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Model Auto Review News

October 2005

CONTENTS
Model Auto Review 196
Publication 7 October 2005


04  Trucks
05  Tractors, plant  *  05  Trucks Captions 04
07  Germany Captions 05
08  Limousine update  Graeme Ogg, England
09  NEWS World  Trumpeter, Abrex Jirí Havlicek, CZ
11  NEWS Britain  Brooklin 'Rod 43rd', ACE and K&R, Corgi changes
12  France  Provence, CCC, Argus
13  NEWS World  1:64 toys, Spark
14  Letters
16  Matchbox  Hans-Georg Schmitt, Germany
17  NEWS Opel  Revell, Minichamps, Hans-Georg Schmitt
18  Son of a Gunn  Robert Gunn, England
20  NEWS Minichamps  Hans-Georg Schmitt
22  Gavin Lyall Books  Maz Woolley, England
24  The cars of Stuart Little  Don Elliott, USA
26  High Speed Listing  Pete Foss, USA
28  Early Jeeps  Jean-Louis Pothin, France
30  NEWS Germany  Captions to pages 32 and 33
34  On two wheels
35  T'bird 1956: 2  Dave Turner, England
39  PR  Horst Macalka, Austria
40  avia mini
41  Ixo Junior, New Ray, Maisto, Trumpeter, Revell, Roco
42  Book Reviews
43  Competitions 194, 196
44  Book Reviews
46  Club News  Collated by Rod Ward
47  Picture Editing  Maz Woolley, England
48  Swapmeets
56  NEWS  Military
58  NEWS Bus Stop  EFE, Partworks
59  Licensing  *  Captions to page 60: bus, emergency

EDITORIAL
by Rod Ward

SUPPLY AND DEMAND

Corgi tell us that are experiencing an upsurge in sales, thanks to changes they made this year to 'increase the scarcity and collectable value' of their products by limiting production of releases, after consultation with retailers during their Spring previews. Some lines yet to be released this year are sold out in advance. For example, 90% of road transport models, 85% of public transport models and 82% of aviation items are already sold out.

The £150 'working' 1:32 Spitfire, released in July, was over-subscribed by 30%. Releases due out later this year that are heavily over-subscribed or sold out include three 1:76 OOC models, (Van Hool T9 National Express, Wright Eclipse Gemini First London and Volvo B7TL/East Lancs Vyking Lincolnshire). In 1:50 scale trucks, the Scania Topline curtainside Mulgrew Haulage released in July sold out quickly and the Scania R Series Topline frig artic Scott Trawlers due out in December is already more than 20% over-subscribed. Almost 40 items from the current release programme are sold out or only a few remain. These items may still be in stock at retail or wholesale outlets, but once they sell out, no more will be available from Corgi. This restriction on supply is becoming widespread in the model industry. Once a first delivery of a vehicle has sold out, there are rarely any more delivered in the same colour or variant. After a long delay (months or even years), the next production batch finally comes along, but in a different colour. So you must move quickly, or more likely you have to order in advance when you see an item listed. If you wait until it is 'available' it may be too late. That is why you see so many lists in MAR. Order when you first see a list of future releases. Quantities are likely to be much smaller these days, and they thus sell out more quickly. That is the Law of Supply and Demand at work.

I also detect a repeat of what happened a few years ago when interest rates fell and folk felt that their money was not worth leaving in the savings bank. Collectors suddenly sat up, took notice and decided that they might as well buy those models which they had always wanted, but could not previously afford. Watching their hard-earned savings losing value against inflation, collectors then decided to spend more freely.

I see this process happening again now, and it may be contributing to the speed at which new releases are disappearing from the shelves. Don't risk being disappointed; if you want something, order it now!

KIBRI KITS

By Hans-Georg Schmitt

New 1:87 plastic kits from Kibri of Germany:


B-11266 Sersa Atlas 1604 mobile excavator.
B-12247 Mercedes-Benz 1632 SK 2 axle drawbar with
Doll short timber trailer and Meiller MK125 s/l crane
B-13018 Gottwald AK850 mobile crane. Load 900 tons.
B-13551 Mercedes-Benz hi roof heavy duty tractor
with Nooteboom artic ballast trailer, payload 85 tons.
B-13553 MAN OAF 41.502 VFS with high roof, and
Scheuerle prismatic roller with excavator bridge.
B-13554 MAN OAF 41.462 VF heavy duty with 4-axle
Goldhofer 50 ton artic low loader.
B-13555 Mercedes 2635S hitop with flat artic trailer.
B-13568 Mercedes-Benz NAW 3544S 4-axle heavy
hitop tractor, with Scheuerle 50 ton low load trailer.
B-14041 Mercedes-Benz Actros 3235 VG 8x4 with
Goldhofer 5-axle special trailer, payload 50 tons.
Anniversary models:
B-54020 Mercedes-Benz round-bonnet LAK 2624 with
Meiller stone tipper 15 ton trailer.
B-54401 Mercedes-Benz round-bonnet LAK 2624 with
Meiller rock dumper 8-10 cubic metres
B-54600 Mercedes-Benz Actros 320 with Atlas self
loading crane and glass transport racks
B-54601 Mercedes-Benz Actros M3240 flat with s/l crane

MORE MODELS FROM OXFORD

New releases from Oxford Diecast, all made in China for this Welsh company, are listed below. Oxford tell us that a Morris Minor Van is being tooled now (see above), with first shots due in October, and a Minivan should be appearing around the same time.


