EDITORIAL MAR 165
OLD FARTS RULEMy apologies to our (unfortunately very few) young readers, but there is more than one mention in the print version of this issue (MAR 165) of the advanced age of most Model Auto Review readers, and some sad news about a few who have departed for the Big Swapmeet in the Sky. Following a comment in MAR 164 about ‘most of our readership being 45 to 75 years old and rising’ we have more reminders in this issue of our grey panther status. In fact the vast bulk (literally, in a few cases) of our readers are aged 45 to 65. Smaller sections of the readership are 35 to 45 and 65 to 75, with relatively few others who are younger than 35 or older than 75. This age profile has steadily moved forward over the past two decades, so we can only expect that this process will continue, until we all drop off at the far end. It is highly unlikely, to say the least, that we will see an influx of younger readers who will bring our average age profile down, but we live in hope that one day it might happen. Until it does, old farts rule at MAR.
IT’S IN THE SMALL PRINT
If you have been paying attention over the last few months, it will not have escaped your notice that we have been having a little trouble with the printing process of the print version of MAR. Not my fault this time, honest! A series of seemingly intractable technical and quality problems at our printers culminated in July with a financial problem, their holding company going into receivership. We could have predicted it, that this would occur just as MAR 164 was about to go to press. Mighty efforts and much co-operation from everyone involved meant that we had to find a different printing company, and move the job there, where they fitted it into their schedule at short notice. It all went so well that we had MAR 164 printed and in our hands with only the loss of one day. Amazing! I must express my thanks to all who assisted in this process, and I must also say that the results for MAR 164 produced by our ‘substitute’ printer at such short notice were more than satisfactory. It cost us a lot more than usual, and we could not afford to use this company to print every issue without a rise in the cover price, but I did get a lot of positive feedback about the print quality! As we go to press with this issue, I am still deciding what to do about our future printing requirements.
THE ONES THAT FELL AWAY
Among all the shenanigans going on in Formula One there is a genuine concern that the ‘second rank’ teams are finding it hard to survive, up against the vast funding resources of the top teams, exemplified by the $5 million bailing out of Minardi, the almost-collapse of Arrows and the actual collapse of Prost this year. Whatever the outcome, it is interesting to note that the two main figures in F1, Bernie Ecclestone and Max Mosley are both ex team owners, but neither owns a racing team now, and they are both far better off financially for it. Mosley, President of the FIA, noted that in the 32 years he has been in Formula 1, ‘Getting on for 60 teams have gone out of business and they have always been replaced by new ones’. Whether his optimism is misplaced or not, this suggests a fascinating theme for a model car collection, The Ones That Fell Away. The definition of a ‘team’ is open to discussion, with more changes of sponsorship and ownership than of design.
Here are some that left the field in the last two decades:
1980s: Fittipaldi, Ensign, Theodore, March, ATS, Alfa Romeo, RAM, Spirit, Renault, Lola-Haas, Zakspeed, Rial.
1990s: Osella, Eurobrun, Life, Leyton House, Monteverdi-Onyx, AGS, Lamborghini, Coloni, Fondmetal, Brabham, March (again), Andrea Moda, Scuderia Italia, Larrousse, Lotus, Pacific, Simtek, Forti, Lola (again), Tyrrell.
2002: (so far at least) ProstSo, would anyone like to add to the list, to send in a feature based on this list, or just pictures of one of each? If you feel brave you can even go for the full ‘up to 60’ treatment, to include such names as Vanwall, Maserati, Cooper, Matra, Hesketh et al. Any offers considered...
The Big Swapmeet in the Sky
There are now too many deaths and serious illnesses among MAR’s stockists, advertisers, contributors and readers for everyone to get a mention, or we’d have no space to get anything else in. So I’ll just mention a few here.
Departed Friends
First I have to report the very sad news that Richard Briggs, owner of Minimarque 43 suffered a severe stroke from which he did not recover, and he died on 27 July in hospital in Hull. Richard was a larger than life character, with a colourful past and a lifelong enthusiasm for classic cars which he expressed in his enormous collection of real vehicles and in his exquisite handbuilt scale models. He will be much missed.
