22nd September 1999
St PETERSBURG TRAMS
By Leonid Khoykhin
New St Petersburg Tram Collection releases:
TROLLEYBUSES:
Wartime Twin Coach Model 44GTT trolleybus (114b) available now in livery of Akron Transportation Co in Ohio. A new series of Canadian trolleybuses begins with Toronto (175) and Edmonton (175a) CCF-Brill T-44 coaches. In 1945 Canadian Car & Foundry (CCF) signed an agreement to build the ACF-Brill buses and trolleybuses as Canadian Car-Brill. Many operators placed orders for new T-44 trolleybus and production started in 1946. Toronto experimented with electric trolley-buses in 1922, and in 1945 placed an order for T44s with CCF. In 1947 the first routes using the new vehicles were Lansdowne (June 19), Annette (October 16) and Ossington (December 8) for which 75 trolleybuses, numbered 9000-9074 were delivered in 1947. Ten more vehicles arrived in 1948 (9074-9084). Edmonton Transit System also was an early buyer of the new CCF T-44. Their trolleybus system opened in September 1939 and in October 1945 they ordered 22 trolley coaches from CCF, delivered in 1947 (131-152). In March 1946, 25 more were ordered, delivered in 1947 (153-177) In 1948-49 15 more T-44s arrived and with ten ex-Regina (acquired in 1966) and 10 ex-Vancouver (in 1962), Edmonton had 82 T-44s in its fleet. All were withdrawn from service in November 1978, nos 148 and 191 being preserved.BUSES
Yellow Coach Model Z-L-210 bus of 1924 is available now (in Milwaukee and Boston liveries) Nearly 1,200 Z-29 chassis were built by Yellow Coach between 1923 and 1930 and almost all of them were produced with standard Yellow Coach city service bodies. A six cylinder version of the Knight sleeve-valve engine was installed but a four cylinder option was also available until 1926. The Z-L-210 chassis was the most popular, 645 produced from 1923 to 1925 Despite the high cost (approx $8000), these buses were very popular and electric and steam railways were the main customers. For more information contact St Petersburg Tram Collection, PO Box No 16, 196158 St Petersburg, Russia. Fax: 7 (812) 164 52 54. Internet: http://users.nevalink.ru/~sptc E-Mail: proserv@neva.spb.ruPRESIDENT KENNEDY'S LINCOLN
By Hans-Georg Schmitt
Paul's Model Art recalls the Dallas tragedy A few weeks ago the world heard of the death of John F Kennedy Jr, his wife and his sister in law when his private plane crashed. Most newspapers published photos of Kennedy as the adult lawyer and publisher, and as a three year old boy beside his mother, saluting the coffin of his father, the murdered US President John F Kennedy. On Friday 22 November 1963 President Kennedy visited Dallas in Texas with his wife Jacqueline in an attempt to drum up support from the largely hostile populace for the next election. They rode in the open Lincoln X-100 Presidential Parade Car, (inherited from Eisenhower, the previous president), from the airport to the city with Texas Governor John Connolly and his wife Nellie. 250,000 Texans lined the streets.
As the parade car turned into Hines Boulevard a shot, apparently from a window on the fifth floor of the Texas Book Repository, killed the President and seriously wounded the governor of Texas. The prime murder suspect was 24 year old Lee Harvey Oswald, himself shot dead two days later by Jack Rubinstein (Ruby) in dubious circumstances. That night all over the Western world people went into the streets to express their grief, in West Berlin alone, around 65.000 of them came out. Now from Minichamps we have a 1:43 model of the legendary Lincoln X-100 Presidential Parade Car, catalogue number 430086100, with scale model figures of the car's occupants on that tragic day. The impressively large original car has been scaled down very exactly and carefully. From the red lights in the front bumper horns, via the realistic waving flags on the front fenders, to the running boards and handles for the Secret Service agents at the rear, no detail is forgotten. The body, interior and baseplate are all well detailed, but that is not all, the six occupants are also highly detailed. The driver and co-driver are two Secret Service agents, behind them are the Texas Governor and his wife, and at the back are the President and his wife. She is wearing her well known pink suit and round hat, and JFK is smiling happily.