Chevrolet truck with tea chests Tetley Tea
Chevrolet truck with tilt Jameson's Irish Whiskey
Ford T van Girl's Own Paper (comic)
Bedford K van Birmingham City Police black
Bullnose van Bury Football club
Bedford K van VE Day Anniversary
Bedford K van VE-VJ Day Queen Leads the Nation
Routemaster London Transport Crown Wallpaper

MINICHAMPS 1:18 diecast in China for Germany:

150084000 Ford Sierra Cosworth RS, left hand drive 1988. The Cozzie toughened up the Sierra's somewhat 'softie' image from 1986 onwards. By 1983, the Capri was out of date, with nothing new coming along, and Ford needed a new car for Group A. Cosworth was developing a 16-valve twin-cam version of the two litre Pinto engine as a private venture. Ford Motorsport decided that the Sierra, with a supercharged version of the engine would have enormous power, be right on the weight limit for its class, and have a slippery shape. Cosworth were asked to turbocharge the YBA project to produce 180 bhp in road car form and more than 300 bhp in race tune, and it was decided to use the new three door shell intended for fleet versions of the Sierra, with saloon car racing in mind. Aerodynamic changes included a large front end chin spoiler, a vast free-standing rear spoiler on a central pylon on the hatchback lid, and plastic extensions around the front and rear wheel arches. The extra air intake in the nose between the headlamps was added later to feed more air through the turbo intercooler and new 7 x 15 inch BBS wheels were fitted. Ford also fitted figure-hugging Recaro seats. The over-ambitious target of getting the Sierra RS Cosworth on sate by the end of 1984 was abandoned, a prototype car being displayed at Geneva in March 1885, with a promise of production in the final quarter of 1985. Due to quality control problems, completion of the all-important 5,000 cars had to be put back from mid-summer 1986 to December that year. The production car was only available in diamond white, moonstone blue, or black, with a single interior trim colour, and no options. Between February and December 1986 more than 5,000 were built and the Genk plant built another 500 to go into store for conversion into RS500 Cosworths at a later date. In the end, a total of 5,542 Sierras were produced. The model is diamond white and very detailed, in spite of the fact that it is in the more accessibly priced Minichamps Car Collection. (notes Hans-Georg Schmitt).

TRUMPETER PLASTIC KITS

Trumpeter is a range of plastic kits made in China, which includes a couple of versions of the CA-770, among other interesting subject matter:


CHN Red Flag CA-770TJ limousine China 1:24
CHN Red Flag CA-770 limousine China 1:24
Pontiac Bonneville convertible 1960 1:25
Pontiac Bonneville sports coupe 1960 1:25
Chevrolet Nova SS coupe 1963 1:25
Chevrolet Nova SS convertible 1963 1:25
Chevrolet Monte Carlo Landau 1978 1:25
ALF Battalion fire pumper College Park 2002 1:25

ABREX SKODA MODELS

By Jirí Havlícek

Abrex of the Czech Republic has a range of diecast Skoda models made for them in China by Cararama, and they have produced a release list for the second half of 2005, models to be available by the end of the year.
There will be more information on their websites, which are still under construction:


1:24 scale
Skoda Octavia II saloon  *  Skoda Octavia II estate
Skoda Superb saloon     *  Skoda Fabia estate
Skoda Octavia Tour estate

1:43 scale
Skoda Octavia II saloon
Skoda Octavia II estate
Skoda Superb saloon
Skoda Fabia estate
Skoda Octavia Tour estate
Skoda Yeti (very limited edition)
Skoda Octavia II saloon AAA taxi
Skoda Octavia II saloon Rabobank NL (limited)
Skoda Superb saloon AAA taxi
Skoda Fabia estate Policie (police)
Skoda Fabia estate Prague City Police
Skoda Fabia estate PET Medical car
Skoda Octavia Tour estate Policie (police)
Skoda Octavia Tour estate Prague City Police
Skoda Octavia Tour estate ABA road service
Skoda Octavia Cup race car 2005 (limited edition)
Skoda Fabia WRC rally car (three versions)
Skoda Octavia saloon from the 1960s
Skoda Felicia convertible from the 1960s
Skoda 110L saloon
Skoda 120L saloon
Skoda 1203 commercial vehicle
Laurin & Klement voiturette 1905  (the first car built at Mlada Boleslav)

1:72 scale
Skoda Octavia II saloon   *   Skoda Octavia II estate
Skoda Superb saloon
Skoda Fabia estate
Skoda Octavia Tour estate
Skoda Fabia estate Policie (police)
Skoda Octavia Tour estate Policie (police)
Skoda Fabia estate Prague City Police
Skoda Octavia Tour estate AAA taxi

BROOKLIN 'ROD 43rd' CARS

Brooklin are extending the life of some of their establshed castings by producing a new range of 1:43 custom cars under the title of Rod 43rd. Each will come in a red leatherette-style presentation box and six new models will be released each year. Only 100 of each will be made in the first production batch, but they will be re-run at a later date when orders build up.

October 2005 releases:
01 Muntz Jet 1952. Raven black, lowered ride height on ten spoke custom wheels with quad exhaust pipes and custom rear cover panel.
02 Plymouth Deluxe five window coupe 1935. Matt primer grey 'gasser' with nudge bars and fat and thin Krager wheels.
03 Lincoln Zephyr four door sedan 1938. Metallic turquoise, with eight spoke custom wheels, reprofiled bumpers and running boards, lower ride height and large bore exhausts.

December 2005 releases:
04 Chevrolet Impala Sport Coupe 1961. Silk orange, lowered ride height and large diameter pressed steel wheels with Lake pipes.
05 Graham Hollywood convertible 1940. Chrome yellow, lowered ride height on five-dual-spoke wheels, Lake pipes and other features.
06 LaSalle two door sedan 1939. Metallic deep purple, on thick and thin Krager wheels, with restyled lights, nudge bar bumper and twin single exhausts.

