently minor factors, and their shocked reactions are instructive.
But I have to make separate door-handles; because my existing customers like them. (Maybe your non-customers would actually buy your models as well, if they didn't have overscale detail components).
Photo-etched wipers are an asset to all our models. (Not if they sit halfway up the windscreen and a scale inch away from it). I know that company never operated this truck, but we had livery details, and we don't make the trucks they used in our current range. (So don't try to rewrite history by cross-dressing your models).
LICENSING AGAIN
Regarding choice of model subjects, the maker of a new model range recently asked me whose products he could reproduce in miniature without fear of being asked for a licence fee. I had to reply that there is no current car brand which is not being actively protected as 'intellectual property'. Perhaps he could try a long-defunct automotive brand, but beware! Many of these are owned and protected by currently-operating companies, even if the brands are not in use, just in case they are needed in the future. In 2001 the Ford Motor Company took over a company called Beanstalk, which specialises in licensing brands worldwide, for profit. This is not a very promising sign, because up to now Ford has been perceived as one of the more easy-going companies in regard to licensing. As far as the specialist model car industry is concerned, there have always been three categories of car manufacturer in terms of licensing fees: easy-going (Ford, Fiat, VW etc), firm but fair (Jaguar, Rover, Mercedes, BMW), and avoid if at all possible (Rolls-Royce, GM, Lotus, Ferrari, Chrysler). The current musical chairs effect in changing ownerships of brands leads to changes of category as well. Rolls-Royce and Bentley were always tricky, but are now impossible under their new German owners, though other brands under the same owners have not been as problematical, up to now. The future looks bleak, however. With so many brands in so few hands, it is now apparent that all the major players are looking into 'leveraging their intellectual assets' as another profit source. So, if you want to make beermats with car badges on, decanters shaped like radiators, or thousands of toy cars, you have to pay the brand owner's licence fee. This usually consists of a flat fee payment to cover legal costs and preparation of the contract, deposition of an approved handmade sample, and then a levy based on the quantity made.
If you are making thousands of items, this may add a tiny percentage to the cost, maybe one to five per cent or even less. If you are only making 100 handbuilt model cars, however, it can add 20 per cent or more, making the project economically unviable. In the past, some large companies turned a blind eye to such activities, as it was not worth the effort of chasing every little operator down, but now nobody lets anything go uninvestigated. Even if the brand owner doesn't notice (and their lawyers do scour every magazine and website in search of unlicensed goods on offer), then other companies who have paid a licence will make sure they find out.
Imagine if you have gone through the expensive and time-consuming process of obtaining a licence, then you see some guy in his garage producing unlicensed goods.
You don't care if he is not directly competing with you - he should pay for a licence as well, shouldn't he? And of course the brand owner has to follow up the 'complaint' to prove that there is some purpose in licensing.
If they don't pressure non-licensed operators, what is the point in paying for a license?
As I have mentioned before in these pages, often the registered or patented aspect of a car is only the mascot or badge design, grille design, name etc, not the overall shape. But a Rolls-Royce model without the Greek temple grille, Spirit of Ecstasy mascot or Rolls-Royce name on the box wouldn't be much of a model car, no matter how accurately the rest of the body shape has been captured.
In the case of modern racing machinery, if you want to reproduce a current Le Mans car you may not only need the car builder's permission, but individual licenses for every sponsor sticker as well, no matter how small.
Is it worth it? Probably not, any more, if you only make short runs of handbuilt models or kits. Some makers still do it, on the basis of keeping moving as fast as possible. Their defence, if caught by the licensing police, is that they only made a few hand-crafted models, all of them are now sold out, they aren't making any more, so they apologise profusely and promise never to do it again. In most cases they get away with it, apparently.
THE HERITAGE INDUSTRY
So what makes a brand worth going to all this trouble to protect? Usually something called heritage. But what is 'heritage'? The usual definition in brand-speak is that if you own a name with an illustrious past, that is just history. But if you own a name with a past, present and future, that is heritage. Never mind if the current brand owner has no connection with the illustrious past, or that the past brand name depended upon craftsmanship (whereas now it is applied to mass-produced cars rebadged with your classic heritage brand, or bought-in Chinese toys packed in a box bearing your classic heritage brand), it is the brand that counts. After all, you may have had to take over a failing company which owned the famous name, and gone to all the trouble and expense of closing down the factory and paying off all the employees, so you are surely entitled to protect the intellectual property in 'your' brand name, so expensively acquired, aren't you? And if the buying public are not sufficiently aware of the heritage in the name, you have to ensure that they are put in the picture.
Maybach was a name known to very few auto enthusiasts, but now that DaimlerChrysler have decided to apply it to their new monster limo, they had to verify its heritage credentials in the eyes of the public. Among their efforts to do so is included the Minichamps 1:43 Maybach Zeppelin, a very nice model which we would never have seen, if it had not been deemed necessary to build up the heritage image of the brand. So maybe there are some benefits from the Heritage Industry?
Until recently, you could have made Maybach models with impunity (as Danhausen's Metal 43 range did) but look out in the future if you want to make a model Maybach without consulting DaimlerChrysler. There is now a Heritage Trail, with the intellectual property bloodhounds sniffing their way along it.
This will obviously have a considerable effect on choices of vehicles to be reproduced in miniature over the next ten years.
FUTURE PROFITS?