To quote Steve Overy of Illustra Models, ‘I have returned to work today (30 July) after saying a final goodbye to one of the best friends I have ever had, when Richard Briggs, of Mini Marque 43, sadly passed away. The model car world has lost one of the great eccentrics. We have lost a very dear friend’.
Ferdinand Zegel, our stockist in the Washington DC area and supporter of MAR since the beginning, died in July. Ferd held an eminent position in the shady world of espionage, and I’ll never forget meeting (by accident?) a couple of senior US Government employees who asked if I knew Ferd. ‘Oh yes, Ferd the spook’ I replied unthinking, prompting much mirth, followed by a long dissertation on Ferd’s pioneering work in his specialist field...
Famous film director and one-time political activist John Frankenheimer, a subscriber to MAR for many years, also died in July. This reminds me that in the early days of MAR we had a number of readers and contributors who were involved in the film and television industries in various capacities, at all levels, some of whom tried to insert copies of MAR into current productions. You know the sort of thing, man reading magazine on train, magazines displayed in a newsagents, pile of magazines in a waiting room and so on, where a copy of MAR could be prominently placed. I am told that one or two efforts were quite successful, though I never saw any of them, and most of the attempts ended up on the cutting room floor, as film editors are usually wise to this activity. I recently found out that Mike Myers, of Wayne’s World, Austin Powers and Goldmember fame, is a model car collector, though I have no idea if he reads Model Auto Review (he has never subscribed direct, anyway) but maybe he can be persuaded to feature a copy of the magazine in a future movie?
Our condolences go to all relatives and friends of those who have already passed on to the 'Big Swapmeet in the Sky'.
You paid for the three yachts
Margaret Elliott died aged 79 on 12 July 2002. She was born in Budapest as Margaret Kove to a Jewish family who left Hungary when she was only six weeks old, moving to France, then Spain, and fleeing to Italy at the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War. Before the Second World War broke out they left again, this time for England, where her father, Nicholas Kove re-entered the plastics business in which he had been very successful in Barcelona. Among other products, he invented the Li-Lo air-filled mattress in 1939, then became involved in the war effort. The company expanded mightily in the postwar period, making the family very prosperous. Margaret inherited the company on her father’s death in 1957 and became very rich indeed, selling her holdings at the top of the market and retiring to Majorca, where she became one of the most glamorous society hostesses, with three yachts and an endless round of parties. In the 1960s she lost most of her fortune when she invested in the notorious Cadco scam, and was reduced to only one yacht and the company of various Princes. In the 1980s she returned to her Kensington flat, and died in London this year. Yes, yes, you may say, very interesting, but what does this have to do with MAR? Well, her vast fortune came from Nicholas’s plastics factory which he named Airfix, best known for the inexpensive plastic kits which turned on so many young enthusiasts to model making and collecting in the 1950s and 1960s. So who would begrudge Margaret Elliott her lavish lifestyle, funded by millions of cheap plastic products, including the plastic kits which gave more modest pleasure to so many of us?
CLUB NEWS
Collated by Rod WardMaidenhead Static Model Club:
‘Static’ is not really the word for the MSMC, which remains one of the most dynamic clubs on the scene. Chairman Mike Forbes invites members to bring along a pal to a Clubnight, so they can see what goes on, to see if they’d enjoy it and like to become a member. Mike says that he always thought he wasn’t a ‘club type’ and now here he is as Chairman. This sounds like a good idea for other Clubs as well, and how about making up a ‘welcome pack’ for anyone who comes for the first time? A few back numbers of the Club publication, a leaflet with pictures and potted biogs of the Committee (so the new member knows who to ask) a discount voucher if the new prospect prepays two year’s subscription on the night, and so on. Dynamic they may be, but the MSMC members are just as slow as any other Club when it comes to contributing to Wheel Bearings, the Club publication. Editor Bill Alexander is reduced to pleading on his hands and knees for contributions. If you don’t have friend who is an MSMC member to take you along as a guest to a Club night, phone Membership Secretary Alan Simpson on 01494 813903.