LATEST ACE AND K&R MODELS

By Stephen Roff

The following kits are all now available in the Ace and K&R replicas ranges, priced at £27.00 to £31.00 each:


ACE60 MG ZR 105/120 three door
ACE61 MG ZR 160 three door
ACE62 MG PA four seater Midget
ACE62H MG PA four seater Midget with hood
ACE63 MG PB four seater Midget
ACE63H MG PB four seater Midget with hood
ACE64 MG TF 115 open
ACE65 MG TF 120/135 open
ACE66 MG TF 160 open
KR145 Caterham Seven with cycle wings

CORGI ANNOUNCE MORE CHANGES TO THEIR 2005 PROGRAMME

There are some more changes to Corgi's published programme for this year, as noted below:

BATMAN Silver Age II set: US77342 not available via the trade, only an exclusive mail order direct item.

BATMOBILE Roadster 1940 first shot: US77609: sold out to the trade.

VOLVO fire engine: TY86303 replaced with TY87101 Husky fire engine at the same price.

DIAMOND T 620 Leistbrau: US52911 discontinued, all orders cancelled.

40th anniversary of Thunderbirds: Corgi will support the Countdown to Disaster event at Elstree. they will be releasing a new Captain Scarlet range from January 2006.

Dukes of Hazzard: Corgi are encouraging retailers to stock their CC5301 Dodge Charger to capitalise on the new movie release. Do they mean The Daisy Duke Story? Is there anybody else in the movie? And do they now provide a model of Daisy with their Corgi Charger, rather than those two boring rednecks?

Preferably a model of the original, Catherine Bach, rather than the current Jessica Simpson version.

MORE PROVENCE MINIATURES

New 1:43 resin kits and handbuilt models made by Provence Miniatures of France.


Ferrari 512BB Harksound LM 79 (detailed kit KP03)
Aston Martin DBR9 LM 05 #59 (M065 handbuilt)
Porsche 911 GT3 RSR LM 05 #76 Narac (KC080 kit)
Porsche 911 GT3 RSR LM 05 #71 Job (KC081 kit)
Ferrari F550 Maranello LM 05 #50 Larbre (KC082 kit)
Jaguar XJR12 LM 90 #1,2,4 (detailed kit KP04,
           handbuilt MP04, limited to only 15 built

Eco Line: a new budget handbuilt range
Aston Martin Virage 1990 (EL01)
Corvette C6 street version 2005 (EL02)
Aston Martin DB4GT Zagato street 1961-62 (EL03)

Note: EL03 replaces KC079 and MC079, announced in
MAR 195 on page 11 in the standard range.

FOURTH DINKY ARGUS ISSUE

The latest issue of Argus de la Miniature, number 231, is devoted to the fourth part of the coverage of Dinky Toys made in England. It inlcudes items with catalogue numbers from 280 to 437, lots of Bedford CF vans, Leyland Atlantean buses and so on. The price is 13 Euros for France (13.50 Euros to the rest of Europe) from SAFAM, Argus Miniature 231, BP40 F-78231 Le Pecq cedex, France.

Parts 1, 2 and 3 of Argus on English Dinky Toys are also still available.

NEWS FROM GEORGES OF CCC

Georges Pont tells us that he is struggling to keep up with demand for his 1:43 CCC models, along with jobs he is carrying out for other ranges as well. Georges does all his work himself, so please don't be too impatient if you are waiting for any models to be deivered from the CCC range.

His latest news is as follows:


CCC kits or handbuilt models
F180 Peugeot 174S Le Mans 1926
F181 DB-Panhard Antem Le Mans 1951
F182 DB-Panhard Le Mans 1960-61
F183 Panhard 6CS saloon 1935
F184 Hotchkiss Grégoire coach (saloon) 1952
F185 Voisin Petit Duc 1928
F186 Salmson S4E cabriolet 1939

Classiques 'budget' handbuilt only
(mostly ex Belle Epoque, ex Rapide ranges)
C1001 Voisin C27 Coupe 1934 grey-black
C1002 Voisin C27 Coupe 1934 black-yellow
C1003 Panhard cabriolet 1935 white
C1004 Panhard cabriolet 1935 two tone green
C1005 Peugeot 402 Darl'mat 1937 ivory
C1006 Peugeot 402 Darl'mat 1937 red
C1007 Citroen DS Coupe 1966 two tone
C1008 Pichon-Parat coupe metallic grey
C1009 Panhard 6CS Parisienne midnight blue
C1010 Panhard 6CS saloon 1935 two tone brown
C1011 Voisin Aerosport 1935 blue
C1012 Voisin Aerosport 1935 ivory

MATTEL Matchbox Superfast diecast in China for USA: The legendary Matchbox 1 to 75 Superfast line is back! The first 12 models come in blister packs which contain the model and its box, which looks similar to the old range. The scale varies, to allow the models to fit into the same box. The new number 1 is a 1957 Ford Thunderbird, in light metallic blue, with a white interior. 22 is its modern counterpart, a Ford SVT Mustang Cobra with silver painted body and black interior. Two from the Chrysler range are: 3 a beige Jeep Wrangler with black interior and 23 a Dodge Viper GTS in metallic blue with a a tan interior. 5 is a Mercedes-Benz S 500 S-class saloon, in dark metallic grey with a silver grey interior. 32 is the old Mercedes-Benz A-Class saloon in white. 15 is the doomed BMW 850i in dark red metallic and 17 a yellow Ferrari 456 GT. 51 is a green Land Rover Discovery and 57 is a black Jaguar XJ6 saloon. The 1:75 range also includes action vehicles and two typical examples are 11, a Dennis fire appliance and 30 a Chevrolet Camaro Z-28 police car, in metallic blue with a red light bar on the roof. (notes Hans-Georg Schmitt).