So what will be the future for model vehicle manufacturers? In this article I have looked at the standards they will be expected to attain, to please buyers. Some will find those standards too demanding, and decide not to bother. Others will fall at the hurdle of licensing fees, the prospect of which may make a project difficult to justify in economic terms. The sales market is still felt to be shrinking, in spite of the return to traditional hobbies by people of 'a certain age' and there is much more competition, at much higher standards of detail and accuracy. So will they be able to continue to make models profitably? Time for another little economics lecture, I'm afraid.
There are three usual measures of how 'successfully' a company is trading;
sales, profitability and share of the market.
It is assumed that all three measures increase together in a successful company, though not always all at the same rate.To increase sales you have to promote extensively, compete on price more aggressively, develop lots of new products to interest buyers, and perhaps take on more staff. All three factors, whilst increasing sales volume, tend to reduce the percentage profit earned, due to cutting prices or spending more on salaries, overheads, advertising, research and development. Thus a company which produces sharply increased sales growth usually has to do it at the expense of its profit margin, so a doubling in sales might actually produce no extra profits, in the short term at least.
It is hoped that the profit will come later, as continuing sales of newly-launched products will gradually pay back more profit in the future. This is based on the assumption that the market continues to grow, and more new customers will be found in years to come. this is not necessarily true of the collector's world today, as we all know. The classic quick-fix way to increase profitability quickly is the Accountant's Solution. This involves the halting of all expenditure on new product development, then asset stripping, selling off under-used equipment, selling and leasing back property, reducing the workforce (perhaps to be replaced by outside contractors) and so on. This produces a dramatic increase in profits in the short term, but often destroys the long-term viability of the company as a participant in its previous markets.
The third way to increase profits, not available in a truly competitive market, is to increase the prices of your products. If you are one of ten firms making baked beans, the price of your cans is very sensitive to the prices charged by your competitors. If, on the other hand, you are the only maker of a 1:43 car subject, you can (within reason) charge whatever you like for it, so you are cushioned against the worst of competitive pressures.
Now the third factor which usually affects conventional business thinking. If you are competing to sell standardised products, like baked beans, you need to find a way to increase your market share at the expense of your competitors, or you somehow have to increase the total number of buyers. Careful product choice may mean that you don't have to consider competitors, because you have no direct competititon. So, if you are the only maker of a 1:43 scale Clyno, you already have 100% share of the Clyno market, though it may be a very small potential market. If you are the proprietor of a tiny company, however, you may be happy with a commanding position in a tiny market. At least you are less likely to suffer from competition from larger companies. We also know there is little possibility of increasing the size of total model collectors market in the next ten years.
SMALLER MARKET
It will not have escaped anyone's notice that sales quantities of any individual model have fallen considerably in the last two decades. And this has led to an interesting situation for some companies. For a while there was over-supply of the declining market, while companies failed to adjust to the new situation. But now there is a noticeable change, as dealers, wholesale distributors and manufacturers (large and small) fade away, leaving fewer companies serving a smaller market. The remaining firms are now finding themselves with an increased market share, albeit of a smaller total market, so at the same time their sales level may be lower than it has ever been. Most of these firms have at the same time reduced their overheads, getting rid of expensive premises, redundant staff and machinery in recent years, so their profitability is higher. They have also, mostly, slowed their rate of new releases and thus reduced that part of their overheads which represents the cost of developing new products.
So, though their sales level is much lower, they are selling from stock, or at least selling products whose development costs were amortised long ago. Some have also understood the situation mentioned previously; that they can increase prices, to increase profit without significant loss of sales volume, because they have no direct competitors.
It is worth noting that if a company's profit margin is 10% of the retail price, raising prices by 10% doubles the profit margin, but probably only leads to a minor drop in sales.
Even if sales drop by 10%, there will still be 20% profit on 90% of the previous sales level, which is 80% more than the previous amount of profit. And it would have been achieved with 10% less investment, time, effort etc.
Incidentally, it might also mean less unsold stock left on shelves around the world, if 10% less scale models were to be produced. Thus less discounting and remaindering of overproduction in the next decade, perhaps?
So, as the market continues to decline, everyone's sales drop, but most of them take home more net profit. They don't usually recommend that strategy in Harvard Business School! We have previously observed in MAR that the specialist collectors market has now shrunk to a point where many artisan makers cannot secure enough sales to justify production of entirely new model subjects. So they are happily selling older models from the range, perhaps adapted or updated, at a higher profit level, but this cannot go on for ever.
THE NEXT STAGE
It will be interesting to observe what the next decade will show, as the ageing collectors market shrinks still further, especially as the long-promised international recession seems to be finally happening as well.
Will there be any new ranges? If any appear, we should greet them with open arms!
BUS STOP
COLLECTORS MODEL NEWS
Latest diecast releases from Collectors Model of Hong Kong (news via John Ayrey Diecast):
Dennis Dragon double deck bus Michelin 1:76
MCW Metrobus Mk II Ensign bus 1:125
MCW Metrobus Mk I Ensign bus 1:50
MCW Metrobus Mk I Stevensons 1:50
Ford Transit Cambridgeshire Police PSU 1:43
Ford Transit Cambridgeshire Police OSU 1:43
Ford Transit Hong Kong Police Safety 1:43EMERGENCY
ELIGOR DOUBLE HEADER
Via Mike Cazenave, Proto
Among many other 1:43 scale fire vehicles in their current programme, Eligor of France have released the 'Janus' fire appliance based on an MAN 2000 chassis. This has a cab at each end, to enable fast progress in either direction in a road tunnel where there is no room to turn round. The model was made for MAN, to mark the re-opening of the Mont Blanc tunnel, closed for so long due to the disastrous fire. Three vehicles have been built for tunnel duty, and only 1000 models have been made. In case you didn't remember, Janus the Roman God had two faces, and could look both ways.