Wycombe Toy Collectors:
This news came via the Maidenhead Club. Apparently no-one in High Wycombe is interested in getting publicity for their own Club. They have regular Club nights and organise their own local toy fairs. For more details telephone John Elphick or Bob Frost on 01494 443193 or 01494 443164.
South Hants Model Auto Club:
Stu and Sue Leake are trying to keep the Club magazine a Porsche-free zone, but it cannot be easy, knowing the tastes of certain members. Some MAR readers would also like this magazine to be Porsche-free, but we cannot pander to such prejudices. We have to include all subjects of interest to any reader, no matter how obscure, and no matter how unlikely it is that anyone would find them interesting. Recent SHMAC magazines have covered a wider range of subject matter than hitherto, the usual mass of competition car material being seasoned with pieces on trucks, heavy horses, James Bond and Michelotti, to appeal to a wider range of readers. If you join the Club now, you’ve already missed the Summer barbecue, but the members will be glad to see you at any of the other events planned for later this year. Just contact Secretary Dave Painter on 01264 366408.
Sydney Model Auto Club:
'Think Small', the SMAC newsletter, only comes out three times a year, so sometimes the news is pretty old news by the time it appears in print. Perhaps the publication dates tie up with the ‘Dinner Meetings’ held by the Club three times a year. As well as giving the South African Clubs a run for their money on the food obsession front, maybe it’s an opportunity for all the members present to deliver their contributions for the next issue of Think Small to editor Tony Hanna? If not, it should be. Whatever, Tony manages to fill his 36 A4 pages every year with interesting features and news. For information about SMAC membership, contact Secretary John Maude on 9579 1257.
Ferrari Model Club:
Dominique Lahuec is conscious that if the membership roll of the Ferrari Model Club continues to decrease at it present rate, it will reach a critical point of no return by the end of 2002. The cost of producing eight issues per year of the sumptuous FMC magazine will not be covered by membership fees. Dominique is especially aggrieved that the selfless efforts of Club members for the Club, just due to their enthusiasm and support for the Ferrari marque, may have contributed in some degree to the present success of Ferrari, yet the company has never given its support to the Club. In fact Ferrari have actually tried to obstruct the FMC from time to time, as previously reported in MAR. This lack of support and sponsorship threatens the Annual meeting, the magazine, and now the future of the Club itself, so Dominique invites suggestions from the membership in regard to the best way forward for the Club. After the notorious ‘team orders’ happenings in the Ferrari Formula One team which (justifiably or not) brought such criticism from the world’s press, Phil Boulton of Melbourne emailed me suggesting that the best way to show your displeasure is by a boycott. If you don’t buy that new Ferrari you promised yourself, maybe they’ll sit up and take notice? The profit on one such unsold car would probably have kept the Ferrari Model Club afloat for a good few years. If you’d like to give your support to Dominique by joining the Club, write to him at Wotanstrasse 40/3, D-80639 München, Germany.
San Francisco Bay Brooklin Club:
We haven’t heard from the SFBBC for some time, but it seems that Dick Browne (who lives in Georgia, not California, as it happens) who is well-known to MAR readers, will not in future be able to make the contributions he has done up to now for the Club newsletter. This will be a blow to the club, as we seem to remember that most of it was written by Dick, and he will be hard to replace. This is a timely reminder to all club members; Don’t rely too much on one or two people to produce your magazine or newsletter, without which the Club would probably not survive. Get involved now, send in your contributions, so that your Club or Society will still be there if the previously willing workhorse collapses between the shafts.
1/87 Vehicle Club:
This US-based club has changed its mailing address and Dan Goins has also given us the dates of some specialist HO scale vehicle meets it organises. The shows are in Providence RI on 18 August, in Chicago on 7 September, and in Montreal on 5 October. The address of the Club is now 1/87 Vehicle Club, 1735 N Story Road, PMB #168, Irving TX 75061, USA
Modelauto Club:
As not a single response was received from any prospective members for the idea of a Yorkshire-based collectors club, this idea has now been unceremoniously dumped, much to the relief of our Editorial Consultant. Our Mr Hanson felt it might mean he would have had to stay on after work once a month and talk about model cars to collectors in his own time. Bleaugh!