REVELL Metal 1:18 diecast in China for Germany: 08822 Opel Kapitan P 2.6 saloon 1959. The first post-war 'Captain' went into production in 1949. Over the following years three variants came out, and the 1958 model, the Kapitan P attracted attention thanks to its very American styling. Very quickly in 1959 a new Kapitan was produced, Kapitan P-VL, to make up for the shortcomings of its predecessor. The body was larger and the roof supports at the sides of the wide wraparound windows, the so-called Z-pillars (nowadays called C-pillars) no longer made it difficult for rear seat passengers to get in and out. The roof over the rear seat was higher, the rear doors were longer and they opened wider. The lines were also less obviously American. The solid, robust 2605cc six cylinder engine developed 90 bhp, was quieter running and more powerful. The platform frame was welded to the superstructure, giving the car great torsional resistance. The dashboard was clearly laid-out, functional and contemporary, and the roomy interior was well appointed. The Kapitan offered proper armchair comfort on the front bench seat or optional separate seats. The car was quiet to drive, comfortable and safe by contemporary standards, but it also offered power and speed and an attractive design. The fully automatic GM Hydra-Matic gearbox was available from 1960 onwards and was popular with many customers. The top speed of the Kapitan was an impressive 150 km/h. All of this, at an economical price (the 1962 model with Hydra-Matic cost DM 11,975), explains why 145,600 of the P-LV were built, including all special editions, by November 1963. No other Kapitan reached such high production figures. The version with the Hydra-Matic gearbox was chosen by Revell to model in 1:18 scale, and it has produced an impressive result. The extended pontoon body with its two large wraparound screens and its prominent but not exaggerated tail fins, is accurately executed in detail. The fog lamps on the front bumper were added by the owner of the original car as after-sales parts, the original Opel units were integrated into the radiator grille and look much more elegant. The bonnet and correctly hinged front doors open, and the steering works realistically. Under the bonnet is the detailed six-cylinder power unit with air cleaner, exhaust system, starter, radiator, ignition cables and even the type plate. The interior is very accurate with separate front seats, dashboard with strip speedometer and the door linings even have the round handles for the small vent windows. The accurately modelled steering wheel, however, has been installed upside down; the horn-ring should be on top. The column change lever and absence of clutch pedal correspond with the Hydra-Matic lettering on the boot lid. The wheels with chromed hub-caps, ornamental rings and whitewall tyres are also nicely made and appropriate. The base plate, below, is just as detailed. As well as the underside of the engine and gearbox, the drive shaft, differential, tank and exhaust system are included. The front wheels, on wishbones with coil springs contrast with the archaic rigid rear axle, on large leaf springs. The only mistake is the over-long exhaust tail pipe. On its first release, the Opel Kapitan model is black with a light grey interior. (notes Hans-Georg Schmitt).

RECENT Minichamps LISTED

By Hans-Georg Schmitt


1:18 scale:
180 882009 BMW M3, Team Valier Rudy Billen,
German Touring Car Championship 1988, H Grohs.
100921002 Audi V8 Quattro, Team AZR, German
Touring Car Championship 1992, Frank Jelinski
100 666160 Porsche 906, Pon, Class Win 1000 km
Nurburgring 1966 Van Lennep-Van Lennep
150 137321 Aston Martin DBS Coupe left hand drive
2004, silver Minichamps Car Collection
150 137331 Aston Martin DB9 Convertible
left-hand-drive 2004 green met Minichamps Car
Collection
180 089002 Ford Capri Mk 1 1969, blue metallic
100 040018 Jordan Ford EJ14, F1 2004 Heidfeld
100 040019 Jordan Ford EJ14 04 Giorgio Pantano

1:43 scale:
400 040110 BAR Honda 006, Japan 2004, Sato
400 044414 Opel Vectra GTS V8 Valvoline Team
Phoenix German Touring Cars 04, Peter Dumbreck
400 044416 Opel Vectra GTS V8 Service Fit: OPC
Euroteam, Zandvoort 2004 Jeroen Bleekemolen
430 051026 VW Karmann-Ghia Coupe 1955: for its
50th anniversary, it is in orange with black roof.
430 786740 Porsche 935/78 Moby Dick Norisring DRM
1978; Jacky Ickx. In 1978, Porsche decided to
leave all National Championships to customer
teams. For International Championships, Norbert
Singer and his team developed the last evolution
of the 935. The new whale-like body was more
streamlined and it

had a revised six cylinder 750hp boxer engine.
Driven by Jackle Ickx and Jochen Mass on its
debut, it won the 6 hour Silverstone race. It
only placed eighth at Le Mans, and in other races
it retired early, so Moby Dick ended up in the
Porsche works museum.
430 120002 Alfa Romeo 147 2001 now in black.
400 052101 VW Touran 2003  black.
430 058335 VW Golf IV Cabriolet 1999, nicknamed
shopping basket, due to the roll bar between the
B-pillars, now in metallic green.
400 050086 Toyota F1 2005 Showcar Jarno Trulli.
400 041302 Audi R8, Team Champion Racing, Le Mans 2004, Pirro, Lento and Werner
400 044410 Opel Vectra GTS V8; OPC Team Holzer;
German Touring cars 2004 Manuel Reuter
530 133436 McLaren F1 GTR road car, yellow, tan seat
540 814343 Van Diemen Ford RF81 Senna Collection
1981 British Formula Ford 1600, Ayrton Senna.
400 041305 Audi R8, Audi Sport Japan Team Goh,
winners Le Mans 2004 Ara-Capello-Kristensen.
400 040109 BAR-Honda 006 Jenson Button 2004 first
Pole Position in Grand Prix of San Marino
400 040311 Dallara Spies F303, F3 Euroseries 2004 Nico Rosberg
430 736904 Porsche 911 Carrera RSR 2.8 1973, blue
402 038269 Porsche 911 RS Set 30th Anniversary:
RSR 2.8 1978 and GT3 RS 2003, both white-blue.
518 044310 BAR Honda 006, 2004 British GP Sato, Sato Collection