WORLD NEWS
MORE FROM RIALTO
By Jan MiedemaTwo new models have now been released in my Rialto range, both in 1:43 scale.
The first model is the small Combo B delivery van, as made by General Motors, the 1995 version based on the Corsa B car released in 1993. The real van is built in the General Motors factory in Portugal in three versions: Opel for mainland Europe in left hand drive, the Vauxhall for Great Britain and Ireland in right hand drive and the Holden version for Australia and New Zealand also in right hand drive. The Rialto model is available in all versions, and logically different decals and dashboards are provided for the Opel, Vauxhall and Holden versions. Built models are made in red or white, and a kit is also available. The second model is the conversion of the Minichamps Opel Astra G Cabriolet into the Vauxhall version. My formerly released transkit for the Coupe is also suitable to convert the Cabriolet. A transkit is also available, and the model can also be obtained ready built in black or star silver, the standard colours for this model. The transkit includes photo-etched screen-wipers, right hand drive dashboard, Vauxhall grille and Vauxhall decals. What is strange about the Cabriolet is that Minichamps omitted the Bertone logo, a pity, as on the Coupe is it very nicely reproduced.
WORLD OF KROMBACHER
By Hans-Georg SchmittKrombacher Pils is one of the best premium beers, made in Kreuztal, Siegerland, and sponsors the Krombacher Collection, of sunglasses, clothes, watches, beer mugs, drinking glasses, and now a wide range of model trucks. The latest 1:87 releases are made by Wiking and Herpa.
3408 Henschel HS100 tilt truck 1951-61, popular in the 1960s for drinks deliveries. Light blue with red radiator grilles, and grey tilt.
3410 Mercedes-Benz LP312 drawbar 1954-63; the Jumbo name was appropriate. The Wiking model began as a furniture truck, then a German Post van, now it carries beer, decorated with a lady drinking the same Krombacher beer.
3411 Mercedes-Benz LP1620 drawbar with tilt 1963-73, also in light blue with grey tilts.
3409 Mercedes-Benz Actros LH artic, white with detailed livery and chromed wheels.
3412 Peterbilt artic US show truck. Black tractor unit and brightly printed trailer.All models and the catalogue describing the full range, from Krombacher Collection, Postfach 837160, D-90255 Nürnberg, Germany. Tel: 0180/5669922; Fax: 0180/5669920; Internet: www.krombacher.de
NEW TEKNO TRUCKS
Here are the latest 1:50 diecast trucks from Tekno of the Netherlands:
Scania T144G-460 torpedo Rouwmaat
Scania R142L tanker Dekker
Scania-Vabis LS56 Boekhout
DAF 95XF-430 SC frig T van Noort
DAF 95XF-380 SC open top Wynia
Scania R144L-460 Topline Aalburg
Scania R144L-530 open top Bas van Buuren
Scania R144L-530 cargo floor Bas van Buuren
DAF 95XF-430 SSC open top Bas van Buuren
DAF 95XF-430 SSC cargo floor Bas van Buuren
DAF 95XF-430 SSC open top Euroveen
DAF 95XF-430 SSC cargo floor Euroveen
Mercedes-Benz Actros L2543 maxvol Exel (D)
Mercedes-Benz Actros L1843 frig Exel (D)
Mercedes-Benz Actros L1843 silo RSB (D)
Mercedes-Benz Actros L1840 Olloquiegui (B)
Volvo FH12-380 tanker Wauter (B)
Volvo FH12 twin steer Ken Abram (GB)
Scania R164G-180 Swedish rig Blondie Fjarr (S)LABATT STREAMLINER
DMP Studios of Canada plan to make 1:43 white metal handbuilt models of one of the famous Labatt's Brewery streamlined White artic trucks. They will be cast by Brooklin in the UK, finished by DMP in Canada. The retail price is around $350 (we assume Canadian, rather than US, Dollars). The information came from Minigrid, telephone 905-649 5036, fax 905-649-6385.
GERMAN POST VEHICLES
By Hans-Georg SchmittThe German Post Museum Shop stocks models of German Postal vehicles:
15-83-07 VW T1b Pickup with tilt, 1:40 plastic model by Wiking, used for telecommunications. Yellow with black bumpers and black printwork, with light grey tilt and fitted with indicators, as from June 1960. A driver is behind the wheel. The model began as a VW promotional, made by Wiking in the late fifties. In 1960 the indicators were added. A few years ago the old mould was re-activated and is still in excellent condition.
15-82-12 Reichs Post Bitter 1:87 set by Wiking. It is hard to believe that the German Post offers a liqueur, (digestive bitters), perhaps to dissatisfied customers. The set includes three vehicles from the old fleet of Scheller and Sons distillery. The 1949 Ford Taunus was a travelling salesman's car, a Goliath-three wheeler pickup with tilt supplied restaurants and kiosks, and an Opel Blitz delivered to bigger buyers. Anyone interested in the liqueur can telephone Reichs Post Bitter at 06172/451171 or www.reichspostbitter.com
15-87-07 Schuco Piccolo Lanz and DKW Set. You always heard a Lanz long before you saw it, an untiring workhorse, mythically reliable and robust. The DKW van was also indestructible.