Wessex Model and Toy Collectors:
Barry Lloyd continues to entertain the members of the WMTC with his comments in the Club publication Wessex Smalltalk. He notes that ‘All the indications are that we are the first and last generation of toy collectors... We don’t see many new young collectors... Welcome to Cardigan Country, God’s Waiting Room, the Southwest Branch of the Coffin Dodgers Club’. Certainly most collectors (and shops, and manufacturers as well) have now given up on what looks like the impossible task of recruiting a new generation of collectors to this hobby. Curiously, other parts of the commercial world would love to have access to such a self-selecting segment of the ‘Grey Panther’ market, which apparently has more time on its hands and more money to spend than any other part of the population, yet they are defeated by attempts to selectively market their products and services to them. If you ignore all the stairlift and walk-in bath adverts on afternoon telly, and Saga’s holidays for the over-50s, there is little targeted at the age group of the average Model Auto Review reader (and Collectors Club member). As a recent example, considersation was given to replacing the Editorial XJ6, now eight years old, and the little X-Type seemed a possibility. Irritated by the semi-literate New Jag Generation slogan, I asked someone at the local Jaguar dealership if it had occurred to Jaguar that a lot of owners might be of an age where they would like to trade down to a smaller car, and would like it to wear a Jaguar badge. ‘Oh no’, came the reply, ‘The X-type is targeted at aspirational buyers in their twenties, an entry level product, so that they will eventually move up to bigger Jaguars. So all the advertising and promotion is aimed at them, trying to get away from the fuddy-duddy image associated with current owners of the bigger cars.’ So, suitably chastened, I trousered the £25k I was ready to spend, and decided to make the old Jaguar last another few years. After all, it has still only done a thousand miles for each year of my life... It’s no wonder we ‘coffin-dodgers’ cling together, with such ageist prejudices around. If you feel you fit the profile, you can meet with other like-minded cardigan wearers at the Usher Club in Trowbridge every month. For more information contact Chairman and Member-ship Secretary Douglas Male on 01225 755043.
Brooklin Collectors Club:
The big news about Brooklin in The Brooklin Collector, the BCC magazine, is that next year there will be an entirely new series with its own box style. They will be called IPV (International Police Vehicles), and will include both British and North American Police subjects. More details when we have them, in a later issue of MAR. Also Brooklin will no longer make special promotional models for the Canadian Toy Collectors Society, as they have done since 1979, nor for Modelex, but will continue to make the BCC’s Club model for the foreseeable future, and also those for The Lansdowne Club, Wessex Club and the San Francisco Bay Brooklin Club. The BCC magazine is always packed with news about Brooklin, Lansdowne, Robeddie and other toy and model cars, as well as features on real automobiles. Ever-youthful Editor Jack Patrick keeps the pot boiling nicely with little asides and stories in the Club magazine, including one which purports to give the true derivation of ‘cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey’. If you’d like to know what it is, you’ll have to join the Club. Contact Membership Secretary John Bowyer on 01276 473499.
Coventry Diecast Model Club:
Mick Russell’s period as Editor of Wheelspin, the CDMC magazine, continues to blossom. Of course there is a lot of input from members (wouldn’t other Club magazine Editors like to be able to say the same?) and from his Editorial Consultant, President Will Roe, and from Chairman Erik Fredriksen. The usual fascinating mix of articles in Wheelspin includes some excellent features on real vehicles. One of these pieces is a very clear exposition of the history of the LTI taxi, after a visit to the factory, telling the story from the Austin FX via the FX2, FX3, FX4 (and all its developments) to the Carbodies and LTI stages in the more recent history, plus special versions built down the years. An interesting aside is the origins of the TX1 name, which aimed to re-create Austin’s simple FX series, by just removing the A from TAXI. To get your share of all this erudition every month, just join the Coventry Club, by phoning 024 7630 7700.