439 073020 Bussing LU 11/16 truck with tilt,
1961. The Bussing LU11/16 Commodore was a heavy
truck with underfloor diesel engine of 192 hp and
a six speed gearbox. It was built between 1961
and 1963. This version had a 4800 mm wheelbase
and cab with swallow's nest sleeping space. In
blue with white cab roof, registered in
Brunswick, Lower Saxony, Germany, it is a limited
edition of 3,000 pieces.
400 040119 Jordan Ford EJ14, Canada 2004 Glock
430 736907 Porsche 911 Carrera RSR 2.8; Team
Martini Porsche Targa Florio 73, Pucci-Steckkönig
400 044403 Opel Vectra GTS V8 GMAC Bank OPC
Phoenix German Touring cars 2004, Faessier
436 035300 VW Race Touareg, homologation version 03
400 012001 Audi A3 two door saloon 2003, yellow
436 840008 McLaren MP4/2 1984 F1 Niki Lauda
430 756905 Porsche 911 RSR 3.0, Vaillant, Team
Kremer, ADAC Supersprint DRM 1975 Woliek
439 030086 Setra S8 Coach Taeter and Ziemons
518 034399 BAR Honda F1 Concept car; Takuma Sato 2004. Takuma Sato Collection
400 012101 BMW M3 GTR street version 2001,yellow.
400 990306 Dallara Sodemo Renault F399 1999
British Formula 3 Championship Jenson Button
530 133437 McLaren F1 GTR Road Car, grey metallic
finish, with maroon driver's seat
400 866285 Porsche 959 Paris-Dakar 1986 Ickx-Brasseur
400 866287 Porsche 959 Paris-Dakar 1986 Kussmaul-Unger
400 042121 BMW M3 GTR, Proto-type Technology
Group; Daytona 2004 Said-Auberien-Martin-Hand
400 040039 Jordan Ford EJ14 2004 Timo GIock, limited to 1,224 pieces
400 044493 Opel Vectra GTS V8, GMAC Bank Holzer
DTM Shanghai 2004; Marcel Faessle
400 046274 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup Daytona 2004
Rockenfeller-Van
Overbeck-Neiman-Pechnik-Cunningham
400 046944 Porsche 911 GT3-RS, Daytona 2004
Policastro-Policastro-Fitzgerald-Liddell-Mowlem
400 042122 BMW M3 GTR, Proto-type Technology,
Daytona 04 Said-Auberien-Martin-Hand-Joensson.
430 836521 Porsche 956L, Kenwood. Kremer, Le Mans 1983 Andretti-Andretti-Alliot
430 786743 Porsche 935/78 Moby Dick LM 1978 Stommelen-Schurti
400 063021 Porsche 911 Carrera S Coupe 2004, the
more powerful version of the new 911, fitted with
a 3.8 litre 355hp engine, 19 inch wheels and PASM
suspension, variable shock absorbers. It is grey
metallic.
400 046205 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup Infineon
Farnbacher, Henzler winner Porsche Supercup 04
400 046227 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, Araxa Buchbinder
Racing Carrera Cup 04 Mark Warnecke
MORE FROM
Minichamps
New items promised for later in 2005 in the
Minichamps Edition 2 Catalogue. (4) = quarter of
2005 due

1:43 FORMULA ONE 2005
530 044315 McLaren Mercedes MP4-19B 2004 David Coulthard (4)
530 044316 McLaren Mercedes MP4-19B 2004 Kimi Raikkonen (4)
400 050038 Toyota TF105 Friday Test Zonta (4)
400 050039 Jordan Toyota EJ15 Test Doornbos (4)
400 050115 Red Bull Cosworth RB1 Liuzzi (4)
400 050118 Jordan Toyota EJ15 Monteiro US GP 2005 (4)
400 050137 Red Bull Cosworth RB1 US GP 2005 Test Scott Speed (4)
530 054315 McLaren Mercedes MP4-20 De La Rosa Bahrein 05 (4)
530 054355 McLaren Mercedes MP4-20 Wurz San Marino 2005 (4)

1:18 FORMULA ONE 2005
100 050115 Red Bull Cosworth RB1 Liuzzi (4)

1:43 FORMULA 2 1979
400 790007 March BMW 792 BMW Junior Team European
F2 Champ Daly with engine detail (4)
400 790010 March BMW 792 BMW Junior Team European
F2 Champ Stuck with engine detail (4)

1:12 ROAD BIKE
122 133401 Triumph Rocket III 04 Graphite (3)

1:43 STREET CARS
400 043020 Opel Astra GTC 2005 Blue metallic (4)
400 052202 Volkswagen T5 Multivan 2003 MINICHAMPS (4)
400 137421 Aston Martin Vantage yellow Presentation at Geneva Motor Show (4)
400 166300 Toyota Prius 2004 Red metallic (4)
400 166360 Toyota Corolla Verso 04 Blue met (4)
400 171410 Volvo 240 GL Break 1986 silver (4)
430 015105 Audi A3 96 grey met (4)
430 017254 Audi TT Coupe 1999 Beige metallic (4)
430 051042 Volkswagen Karmann Ghia Convertible 1957 yellow (4)
430 171004 Volvo 121 Amazon 1966 silver (4)
430 171012 Volvo 121 Amazon estate 1966 green (4)

1:43 SPECIAL VEHICLES
400 053090 Volkswagen T2 microbus ambulance DRK (4)
400 082490 Ford Transit microbus 1971 Polizei Hamburg (4)

1:43 SINALCO SERIES
400 053201 VW T2 Pickup 1972 (4)
439 051021 Opel Blitz 1.7t truck (4)
439 350026 Mercedes L3500 (4)
499 141490 Magirus Deutz S6500 (4)

1:43 LE MANS 2005
400 051303 Audi R8 Team Champion, Winners 2005 Kristensen-Lehto-Werner  (4)

1:43 SEBRING 2005
400 051301 Audi R8 Team Champion, Winners 2005 Kristensen-Lehto-Werner (4)
400 051302 Audi R8 Champion, 2nd 2005 Pirro-Biela-McNish (4)
400 056431 Porsche 911 GT3-RSR Team Peterson
Motorsport Class win Bergmeister-Luhr (4)