All the items listed here and a full catalogue can be ordered from Post Museums Shop, Pforzheimer Strasse 202; D-76275 Ettlingen, Germany. Tel-Fax: 07243/7007-66/-52.
ROADCRAFT 1:35 MODELS
By John WilkesMy range of 1:35 scale kits is called Roadcraft Models, and they are made of white metal, resin and brass. There are three different Land Rovers available, and they will soon be joined by a Bedford lorry. All prices include post and packing, so the cost depends on where you are in the world. For more information contact Roadcraft Models, 87 Sandy Lane, Prestwich, Manchester M25 9PS.
Land Rover 80 inch wheelbase utility 1949
A typical vehicle from the middle of 1949, with small hidden headlights, early rear body and 'spade' seats. Prices £61.00 to £71.00 inc p&p.Land Rover 80 inch wheelbase utility 1953
One of the last 80 inch vehicles built, with exposed headlights, later body and last type seat backs. Includes two litre curved sump engine.Land Rover 80 inch wheelbase fire tender
Based on the 1953 vehicle, the standard pump fire tender marketed by Land Rover, featuring full pump and hose detail etc. Prices £85.00 to £94.00.Bedford OL five ton dropside lorry
A standard Bedford-bodied lwb dropside from around 1949, detailed right down to the engine breather. Prices are likely to be £75.00 to £86.00.BIJOU 1:43 transkits from UK:
A Morris Marina 1800 estate, for release later this year is now in progress.
A Vanguards Marina 1800 saloon base model has to be used. An Austin Allegro two door saloon, prototype may enter production later this year if there is sufficient demand. Austin Allegro four door saloon base model is required to make the conversion.LATEST OXFORD NEWS
Oxford Diecast Ltd have added some new releases to their range: (quantity made)
Comics Series
CCO09 Ford A van Valiant Comic, featuring Captain Hurricane character, (1500).
Cigarette Brands Series
CIG26 Chevrolet lorry De Reszke Majors, (2000)
Routemaster Bus Series
RM35 National Botanic Gardens of Wales (2000)
RM37 Golden Jubilee - in gold (2500)
RM38 Bath - Open topper (2000)
RM39 South London 1990s livery (2000)
Golden Jubilee celebrations 2002
B77 Thornycroft bus Queen Mother (1500)
216G Bullnose HM Queen 50 Years (2500) (left)
A022 Ford A Daily Herald death of KG VI (2500)
C056 Chevrolet lorry QEII Golden Jubilee (2500)
Volkswagen split-screen van - new series
VW001 VW van first release model (2500)
VW002 VW van Surf (2500)
VW003 VW van London Fire Brigade (2000) (left)
Force Wheat Flakes - on-pack offer in 2002
A023G Ford A van with roofboard Force (5000)
141T Ford T lorry with packet of Force (5000)
C057 Chevrolet tilt lorry Force centenary (10,000)NEWS FROM BBR
BBR's new 1:43 Maserati Spider 4200 is ready. In February they release a 1:24 handbuilt Ferrari 360 Modena, each to be built to specific customer order. They add, 'Every car be customised. The box is made by Cuoio Schedoni in Modena, who make bags and cases for Ferrari.'
CROSDIDIER MODELS
By Hans-Georg SchmittCrosdidier Concept Miniature models are made in France (67 Rue Gabriel Péri, 54110 Varange-ville, France). The range includes 1:43 resin kits and handbuilt models of the Bugatti Type 57 in various different body styles. There are also Bugatti, Citroen and Buick models carved in wood in 1:17 and 1:10 scales .
NEWS FROM DURHAM
Here are the plans for Durham Classics 1:43 handbuilt models from Canada:
DC-34B 1941 Plymouth Special Deluxe Convertible Coupe (above). First Annual Factory Special, in black cherry metallic, two tone light brown interior, beige tonneau, wire wheels, white wall tyres. Limited to 100.
DC-35 1941 Chevrolet Canopy Express, February 2002 'Temples Market' complete with fruit load. Photo below, production models will have yellow body and grey chassis, limited to 200. The Canopy Express was popular with fruit and veg sellers when you could pull your truck up to the kerb, roll up the canvas side curtains and set up business. In the early days of radio many wireless sets were 20, 90 or 13 5 volts dc, powered by a rechargeable battery. A Canopy Express truck with a supply of freshly charged batteries was a welcome sight in rural areas with no electric supply.
DC-35A 1941 Chevrolet Canopy Express February 2002, dark green with black chassis. Limited to 200.
DC-19B 1941 Chevrolet Raised Roof Chicago Ambulance. March 2002. To commemorate the 'Strictly 43rd' Show held in Chicago in March, Durham Classics second show model for this event. (The 2001 model was the 1939 Ford Chicago Police Van). Limited to 143 pieces.
DC-32D 1941 Plymouth Coupe April-May 2002. White body, black hood Pennsylvania Police. Limited to 200.
DC-36 1955 Ford Panel Van June 2002. Liveries TBA.
TIPO 1:12 ASTON MARTIN
Creative Miniature Associates Inc of the USA are now producing detailed 1:12 models.
There are two series, at different price levels:
CMA 1:12 models: Built $4,000, kits ± $1300
12-01 Ferrari 312B F1, Austria 1970 Ickx
12-02 Ford GT40 Mk II LM 66 winner (± £7,000)
Ford GT40 MkII engine-transmission KIT
Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B - future (Price TBA)Tipo Models 1:12 scale Built $1300
121 Aston Martin DBR-1/3 Ring 58 no 1 Moss-Brabham, (autographed by both) 200 made.
Almost all spoken for, pre-orders needed for the last few available. . 122 Maserati 1960-61 (Price TBA)
Possible future subjects include Jaguar D-Type short nose 1055-57, Ferrari 250LM 1965 and front-engined Scarab. Reader input invited!For more information contact CMA, 40 Corbin Avenue, Unit #40-M, Bay Shore, NY 11706, USA.