Natal Diecast Model Collectors:
Maybe the NDMC membership should get together and buy a new typeface for the computer which produces the Club newsletter. Or a training course on how to change the font. An entire publication set in closely spaced lines of capital letters is not only hard to read, it looks positively threatening. No wonder the conventions for typing emails discourage using capital letters. It is classed as ‘shouting’. We see what they mean whenever we read a Natal newsletter. Recently they shouted that though quite a few members have done so, there are still a few who have not paid their subs, SO THEY WILL NOT RECEIVE ANY MORE NEWSLETTERS. (Just a sample of what it looks like). Phew, that was a strain. If your eyes are up to it, you can get the newsletter every other month. Just telephone Chairman Geoffrey Sear on 031 205 0100.
Cape Model & Toy Club:
Fortunately the Cape Model Collector, organ of the CMTC, is typeset in a nice restful and conventional manner. Honorary President and MAR contributor Ron Gersbank annotates MAR’s copy of the CMC, to make sure that all the South African nuances are understood in the frozen North. He doesn’t elucidate what a snoek braai is, so it’s just as well that I know it’s a fish barbecue. A generous invitation to club members is rather spoiled by the injunction not only to bring your own cutlery and crockery, but your own tables and chairs as well. It is probably now safe to reveal that the tinned snoek supplied by South Africa to a starving Britain in time of food rationing was all fed to the nation’s cats. The felines didn’t bother supplying their own tables and chairs to eat it, though. The CMC has the usual plague of spelling mistakes which beset most Club publications, but Ron didn’t really need to point out that a Renault Fluoride was probably a Floride after it had been cleaned with toothpaste. The June CMC included a feature which most other Clubs have now deleted, a list of members, with addresses, phone numbers and what they have in their collections. This used to be known as a Burglar’s Directory, and considering the number of complaints about crime that we hear from our South African friends, it is surprising to see the concept survive in Cape Town. Prospective members (and burglars) should contact Secretary Graham Ramsay on 689 6083 or 072 156 6806. By the way, to return to the previous favourite subject of South African Clubs, food, Graham claims to be a chocolate cake expert and declared the chocolate cake at the Club’s Pinelands toy fair to be five star, as was the apple tart.
BUS STOP
EFE LATEST NEWSRecent and forthcoming 1:76 diecast models from Exclusive First Editions:
26613 Plaxton Paramount 3500 East London Coaches 26311 Guy Arab utility Cardiff Corporation 28002 Daimler DMS single-door type B Warrington 28808 AEC STL London Transport 28801 Leyland Titan London Transport 99642 BET bus Todmorden BR 27608 Wright Volvo Renown Travel West Midlands 15911 Leyland PD1 Barton Transport 15713 Plaxton Panorama British Airways 28102 Alexander Atlantean A1 Services 24812 Plaxton minibus Arriva Herts & Essex 18608 Bristol VRIII open top Southdown 10130 AEC RT London Transport green 28601 Atlantean Greater Manchester standard 27609 Wright Volvo Renown First Manchester 80001 1938 tube train driving carriage A Northern 80101 1938 tube train driving carriage D Northern 80201 1938 tube train motor trailer car Northern line 80301 1938 tube train trailer carriage Northern lineSpecial EFE issues include a special green LT STL for the North Weald Bus Rally in July, and a Sutton United FC red AEC RT.
COLLECTORS MODELS
New diecast models planned from Collector's model of Hong Kong:
Dennis Dragon Promise 1:76 MCW Metrobus MkI LT Airbus red-white 1:50 MCW Metrobus MkI LT Airbus red-yellow 1:50 Ford Transit hitop Nottingham Police 1:43FRANCE
NOREV TOUR DE FRANCE
Norev have consistently supported the Tour de France cycle race, with models of cyclists and support vehicles. for the 2002 Tour, they have produced some more special models, including the team sponsored by Crédit Agricole bank, and Lance Armstrong of the Crédit Lyonnais team in his yellow jersey. There is also the Fiat Stilo which escorted the wearer of the yellow jersey in the 2002 race (above right), and a group of Fiat Stilos (one of them above) supplied as support cars to four leading teams, Champion, Aquarel-Nestlé, PMU and Crédit Lyonnais. A collection of classic Tour de France support and publicity vehicles has also been released, including Citroen 2cv with 'water jug' trailer Berger, Renault Estafette van Berger, Citroen ID medical support break Aspro, Peugeot 404 Bic Team 1969 (with bikes) and Peugeot 404 Ford Team 1966 (with bikes). And did you know that they don't cycle all the way round France?