1:43 DAYTONA 2005
400 056237 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup Ajilon Consulting
Matos-FIitzgerald-Assentato-Longhi (4)
400 056261 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, Racers Group East Nearn-Lacey-Shep-Wilkins  (4)
400 056271 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup Farnbacher Racing,
Henzler-Farnbacher-Price-Ehret  (4)

1:43 SPA-FRANCORCHAMPS 05
400 051304 Audi R8 Oreca, Ortelli-Gounon (4)
400 056473 Porsche 911 GT3-RSR Team Gordon, Lambert-Lefort-Palttala (4)
400 056991 Porsche 911 GT3-RSR Team T2M Motor
Sport Yamagishi-Caffi-Pompidou (4)

1:43 TOURING & RALLY CARS
400 051391 Audi R8 Champion, 1st Road Atlanta 05 Lehto-Werner (4)
430 711018 Melkus RS 1000 Schleizer Dreieck Rennen 1971 Ulli Melkus (3)
430 856699 Porsche 956K 1000km Hockenheim 1985 Fastest lap, Bellof-Boutsen (4)
436 053303 Volkswagen Touareg winner Rally of the Pampas  2005 Saby-Perrin (4)

BOOK REVIEWS

AURORA MODEL KITS by Thomas Graham, 215mm x 280mm softbound, 176 pages, 450+ colour photos. ISBN 0-7643-2018-1. Schiffer Publishing Ltd, 4880 Lower Valley Road, Atglen, PA 19310, USA. In Europe: Bushwood Books, 6 Marksbury Ave, Kew Gardens, Surrey, TW9 4JF, UK. £24.95 (Free p&p in UK, £5.50 per surface mail order elsewhere).

When MAR readers were young Aurora was one of the top three names in plastic kits (name the other two as you wish). Their range was extensive, their box art evocative and the kits were characterful, if simple. It is hard to believe that the lifespan of Aurora Plastics Corporation was only 27 years, founded in 1950 by Abe Shikes and Joe Giammarino. John Cuomo joined in 1952 and they first acted as a contract shop for other plastics firms. The first toy under their own name was a toy bow and arrow set, but spotting the success of Hawk plastic aircraft kits, they ripped them off and sold copies under their own name. From then on expansion was fast and steady, ships were added in 1953, tanks in 1956. The superb box art of Jim Cox and Jo Katula was eye-catching and long-lasting and contributed to sales. Mettoy distributed Aurora kits in Britain under the Playcraft banner, some being cast in the US, others in the UK. Finally in 1957 trucks and cars were added to the Aurora range, though the first five 1:32 scale sports cars were inherited from Advance Molding Corporation, taken over by Aurora. These kits were a little crude, even for their period, but they sold well and encouraged Aurora to go further into this field, which they had previously avoided. Other takeovers included Best Models, bringing Indy cars into the range, Hudson Miniatures, whose Old Timers were thus also included, and Crown Plastics whose figure kits ultimately led Aurora into the successful sector of movie monsters. By 1959 the range was claimed to be the 'world's largest'. The boom years of the 1960s were a golden age for Aurora, but in the 1970s they were taken over by Nabisco, who struggled with this loss-making division. They tried to distribute imported Heller and Esci kits, but these were too complex for the traditional American Aurora buyer. Plastic kit production was cut back, then sold to Monogram in 1977, and thus to Revell. Many old Aurora kits survive as Glencoe, Polar Lights or Revell products. This book tells the story in great detail and illustrates it with original artwork and hundreds of pictures of kits, both built and unbuilt. Half of this excellent book is devoted to an impressive directory of every kit made, with the box art pictured. Great reference and fun to read as well.

Rod Ward

DONCASTER (Buses 1): Prestige Series 31, by Roger Holmes, 170 x 240mm softbound, 64 pages, ISBN 1 898432 61 9. Venture Publications Ltd, 128 Pikes Lane, Glossop, Derbyshire. SK13 8EH. £9.50.

This book covers the first 30 years of buses in Doncaster, a town always rather in the shade of larger cities and towns in South Yorkshire, though it was a 'contented sort of place' with the railway workshops, racecourse and municipal tramway, ripe for a lot of independent bus operators to thrive. These were mostly based in the surrounding villages, whose denizens wanted to get into town for the famous market. Thus a colourful array of buses would gather in Doncaster during the period covered here, up to 1950. As we have now come to expect from this series, the photographs are interesting, though there are fewer general townscapes, so it is more of a bus-fan's book than usual. No such enthusiast will be disappointed by the pictures of unusual buses in really unusual operator liveries. One of the earliest is Ernest Parish's 'Felix' bus company, which adopted the famous cartoon cat as its motif. No-one would get away with the unlicensed use of a copyright character in this way nowadays, and I can't help thinking that we have lost something in the process since then.

Rod Ward

MODELLAUTO-KATALOG 1:43 by Peter R. Cordes and Lars Kruck. German text. 188 pages, 520 photos. 160 x 200 mm. Paper-bound. ISBN 3-87094-479-X. Published by and available from Alba Publikation Alf Teloeken GmbH & Co. KG.; Postfach 110150, D-40501 Dusseldorf, Germany.

This publication covers all German-made model vehicles; Conrad, Cursor, Gama, Herpa, Marklin, NZG, Rex, Schabak, Schuco, Strenco, RW-Ziss, but only post-war models made in Germany before manufacture went to China. Each range has a company profile, models are pictured with technical features and a scarcity rating. This is the third issue, claimed to be revised to date. Some of the photographs, still only in black and white, have changed and some special promotional models are missing, such as the Mercedes-Benz artic tanker 44-MB-I-1/8032, Messer-Griesheim, today a great rarity, even in chipped condition. In other sections, an Opel model car museum is listed which closed down over ten years ago, and our own Model Auto Review is said to be published only four times per year (not true for the past 22 years) and with a long out of date address. This makes one wonder about the reliability of other information included. An updated value list to March 2005 is enclosed. More research would have reduced mistakes and improved this catalogue.