MORE SHOP CLOSURES
By contrast with the cheering story in a recent issue of MAR, about a new shop opening in Milton Keynes by Auto Models, we now have more familiar tales of closure. Ray Searle, MAR stockist in Hornchurch, Essex, is retiring and closing his business, and Paul and Hilary Kennelly are leaving the Time Machine shop in Coventry, both long-established sources of models, popular with collectors. The big news announced in this issue is that the Modelauto shop in Leeds will also close to personal vistors from March. The Modelauto Ltd mail order business will continue uninterrupted, however, and orders can still be placed by mail, phone, fax, email, or via the zeteo.com website. See the announcement on page 8151.
CORGI PREMIUM RELEASES
Corgi have announced their Premium limited edition releases for 2002. In the first quarter there will be three vehicles in British Railways maroon and cream livery: Thames Trader flat, Scammell Scarab with covered trailer and Albion Reiver with tank container. The second quarter releases have a Circus theme: Minivan Billy Smarts, Scammell Contractor Austin Bros and Scammell Crusader with box trailer Robert Brothers.
MERCEDES THEN AND NOW
By Hans-Georg SchmittThe first Mercedes was less than 35 hp and had a top speed of 80 km/h, but in 1901 these figures were sensational! Emil Jellinek prompted the development of this car, named after his daughter Mercedes, then aged ten (right). In 1899 and 1900, Jellinek entered Daimler Phoenix cars in races under the pseudonym Mercedes. 1900 was a year of mourning for Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft (DMG). Gottlieb Daimler died on 6 March and the same month racing driver Wilhelm Bauer was seriously injured at the Nice hillclimb and died. DMG cancelled all its motor sport plans. Not so Emil Jellinek. In April he ordered 36 cars, costing 550.000 marks. Jellinek's ambitious specification prompted Wilhelm Maybach of DMG to prepare a completely new design. The result of their combined efforts laid the foundations for the Mercedes legend. Johann Distler founded his tin toy factory in Nuremberg before the turn of the 20th century. Until 1914, it mainly made 'penny toys', push-along pocket money tin toys.
Today people associate Distler with legendary tin cars like the Elektromatic 7500 FS Porsche 356 cabriolet with steering and working gearshift. Distler was owned by Trix before the factory closed in 1952. Expensive development of an unsuccessful clockwork railway ruined the firm. Today the Distler brand, owned by a Chinese company, marks its revival with 1:18 and 1:43 replicas of the 1901 Mercedes, in the Mercedes-Benz Classic Collection. The 1:18 model has intricate details, such as the tiny gauges, levers and pumps on the wooden bulkhead, the fine gear-shift gate and the brake levers outside the body. The chain drive is detailed, two driving chains between transmission and rear axle. Removing the three engine covers with their tiny handles, reveals a miniature four cylinder in-line engine, perfectly painted and well proportioned. The 1:43 model is less detailed, but still superb. Oil-glasses and gauges are 'only' photoetched, but excellent.
The Mercedes-Benz SL is a roadster, but in 16 seconds can become a coupe, and has Sensotronic Brake Control, electro-hydraulic brakes, multi-active suspension active body control and adaptive accelerator. The new SL, the open version, is made by Herpa (above) in 1:87 scale, and very well executed. The models are available at Mercedes dealers, references:
B66040330 Mercedes 1901 1:18 by Distler
B66040329 Mercedes 1901 1:43 by Distler
B66961319 Mercedes-Benz SL 2001 1:87 by HerpaMINICHAMPS BMW & LBJ
By Hans-Georg Schmitt180 029020 BMW 3.0 CSL 1972 Coupe, 1:18
From August 1972 the lightweight 3.0 CSL Coupe, actually a variant of the 3.0 SC, was offered with fuel injection. Initially, the Karmann-built CSL Coupes were intended as stripped-down racing cars, at which they were successful. In 1973 the engine size increased to 3153cc, a water-cooled six cylinder inline engine, with ohc and electronic fuel injection. BMW offered a race-bred aerodynamics package, but it was not factory-fitted. Most customers voted for the 'comfort' option, even if they ordered the aerodynamics package. The model is very accurate, the doors, bonnet and boot lid open, and the steering works. Metallic silver paintwork is complemented by the detailed engine, which even has ignition cables and all decals, and the realistic interior with instruments, aluminium spoked steering wheel and moving gear lever. This 1:18 model is as good as Kyosho in this scale.
436 086101 Lincoln Continental X-100 Quick Fix Lyndon B Johnson 1:43 scale.
On 22 November 1963 while riding in the Lincoln X-100 convertible through the streets of Dallas, John F Kennedy was assassinated. Vice-president Lyndon B Johnson was also in the motorcade in a second X-100. They were thought to be the most modern open parade vehicles of their day, but were unarmed, and had no armour plating nor any bullet-proof glass, just a detachable plexiglass hardtop. The purpose was to make the President visible. After this incident, a special task force decided that the most practical way to avert a similar event was to rebuild the X-100. It was sent to Hess & Eisenhardt of Cincinnati, Ohio, the custom builders who, with Ford, created the X-100 in the first place. Work began in December 1963 and was completed in less than six months, earning the car it's new nickname, the Quick Fix. The redesign of the X-100 cost more than $500,000. When it retired from active duty, Ford donated the vehicle to the Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village in Dearborn, Michigan.