The left side of the 'hexagone' was traversed by aeroplane, and the penultimate lap, towards Paris, was by train. Really.
ELIGOR NEW MEGANE
By Anne Marie Vullierme, EligorAt Eligor, we have just launched the latest Renault Megane in 1:43 scale, one of the very first WA series which we brought out on 2 July 2002, on the same day that the President of Renault launched the real car! The model will be available in a choice of two colors: Boreal Grey or Ottoman Blue, from October in our retail outlets.
Editor's Note: This is the first Megane in a new family of cars incorporating the rear bustle design pioneered on the Renault Avantime.
CCC PLANS
New 1:43 resin kits and handbuilt models planned by CCC for the second half of 2002:
F164 Peugeot 302-402 Légère saloon 1938 F165 Hotchkiss 20cv Monte Carlo 1950 winner F166 Delage D8S Roadster 1932 Royales Bugatti Royale chassi F167 Peugeot 402 Légère coach 1938 F168 Voisin C14 Lumineuse 1928 F169 Hotchkiss Riviera cabriolet 1939 F170 Hotchkiss 20cv Monte Carlo 1939 winner F171 Salmson 2300S Motto spyder 1955 Oval 43 4 Chevrolet Monte Carlo 83 #11 Pepsi Waltrip Oval 43 5 Dodge Polara Daytona 64 #26 Isaac-Foyt Oval 43 6 Chevrolet Monte Carlo Daytona 01 #15 Oval 43 7 Chevrolet Caprice 82 Stratagraph #44Provence Moulage
20 Years of passion 1982-2002 is the subtitle of Provence Moulage's latest catalogue. It must be the hot weather in Aubagne that causes it. The catalogue lists all currently available PM kits, Starter kits and handbuilts, and built models in all their other sub-ranges, Nationale 7, Cars & Drivers etc. There are some nice colour pictures of selected models, and complete pictorial surveys of themes, such as Le Mans winners and World rally cars. This 28 A4 page publication costs 15 ?uros (c. £10.00) from PM dealers or direct (www.starterfrance.com). Ten quid for a catalogue? Oh well, the days when companies saw catalogues as a necessary part of their promotional activity, to be subsidised out of profits, to increase future sales, are long gone. How long gone?
It says at the bottom of each page of this catalogue '20 Ans Déjà' (20 years already).
TRUCKSTOP
ROBUR BEER TRUCK
By Hans-Georg SchmittROBUR Garant 1:55 scale plastic brewery truck, Wernesgrüner. In the former DDR, the Wernesgrüner Brewery, in Steinberg-Wernesgrün in the Erzgebirge, always had a good reputation. Old 1:87 models made by EsPeWe carried the name of Wernesgrüner on an artic. tanker and a Berlin double deck bus, both rare today. After the changeover, Wernesgrüner beer became popular in the west of Germany. In the current consolidation process of the German brewery industry, Wernesgrüner was taken over by Bitburger brewery. Wernesgrüner's latest promo truck model is a Robur Garant light truck, built from 1956 to1960 by VEB Robur in Zittau, with four cylinder petrol or Diesel engines. The model truck, in Wernesgrüner livery, is made in 1:55 scale for the Hammer promotion company.
NZG FOR SUMMER
New diecast models announced by NZG of Germany for summer 2002 release:
315/07 Mercedes-Benz 2644 3 axle tipper Bauma 01 315/40 Mercedes-Benz 2644 3 axle tipper white 321 Kahl hand lifter Linde red 3212/10 Kahl hand lifter Bulli orange 3212/20 Kahl hand lifter HV blue 362 Hyster H12.00 XL lift truck 4791 Caterpillar AP1055 asphalter Barber-Greene 4791/01 Caterpillar AP1055 asphalt paver with wheels 497 Liebherr A316 excavator with multi-tine grapple 498 Liebherr A314 face shovel 507 Grove RT 760 telescopic crane yellowCONSTRUCTION EXPO
Classic Construction models inform us that they are holding their first 'Construction Collector Expo' at their home town of Beaverton, Oregon, on 4, 5 and 6 October 2002. For more information phone 503 626 6395 (in the USA) or see their website at www.ccmodels.com
They claim that this is 'the first gathering ever devoted exclusively to construction equipment collectibles regardless of type or vintage'. Shurely shome mishtake here?