The car is now preserved in the Ford Museum at Dearborn, as a reminder of a tragedy which touched so many people. If they choose to do so, Minichamps could also release a version of this model later with its optional transparent roof fitted.
US MODEL MINT KB-12
US-based range US Model Mint's models are made in the UK by Brooklin, up to now only cars and light commercials. The latest issue, however, is a 1:43 scale full-size truck . It is a 1947 International KB-12 artic fifth wheel equipped tractor. USMM19 is red, 19a is green, retailing at around £47.50 in the UK. No doubt other truck variants will be made available later, now that the cab castings are completed.
JUSRYTE SCAMMELL
Jusryte Modelcraft has produced various kits based on the obsolete Corgi model of the Michelotti-designed Scammell. You can get a white metal cab top, glazing, plastic seats, to restore wrecks, or a complete artic tractort, right down to the 'sprung' front axle. The complete new kit has a choice of fifth wheel mountings, one of which will couple to new Corgi artic trailers, and it also now has rear wings, not supplied on the original Corgi Toy. Contact Chris Andrews at Jusryte Modelcraft, 207 Bedford Road, Rushden, Northants NN10 0SQ, UK. enclosing SAE.
FIRE VEHICLE BOOKS REVIEWED
By Hans-Georg Schmitt
Feuerwehr-fahrzeuge in Australien und Neuseeland By Steven Schueler, German text, 208 pages, 686 colour and 48 b/w-photos, size 220 x310 mm. Hardbound with dust jacket ISBN 3-88776-063-8.
Feuerwehr-fahrzeuge in Europa, By Wolfgang Jendsch, German text, 214 pages, 440 colour, 300 b/w-photos, 220 x 310 mm, hardbound with dust jacket. ISBN 3-88776-048-4.
Both books are published by and available from EFB-Verlagsgesellschaft mbH, Beethoven-strasse 27; D-63526 Erlensee; Germany. Tel 06183 3012-15; Fax 3033.EFB-Verlag have started a range of books about fire engines from all over the world, which is expanded now with two new issues. Fire-engines in Australia and New-Zealand is one of them, the author is Dr Steven Schueler, an emergency doctor in Adelaide, South Australia, and an enthusiastic collector of photos and documentation about fire-fighting vehicles and equipment from all over the world. The appliances used locally inspired him to produce a book from the turn of the century up to the latest developments in fire-fighting vehicles. That British vehicles are or were in service is easy to understand, but that also many Mercedes-Benz fire-engines are used at the other side of the globe is very interesting. Fire engines of Europe is the title of the second new book. Author Wolfgang Jendsch looked across the German borders into other European countries at fire engines which are in service there. He starts his survey in Scandinavia, looks at the Benelux states, to the British Isles and then has a home game in Germany. Then the Alpine States follow, France, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Austria, Italy and Yugoslavia. Two more chapters cover Southern Europe and the East European States. Many interesting vehicles, including lots of rare birds are shown in the excellent photos. These two books survey the history of fire-fighting and the vehicles used in different parts of the world, so all fire fans will find them useful.
LANSDOWNE NEWS
By John Roberts
Having just visted the Brooklin factory, I have some advance information which may be of interest to MAR readers. It's official. so I'm allowed to tell you! Lansdowne model releases for the remainder of this year:
1954 Singer Roadster: red with beige interior and black tonneau, release date 21 October
1953 Austin Somerset convertible: colour to be decided, release date 2 December
Model subjects for next year:
1953 Jowett Javelin saloon: metallic grey
1937/8 Jensen dual cowl convertible: colour to be decided
1950 MG Y type saloon: sun bronze
By the way, the special Wessex Model and Toy Club Brooklin Chrysler Imperial, this year's club model, will be cream with a tan interior and wire wheels, whilst the standard version will be dark red with a red interior.PATHFINDER MODELS
The latest release from Pathfinder Models in their ongoing range of 1:43 handbuilt models is the 1964 Ford Zodiac Mark III. The limited edition quantity has been reduced on this and future models to 500. There are two colours, Panama yellow or Caribbean turquoise.MILESTONE FIRE CAR
Milestone Miniatures have produced a 1:43 handbuilt model of the Fire Tender used at Brooklands racing circuit in the 1930s. The base car was a three litre Bentley drophead which was converted to a pickup version, and equipped with fire extinguishers and other gear, as well as appropriate signage. Very little is known about this car today, apart from surviving photographs, so Milestone contacted William Boddy MBE, the recognised Brooklands authority. He was able to confirm some details, including the body colour, which was yellow, the house colour of the Brooklands Automobile Racing Club in the 1930s.HERPA 50th Anniversary
By Hans-Georg Schmitt
Even old friends of Herpa were surprised to hear that they had achieved their half century, because we know that Herpa have produced model cars for only 21 years. In February 1978 the company presented their own model cars for the first time, at the Nuremberg Toy Fair. Herpa Wings are even younger. But the history of Herpa reaches further into the past than that. Long before Herpa sold their first model car, the company made their name producing model railway and model car tracks. Actually there are two beginnings, the foundation of the Riwa company by Fritz Wagener and that of Herpa twelve years earlier.