The miniature is 150 mm long, glossy black like the original, as requested by Johnson, repainted from JFK's Navy blue. The Stars and Stripes and the President's flag flutter at the front, running boards for Secret Service agents at the back, and an excellent interior. See the centre pages of this issue for picture.
OPEL REKORD PII
By Hans-Georg SchmittThe new Opel Rekord (known in the factory as the PII) began production in August 1960 at Russelsheim, with a smoother body and the sharp-edged windscreen was changed. The interior was roomier, but the engine and gearbox were unchanged. The range included two or four door saloons and an estate, the Caravan. In August 1961 a coupe was added, with a US-style roofline and sloping B-pillar. A lower chassis and a more powerful engine helped, as did the standard two tone colour schemes, to achieve sales of almost 34,000 in only two years of production. There is now an excellent 1:43 model of Opel's first post war coupe, made by Minichamps. In the Opel Car Collection it is chamonix white with ocean green roof. From Spring 2002 in the Opel's own model car range, Team Collection, it is ruby red with black roof. See centre pages of this issue for a picture of both versions.
NEW HERPA 1:87 MODELS
Here are the latest 1:87 plastic models from Herpa of Germany:
Porsche 911 C4S yellow or metallic blue
BMW 7 series black or metallic red
BMW Alpina Z8 Roadster
Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Strobel ambulance
Mercedes-Benz Sprinter RTW ambulance
Mercedes-Benz Sprinter fire service minibus
Opel Omega Autobahn Police Düsseldorf
VW T4 fire minibus Hamburg
MAN TG-A XXL frig artic Ferrero chocolate
Steyr TG-A XXL silo artic Pitzal-Melmer
Mercedes-Benz Actros Titan low load Paule
Mercedes-Benz Atego drawbar containers
Mercedes-Benz Actros Titan heavy tractor
MAN TG-A LX drawbar tanker Speckert
MAN TG-A XXL drawbar swap body DPD
MAN M2000 Evo tandem dump truck
MAN TG-A LX Kogel artic dumper TCH
Mercedes-Benz Actros L artic Tatschl
MAN TG-A XXL frig artic Gartner
Scania 124 drawbar Freixinet Cava
Steyr TG-A XXL artic tractor unit
MAN TG-A XXL box artic Kelts (König Brewery)
MAN TG-A XXL drawbar Altöttinger beerMORE KYOSHO NEWS
By Heather Rose, HobbicoNew models now available from Kyosho include the Toyota Vits and VW New Beetle, both 1:28 scale with injection moulded plastic bodies, racing wheels and tyres. Two colour choices are available on the new 1:18 diecast Kyosho Mini Coopers, each with movable sun roofs and back seats. Also coming soon is the Kyosho 1:18 and 1:43 Lamborghini Jota SVR:
KYOS0025 Toyota Vits metallic blue 1:28
KYOS0026 Toyota Vits red 1:28
KYOS0027 Toyota Vits silver 1:28
KYOS0060 VW New Beetle metallic green 1:28
KYOS0061 Volkswagen New Beetle red 1:28
KYOS0062 Volkswagen New Beetle yellow 1:28
KYOV0143 Mini-Cooper RHD +sunroof green 1:18
KYOV0144 Mini-Cooper RHD +sunroof red 1:18
KYOV0155 Lamborghini Jota SVR red 1:18SCHUCO WINTER RELEASES
New items released by Schuco of Germany, in late 2001 and early 2002, all made in China:
Mercedes 170V cabriolet: Rommel, Desert Fox 1:18
Studio 1 Christmas Special 2001 tinplate
Mercedes-Benz Simplex polished on plinth
Mercedes-Benz SSKL Studio V tinplate kit
BMW R25/3 motorcycle Polizei 1:10
Porsche 356A soft top cream 1:43
Mercedes Unimog 401 green 1:43
NSU 1000 TTS polished in wooden box 1:43
Mercedes-Benz L6600 with trailer Löwenbrau 1:43
Opel Vectra Bundeswehr 1:43 (above right)
Opel Speedster hardtop silver 1:43
Piccolo Series 1:90 scale
Mercedes low loader + tractor in tin (above centre)
Circus Krone four piece set (above)
Christmas Special two piece set in tin box
VW Bulli van T2 Norris . Fendt tractor ¶ Ford Capri
Citroen 2cv Polizei .VW Kübelwagen . Opel OlympiaPiccolo Series 1:43 scale
Triumph Boss combination . BMW R6 motorcycleIn addition there are three different Schuco 1:72 scale five piece sets: Fire, Police and City Service, and 1:87 scale MAN artics, Maggi Soups or Christmas Special 2001. There are also four types of 1:43 Mercedes-Benz race trucks, and seven different 1:24 scale US 'dream cars'. These typical Chinese toys are accompanied by eight waterline warships. These are outside the remit of MAR, and even avia mini, but we have to comment that there is no place for generic ship models in the modern era. These eight inch (200mm) long ships, regardless of scale (a sub the same length as an aircraft carrier), do not represent any specific vessels, though they could easily have done so. If Schuco sell recognisable scale models of vehicles and aircraft, why not ships as well?