What about the Ochten meets, held in the Netherlands, which have attracted collectors from all over the world for many years now?
ITALY
PERFECT MODELS
By Bruno BoraccoHere is some news of a new range of resin handbuilt models, with some metal components, made in Turin, Perfect Models. They are in 1:43 and 1:24 scales, 1:43 scale first:
Lancia Y Lancia Y restyle Lancia Kappa Lancia Kappa Station Wagon Alfa Romeo 145 Alfa Romeo 146In 1:24 scale there are :
Fioravanti Vola Lancia Y Lancia Y restyle Lancia Stratos Lancia Delta 4WD road car Ferrari 308 GTBNEWS FROM BBR
BBR of Italy continue to fill any previously unexpected voids in the world of scale model Ferraris with their excellent 1:43 kits and handbuilt models. Current Ferrari Forula One fans can choose between metal kits of four different race versions of the 2001 car and three versions (already) of the 2002 car.
Other Ferrari kits due out this year include four race versions of the 360 Modena, two 550s, two 121s, two 750 Monzas, the Prodrive Maranello from Le Mans 2002, the FX from the 2002 paris show and a 208 GT4 2+2 from 1975. There will also be a lonely Maserati GT Coupe 2002.
BBR have been marketing limited quantities of some of their earlier kits in prepainted form, but it is not clear if this will follow through as a future policy. These kits included the Alfa Romeo 2500 SS Freccia d'Oro cabriolet from 1948 which has previously interested many collectors who found the price for a built model a bit too rich for their blood, yet felt they couldn't build a kit to an adequate standard. maybe a prepainted kit would be a suitable compromise for some? BBR are also distributors for Arena and RGM 1:43 scale models.
New Arena handbuilts incude six variants on the Audi Quattro Gr4/Gr B from 1981-84, two Fiat 131 Abarth Gr 4 from 1978-79, Ferrari 308 GTB Lana 83, and Ferrari 250 GTO Gerona 67.
New RGM handbuilt models for 2002-2003 release include Ferrari 500 Superfast rhd red metallic, 250 GTE 1959 and 250 GT Lusso 1962-64, plus some Maseratis: four versions of the Mistral hardtop from 1965 and four of the Ghibli from 1967.
Also for 2003 release will be another book published by BBR describing every model they have made. There was a previous volume covering 1984 to 1996, the new one will cover 1996 to 2001 (price 51 ?uros), or you will be able to get both together for 62 ?uros.
BRUMM 1:43 diecast in Italy: Fiat Nuova 500 1957.
The first Fiat 500 appeared in 1936, and 21 years later it was relaunched as the Nuova 500, a tiny saloon with two rear-hinged (suicide) doors and an air-cooled twin cylinder 479cc engine with 479 ccm volume, developing 13 hp at 4000 rpm, good for a maximum speed of 85 km/h. It also had modern independent suspension to all four wheels. The air-cooled engine was the first made by Fiat. The car's development was led by legendary chief engineer Dante Giacosa. More than 4 million of all versions of the tiny 500 had been sold by 1975. Brumm has released A006, a set of two Nuova 500s, the Economica which only had two front seats and no chromework, and the Normale aperta with four seats, some mouldings and chromed hub caps. The Economica is light grey with a dark blue top, the Normale aperta has a light blue body and grey top, both having light blue seats. The bodies are shaped very accurately and the tiny wheels and baseplate look right, as even in photos of real cars, they look like toys. Brumm intend to produce many colour and equipment variants of the Nuova 500. (Notes: Hans-Georg Schmitt).