Hans-Georg Schmitt

Chrysler 300 Series Pedigree, Power and Performance since 1955, by Robert Ackerson. 208 pages, 301 photographs. 215 x 260mm. ISBN 1-904788-90-4. Published by and available from Veloce Publishing Limited, 33 Trinity Street, Dorchester DT1 1TT, England.

In 1951 Chrysler produced its first V8 engine, and what an engine, with hemispherical combustion chambers, the new Hemi-Head engine produced more power per capacity than any of its competitors. In 1955 the new Chrysler C-300 was launched, combining 300 hp of muscle, style by Virgil Exner and superb handling for such a large car. In its first year of production the new C-300 won both major American stock car racing series: NASCAR and AAA. Half a century later, Chrysler are still making performance cars to follow the 300 letter series. This book describes all of them, from C-300 to 300L, and from 300M to the new Chrysler 300.

Hans-Georg Schmitt

America's best-selling Truck: Ford F100 / F-150 Pickup 1953-96 by Robert Ackerson. 160 pages, 197 photos, 20 drawings. Paperbound 210 x 250 mm. ISBN 1-904788-76-9 Published by and available from Veloce Publishing Limited, 33, Trinity Street, Dorchester DT1 1TT England.

This book records over 40 years in the story of America's most popular pickup, the rugged Ford F-100 and F-150, which sold in astounding numbers and which dominate everyday American life.

Hans-Georg Schmitt

Ford F-150 Pickup 1997-2005 by Robert Ackerson. 144 pages, 200 photos, 67 drawings. Paperbound 210 x 250 mm. ISBN 1-904788-86-6. Published by and available from Veloce Publishing Limited, 33, Trinity Street, Dorchester DT1 1TT England.

The second part of the story of America's most popular pickup. Their appearance changed, to be aggressively aerodynamic, but they are still reliable workhorses, just like earlier Ford pickups.

Hans-Georg Schmitt

CLUB NEWS

Collated by Rod Ward

Wessex Model and Toy Collectors: The Club's birthday party on 11 June went well, though many very local members seemed unable to get to it. Maybe it's their age? Barry Lloyd, Editor of the WMTC newsletter, Smalltalk, offers the 'four stages of the ageing gentleman': 1: You start to forget names.

2: You start to forget faces. 3: You forget to pull your zip up. 4: You forget to pull your zip down. Yeuk! On the publication date of this issue, I turn 60, so I'll give you an update when I reach stage 4. I've been at stage 1 all my life. When you too are old enough to join the WMTC, contact Membership Secretary Doug Male on 01225 755043.

The Lledo Enthusiast and Variations Club: In the penultimate edition of The Lledo Enthusiast, Bill Alexander says that he has been asked to keep the Club going, but 'there seems little point in writing about Lledo models when they are not being made any more. Not my choice. Secondly, and more to the point, the Days Gone models that 80% of members collect will not be available in retail outlets (in future DG models will only be available through the Collectors Club and Corgi Direct Sales). And would you really need a newsletter to review three models a month?' There will be a CD-Rom available listing Days Gone models; contact Bill at 33 North Town Moor, Maidenhead, Berks SL6 7JR for details. Andrew Dudley has offered to set up a new club, only on the internet, if enough folk are interested. If you are, contact Andrew at lledocollector@msn.com

Sydney Model Auto Club: Tony Hanna, editor of the SMAC official journal Think Small, apologised for the late delivery of the latest issue. This is a problem familiar to most newsletter editors, and which rarely gets any sympathy from members who complain about late delivery. Well, they can at last read some of the many useful nuggets, such as that the founder of Global (Auto Art) originally had an AMG-Mercedes dealership in Hong Kong and that (according to President Martin Uden, off to place a big contract in Shanghai) the hourly rate for Chinese workers is around seven Australian Cents (is that about 2p?). No wonder nobody else can compete with them on cost of production. Stuart Lapping revisited his Scottish home turf on holiday and took in a diversion via the Isle of Skye, where he found a fascinating toy museum. Has anyone else visited it? First I've heard of it. If you'd like to join the SMAC, phone Secretary John Maude on 9579 1257.

West Australian Model Collectors Club: Ian Hind, Editor of Showcase, the WAMCC Club publication, is another of those well-travelled Aussies. Just back from the USA, he holidayed on the Gold Coast, on the opposite side of the Australian continent. Amazing to us parochial stay at home Brits these days. He reports that a leading Perth model retailer has shut up shop (as does the Sydney Club about a local shop in the same month) and notes that two of the dealers he buys from in the USA have closed within the last six months, so the trend is worldwide... Ian really gets about; in Europe recently he heard from a dealer that Corgi had been sold by its Chinese owners to American interests.

To read more of these globe-trotting memoirs in Showcase you have to join the club, phone 934 9369, or email jhind@iinet.net.au

South Hants Model Auto Club: With only 12 pages instead of the usual 16, Sue and Stu Leake had an even harder job than usual cramming in all the material that is waiting for inclusion in the SHMAC newsletter. Those that made it included two pieces on Scammell, and accounts of trips to France (Le Mans of course), Gaydon and Bramshaw, as well as the Club barbecue. To join the SHMAC contact Secretary Dave Painter on 01264 366408.

Maidenhead Static Model Club: Wheel Bearings Editor Les Duplock devotes most of the latest issue to a history of STP, the engine oil treatment company and its sponsorship of motor racing (with a picture of the Faracars STP Turbine car on the cover), and an account of the narrow-gauge Lynton and Barnstaple Railway. To join the MSMC, contact Membership Secretary Robbie Bennett on anorack821@yahoo.co.uk.