LITTLE DETROIT SUPERCARS
Little Detroit Collectibles have commissioned 1:18 scale replicas of the Nickey Chevrolet and Bill Thomas racing supercars, highly detailed with opening hood, doors and trunk. The first release is a 1967 Tahoe Turquoise Tri-powered Camaro SS/RS. 1500 are made of #204S street version, 'Just as you would buy off Nickey's showroom floor', they say, and 1500 of the drag version (#204D). The second release in the series is a 1968 Butternut Yellow Dual Quad Bill Thomas-prepared 427 SS/RS Camaro. 1500 street (#208S) and 1500 drag versions (#208D) have been made. The retail price for the drag replica is $89.95, the street replica is $79.95. For more information, call Little Detroit Collectibles on 701-323-9294 or email LittleDetroit@uswest.net
VEREM FOR 2002
Here are the plans for the Verem range from France for release gradually throughout 2002. News courtesy Mike Cazenave of Proto.
Pinder Circus A . B
V848 Renault Premium animal transport
V849 Jeep with trailer
V850 Peugeot 403 estate
Gift Sets
V928 Mercedes-Benz snowplough DDE
V929 Kassbohrer roller
V930 Renault TN6 Paris bus
Classic Series
V457 Citroen SM . V458 Peugeot 504 Coupe
Utility Models A . B . C . D
V282 Citroen Jumper Gendarmerie
V278 Renault 30 Gendarmerie
V279 Peugeot 504 Estate Police
V280 Peugeot 504 Estate EDF-GDF
V281 Renault 12 Estate Airport Gendarmerie
V3016 Renault 4 pickup tyre transporter
V3017 Citroen 2cv van PTT France
V3019 Renault Trafic ambulance
V3020 Peugeot 205 Gendarmerie
V0321 Peugeot 403 Gendarmerie ambulance
V0321 Citroen 2cv van Gendarmerie
Fire 1: resin models
V4108 Simca Unic Radio command post
V4109 Saviem fire ladder
Fire 4: diecast models
V140 Kassbohrer Pisten Bully medical post
V141 Land Rover hardtop with Zodiac boat
V142 Mercedes-Benz Mobile Unit
V143 Range Rover van with compressor
Military 1 . 2 . 4
V9005 M47 Patton tank multi-colour camouflage
V9024 Half Track with turret
V9026 M10 Tank Destroyer armoured
V9028 AMX13 off road personnel carrier
V9029 Tank Destroyer with radio
V9535 VAB 6x6 with turret and 90mm gun for export
V9536 GMC with turret, captured - German livery?
V9618 Peugeot 203 saloon HQ vehicle
Helicopter
V7008 Alouette 3 SMUR Mountain Rescue
Over 50 items are deleted from the Verem range for 2002, and will only
be available while stocks last.MINISTYLE PROPOSALS
Plans from Ministyle's 1:43 handbuilt range:
68 Renault Espace taxi Malaysia (Feb)
72 Peugeot Cameleo (Mar)
71 Citroen BX Heuliez estate (Mar)
70 Citroen Activa (April)
73 Peugeot Promethée (May)SOLIDO PLANS FOR 2002
Via Mike Cazenave, ProtoHere are the 2002 plans from Solido of France (month of release in brackets):
N = new, R = reissue, V = variant of existing model, X = left over from 2001 programme
1:43 scale models
Peugeot 307 (N 11)
Porsche 911 GT2 995 (N 5)
Alfa Romeo 147 race version (V 5)
Peugeot 206 Coupe race version (V 7)
Citroen Jumpy road service (N 3)
New Mini race version (V TBA)
Simca 1000 Rallye 1 (X 2)
Simca 1000 Rallye 2 (X 2)
Corvette Roadster 1984 (R 3)
Citroen Jumpy fire ambulance (N 3)
Citroen Jumpy fire service maintenance (N 3)
Duesenberg J open (R 3)
Packard sedan 1937 (R 4)
Cord L29 (R 4)
Mercedes SSK Mille Miglia (V 4)
Renault 40cv open (V 5)
Chrysler Windsor taxi (R 4)
Panhard 24CT (N 4)
Fiat 600 (N 4)
Citroen DS19 cabriolet (N 5)
Simca Chambord Presidence, rear spare (N 6)
Citroen DS taxi (V 3)
Land Rover fire VSR road service (N 3)
Citroen Traction fire car (N 4)
Land Rover fire van (V 6)
Citroen C4 (?) fire flat lorry (V 6)
1:50 scale models
Fire service accommodation container (N 5)
Renault Trafic fire ambulance (V 3)
Schutz fire pump trailer (V 6)
Berliet GBC 6x6 fire Nantes (X 2)
Renault Premium fire tanker (N 4)
Mercedes special lighting fire appliance (N 5)
Berliet GBC 8KT 6x6 fire tanker (N 4)
Berliet GBC 8KT 6x6 military wrecker (N 3)
Berliet GBC 8KT 6x6 military tilt (X 1)
Berliet GBC 8KT 6x6 military tanker (N 4)
Dodge van military Signal Corps (R 5)
PT76 Russian tank (R 4)
Godzilla US SP gun prototype (R 5)
Priest SP gun (R 6)
1:18 scale models
Jeep US Military Police (V 5)
Jeep SAS sand colour (V 2)
Chevrolet pickup with tilt, livery TBA (V 5)
Chevrolet wrecker 1953 (V 7)
Ford Mustang fastback, race version (V 2)
Corvette Coupe race version (V 5)
Ford sedan 'used car' (V 6)
Chevrolet bel Air 'used car' (V 6)
Ford sedan US Army, muddy (V 4)
Chevrolet van US Army, muddy (V 4)
Citroen DS19 fire car (V 3)
Jeep VL fire vehicle (V 3)
Citroen Xsara T4 WRC Catalunya (X 1)
Porsche 911 GT3 Monroe LM 2001 (V 2)
Mitsubishi pajero Dakar 2001 winner (V 5)
Peugeot 206 WRC Gauloises Simon (V 2)
Ford F150 pickup US Fire service (V 2)
Ford F150 pickup US Forestry (V 6)
VW split window Beetle (R 2)ARGUS 212 ON TAXIS
Argus de la Miniature 212 includes the first part of a survey of taxi cab models, followed by part 2 in the next issue. It also includes the annual Toute la Miniature list of all dealers, manufacturers etc, now much shrunken in comparison with this special issue in the past, undoubtedly a reflection of the contraction in the model car world.