ABC 1:43 handbuilt in Italy:
Mercedes-Benz 500K Eva Braun Cyril Handley passed on this comment from Bernd Loossen in the MBMC Journal in regard this model of the Eva Braun Mercedes-Benz, 'In time for the 2001 Christmas season, Italian car model maker ABC Brianza released a 1:43 scale resin 1938 Mercedes-Benz 500K so-called Eva Braun car, in a limited edition of 500 individually numbered pieces, for the (export) price of 180 Euros. Apart from the fact that the 500K was only built until 1936, to be superseded by the 540K, there never was such a car in real life, though ABC Brianza claims otherwise. My research into this matter, including information from surviving people who used to be connected to the inner circle around Eva Braun, categorically disproves the existence of such a car. Either Brianza failed to check their documentation (wherever that may have originated) properly, or the collectors are being taken for a ride. Models that are a figment of someone's imagination are not a new concept, but they should always clearly be identified as such.'
Editor's note: They really don't like it, do they? Does anyone have any more information on the authenticity of this car? It looks nice, Eva or not, so it should make a nice addition to the collection. But, unless you are particularly fascinated by Miss Braun and her 'inner circle', (I wonder who they were?), then the truth or otherwise about her ownership of the car may not be significant.
WORLD NEWS
UNIVERSAL EAGLES
By Heather Rose, hobbico.comNew diecast models available soon from Universal Hobbies Eagle Collectibles:
UNHV4308 Ford T Truck Amalie Chokolade 1:18 UNHV4309 Ford T Truck Choko Land 1:18 UNHV1522 Land Rover Maroon-Beige 1:18 UNHV4621 Fiat White 1:43 Legend Series UNHV4622 Porsche 911 1:43 Legend Series UNHV4625 Porsche 356 1:43 Legend Series UNHV4627 Alfa Romeo red 1:43 Legend Series UNHV4629 Austin Healey 1:43 Legend Series UNHV4632 Lamborghini Diablo 1:43 Legend Series UNHV4633 Lamborghini Countach red 1:43 Legend UNHV4638 Lamborghini Miura green 1:43 Legend UNHV4641 Lancia Stratos yellow 1:43 Legend Series UNHV4658 Citroen black 1:43 Legend Series UNHV4662 Morgan Plus green 1:43 Legend Series UNHV4664 BMW 850i burgundy 1:43 Legend Series UNHV4665 Citroen DS black 1:43 Legend Series UNHV4668 Alfa Romeo 156 red 1:43 Legend SeriesKYOSHO NEWS
By Heather Rose, hobbico.comNew diecast models available soon:
KYOV0149 Austin Healey 100-6 light blue-white 1:18 KYOV0154 Austin Healey MkII green 1:18 KYOV0157 Lamborghini Countach LP400 yellow 1:18 KYOV1051 Lamborghini Jota Circuit Wolf red 1:43 KYOV0920 BMW 7 Series grey 1:18 Kyosho Auto Scale Collection Ferrari F-40 Ferrari F-40 red plastic with display case 1:28: KYOS0013 Ferrari F-40 red 1:28 KYOS0014 Ferrari F-40 yellow 1:28B<>BROOKLIN CHANGES
Brooklin tell us of changes to their release schedule for this year;
BRK 95 Buick Roadmaster Estate Wagon 1948: revised delivery date 31 October 2002
BRK 96 Marmon Convertible Sedan 1931: revised delivery date 29 August 20021:18 SCALE BOND CARS Corgi are not alone in making a series of James Bond related model cars. There is to be a 1:18 diecast series from another maker to coincide with the launch of the new movie Die Another Day, this autumn. It is worthy of note that all three cars featured in the film are made by various parts of the Ford organisation. James Bond himself drives an Aston Martin Vanquish, the villain drives a special Jaguar XKR Roadster (registration 1 BAD JAG) and the latest 'Bond girl' drives a Ford Thunderbird 2002.
The Vanquish and the XKR will also be made by Corgi, but in a smaller scale.
LOONEY TUNES LICENCE
Mattel, the exclusive world wide licensees for Ferrari models, have now added another collection of names to their portfolio, now obtaining an exclusive licence from Warner Brothers to make toys and models based on their characters, including Looney Tunes.
In its pre-Racing Champions days of independence, Ertl used to make an extensive range of Looney Tunes diecast models.
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