PICTURE EDITING

By Maz Woolley

Following my articles in MAR 194 and 195 on decal making and the Editor's comments on pictures, I'd better explain why I was exercised about what happens when you save photos on a computer. Most users take their digital pictures in Jpeg formats which hold the image in a compressed state and each time the file is saved in that format, software compresses it again. This leads to a loss of information and gradual degradation of image quality whether you use Apple, Windows or Linux workstations. The Editor's suggestion to use the save as feature is spot on! By choosing to save the image in a lossless format such as Photoshop .psd files the picture is not re-compressed each time you save it when working on it. Don't worry if you don't use Adobe products, many other image editing tools offer the option to save in Photoshop format from a drop down box in your save as dialog box. However, since the image takes more disk space in this format it is better to send the Editor images like this on a CD, as they would take forever to email! Finally, I would suggest that you save a copy of the original before playing with image editing tools, as it is always less of a problem to start over if you do not like your edited image when you have finished, than to take the picture again, and some cheaper image editing products do not provide much in the way of undo facilities.

For readers who wonder why I work on photographs, this is what I tend to do:

BUS STOP
EXCLUSIVE FIRST EDITIONS

by Frank Joyce

Within our scheduled model releases for July and August we experienced a few hiccups.

Exceptionally bad weather and heavy rainfall in China disrupted and slowed down production at the factories we use to produce our models. To prevent gaps from appearing in our release programme we released a standard RML Routemaster from models that we already had in our reserve stock in the UK. The model was RML 898, that had been dressed up and taken to New Orleans for a British Week at a departmental store. Because the markings on the bus were fictitious and not those of a service bus, we thought that interest in the model would be marginal, but we were wrong and orders exceeded the quantity produced. To avoid disappointing collectors we decided to delay release while a larger quantity of models was produced.

Two other models were also affected by the disruption to production, E10133 AEC RT Greenline missed its shipping date and had to move to late August, but from a different factory the reverse happened and E30003 AEC Regal 10T10 Neath & Cardiff was shipped early, released with the early August models.

This was a unique and interesting vehicle. When London Transport sold off its AEC Regal 10T10 buses it was decided that they would be sold overseas, not in the UK, but two escaped, to become the only 10T10s to appear in the livery of a UK bus company. The two became the Brown Bombers, operating along the South Wales coast for the Neath & Cardiff bus company.

Other model news.

Kowloon Motor Bus Daimler DMS model. Our 'subscriber special' Daimler DMS in Kowloon Motor Bus Company's red and cream livery, has been popular and we have only 120 pieces left.

Australian Special Models.

We have been commissioned to produce another Australian bus, this time our Leyland PD2 highbridge in Melbourne Metropolitan Tramways livery. See the photograph at the top of the next column

Recent and current EFE releases

29804 Wright Dennis Lance Go Ahead Coastline
20634 Plaxton Pointer Dart Stagecoach Hull
20433DL Bristol VRIII Alder Valley
20132 Bedford OB Coach King Alfred
28810 Leyland Titan two door Go Whippet
29608 Leyland Olympian Riverside London Buses
30003 AEC Regal 10T10 Neath & Cardiff
10133 AEC RT Bus Greenline
16126 Leyland PD2 highbridge CIE Dublin
25808 Daimler DMS 1 door OK Motor Services
25515 RML Routemaster London Transport
31001 Foden S24 4 axle flatbed Paul Taylor
29702 Leyland Olympian Type C London & Country
29702SB Leyland Olympian Type C L&C Showbus
12118 Harrington Cavalier B Royal Blue
16322 Bristol LS Bus Bath Services
30702 AEC Renown Type B North Western
31101 Leyland PD2 highbridge Silver Star
26616 Plaxton Paramount 3500 Greenline
31201 ERF KV 4 axle flatbed Marston Valley Brick

PARTWORKS PROLIFERATE

The recent flood of 1:43 diecast models of Minis at extraordinarily cheap prices, made in China by Hongwell and others, may be partly explained by a new partwork planned for autumn release in the UK. Up to now the partwork publisher has had 'first go' at the models, which were then later released on the market without a publication attached.

In the case of the Mini models the process may turn out to have been reversed. Some partworks combine pre-existing models (sometimes in new colours or liveries, but not always) with new productions. On this more conventional partwork basis, Del Prado's fire vehicle series has now finally reached the UK market, with its assortment of original and ex-Matchbox and other products.

Considering the eagerness of the marketing folk behind these partwork series, it is surprising that they haven't made a bus series so far. If they watch the market so closely, they must realise that buses are more popular than some of their previous subject choices.

MORE LICENSING ISSUES

The latest major push towards excluding non-licensed products from the market place comes from New York. The city, under the leadership of Mayor Michael Bloomberg, has decided to acquire the rights to everything bearing the title New York, and all artefacts related to the city. On the face of it, this seems to be a rather difficult exercise to accomplish. It is claimed to have been provoked by the number of unlicensed New York Police Department and New York Fire Department products produced for the tourist market in the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist outrage.

All municipal logos, vehicles and street signs will be protected in future, and this will presumably also apply to taxi cabs, which wear regulation city hire text.

Like the marketing arrangements set up by the London Metropolitan Police and the RAF, this will no doubt remove some of the more tasteless and exploitative swag from the market, but at the same it will time exclude small artisan manufacturers from using these liveries, due to the cost of licensing agreements.

On another licensing front, producing personal images (ie figurines, photos etc) of famous folk is 'fair game' under UK law, as long as it is not derogatory to the individual concerned. In many other countries, however, there is constitutional protection of privacy and personality rights (indeed you may find that you have to destroy the film in your camera if you accidentally photograph a 'local' in one of your holiday snaps) and these rights are fiercely protected. So, if you want to market your UK-made figurines or photos of living celebrities in other countries, it would be as well to sign a license agreement first. And of course, it might well be too expensive, so you wouldn't bother making them at all.

 

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