There are still, however, many more specialist shops listed in France than could be listed for other countries of a comparable size. If you want to know where they all are, order from SAFAM Argus 212, BP40, F78231 Le Pecq, Cedex, France. The price is 9.91 euros (10.67 euros in rest of Europe).
MINIROUTE 1:43 PLANS
These models are planned in Miniroute's range of 1:43 handbuilt models from France:
59 VW Baja Beetle Paris-Dakar (Jan)
62 Citroen DS-Currus lwb ambulance (Jan)
63 Citroen DS-Currus lwb SFP (Jan)
64 Citroen DS-Currus lwb hearse (Jan)
65 Peugeot 301D 6-light saloon 1936 (Feb)
66 Citroen 15 NH 5-seat saloon (March)
67 Citroen CX fire ambulance (March)
68 Citroen CX white ambulance (March)
69 Renault Viva Grand Sport 1939 (April)
70 Panhard Dynamic saloon 1938 (May)PIT LANE FERRARIS
'Pit Lane' has been used before as a title, but this is a new French range of 1:43 Ferraris:
Ferrari 456 Venice cabriolet, Sultan of Brunei
Ferrari FX 512M (May release)PROVENCE MOULAGE NEWS
By Rémy ElkoubiOur last colleagues from Starter joined us, with their machines, in September. After some building work in October, we were finally all together in Aubagne, near Marseille. We have grown from 750 m2 to 1000m2, and there are now 25 of us. New staff include Patrick Buvat, in charge of Assembly, Marie Jeanselme, in charge of Sales, Armelle Ribout in charge of Logistics, and Marie Jeanne Lemaire looks after Accountancy. These changes disrupted our operations, and the success of Nationale 7 means that it is hard to keep up with orders. We will not compromise quality levels, so some delays are inevitable. We can't compete with industrial companies, we are craftsmen and proud of it. Our offerings represent origin-ality in a world of automated perfection. We now have licenses from Aston Martin, Audi, BMW, Bentley, Citroen, Facel Vega, Jaguar, Lister, Oreca (Chrysler), Panoz, Peugeot, Porsche, Subaru and most teams competing at Le Mans. We are still unsuccessful with such brands as Lotus and Bugatti, but we are official suppliers to Peugeot Citroen, Bentley and Oreca. Indeed, Bentley placed an exclusive order for 250 kits, built especially for them, to distribute through 150 Bentley dealers all over the world. Oreca have given us an exclusive license in 1:43 and 1:18 scales for the prototype Chrysler that finished fourth at Le Mans 2001. They also ordered built kits, as gifts to their drivers and sponsors.
NEWS FROM RUSSIA
By Alexander YurcenkoELECON: Two new models from Elecon.
MLRS BM-21 Grad on Ural-4320 chassis.
This is an interesting model for collectors of militaria. It carries a 40 barrel launcher unit which can traverse through 360 degrees, and which can be lifted from a horizontal transport position to battle position.Here is some data on the real machine: Calibre 122 mm, maximum range 20 km. Rockets can be launched from the cab, or remotely with a 60 metre cable.
KAMAZ-4925 4x4 special racing truck for Master Rally (Paris-Dakar). This is an almost entirely new model, apart from the cab. The real machine is powered by a Russian YaMZ V-8 17.24 litre 830 hp turbodiesel engine. The vehicle weighs more than 12 tons and has a top speed of 186 km /hour. On the chassis of the model are two racks of hydropneumatic shock absorbers, visible through the wheel arches. These racks come from Russian BMD (fully tracked armoured assault vehicles) whose suspension is designed for a dropping by parachute. These shock absorbers allow the Kamaz to negotiate deep holes and obstructions without reducing speed during the race. These trucks last year successfully participated in many rallies.
AGAT As usual of late, AGAT offers new tampo-printed variants on old models: Lada-2107 VAI (Military Patrol), khaki, as seen on Lada 2101 saloon and Lada 2102 estate.
GAZ-24 Volga saloon Ambulance Chief, as previusly on GAZ-3102 Volga saloon.
GAZ-2402 Volga estate DPS (Police patrol)
GAZ-2402 Volga estate ex-USSR GAI (Police patrol), yellow with red USSR State EmblemThe last model is a re-issue of the old version which was the standard Patrol livery in the 1980s. After the livery of GAI cars was changed to white (pale grey) and blue, the old version was discontinued. Now, to special order, this series of models has been issued. As usual, all these and many other models can be obtained from me. Send for lists from: Alexander Yurcenko, 410 026, Saratov-26, box 382, RUSSIA or email: al_yr@renet.com.ru.
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