On 15 March 1961 an engineer, Fritz Wagener, founded a small family company in Nuremberg, which produced plastic parts for the photographic industry, colour slide frames, small gear wheels and fans. Production grew very fast and in Autumn 1965 they moved into a new 1000m2 building at Dietenhofen. In the same year Herpa was taken over by Riwa.
This company was founded in 1949, its name being made up from the name of its founder, Herr Hergenrother and his Patents, in the same way that Riwa came from the names of its founders. Today, Herpa has 440 employees, and is the world market leader for 1:87 car and truck models. A plant at Eisfeld in Thuringia with 120 employees takes pressure off the production staff in Dietenhofen. Since the 1990s a large part of the aircraft model production has been carried out by a partner company in Hong Kong. The latest major investment was construction of a new headquarters in Dietenhofen in 1992, including the Herpa museum. Even this new building is becoming a little too small.
HERPA Open Day
On 3 July 1999 the Herpa company celebrated their 50th anniversary with an Open Day. Everything was well prepared. With much optimism the Herpa bosses prepared for 10,000 visitors. Beer tent, sausage grill, full size show vehicles and a bouncy castle were all provided. In the production halls all machines were equipped with tools to produce the special jubilee model, a red Wartburg 353 in 1:87 scale with special printing. Within minutes of opening it was clear, that all plans were futile, as eventually more than 15,000 visitors came from all over Europe, some fans even coming from America and Asia. Every visitor got the special Wartburg, after watching them being made. The plastic injection machines and the wheel assembling machine were running, and the employees on the assembly lines worked hard. For DM40 you could buy a DAF 95 XF truck in Wandt livery, the original vehicle being on display at the front of the factory buildings. VIP visitors were given a 1:43 Ferrari 288 GTO model. Expecting this rush, I visited the Dietenhofen plant a month later on a normal working day. The hall with the plastic injection machines was full of life, nearly all machines were working, one of them spitting out the lower body part for the new BMW-Rover Mini in 1:87 scale.The components of most of the models are produced at Dietenhofen, but the assembly is carried out by home-workers in villages around the town. The completed models get a final check and are packed in boxes in the factory. For example, one table was filled with BMW X5 models in promotional boxes, ready for delivery to BMW. Also very interesting was a visit to the Herpa museum, in which one of every model ever made is on display. Smaller dioramas in the walls and one huge one in the middle of the room are real eye-catchers. Most of the models are stored in vertical sliding cases, which can be pulled out for examination. The Wings museum is also almost finished, here all of the aircraft models ever made by Herpa can be seen, and the highlight is a miniature airport. Visiting the Herpa company is very interesting and entertaining, and a visit can be combined with visits to other model car factories in the Nuremberg area. You can also visit the well-known toy museum in Nuremberg, near the castle. There a new department for tin toys and diecast model cars has been established.
MINICHAMPS MERC 220S
By Hans-Georg Schmitt
A new release from Minichamps is the Mercedes-Benz 220S (W180 II) saloon in 1:43 scale, ref 430 033000, black with light grey upholstery. The body contours are accurate, bumpers and radiator grille are chromed. Two mistakes are worthy of comment, the drip rails for the rear door windows and the rear license plate on the luggage lid are missing. There is a finely scaled photoetched three-pointed star on a realistic looking radiator grille. The 220S was the upgraded version of the 220a, built from 1956 to 1959, then superseded by the 220SE saloon with tailfins.
NEW ROAD CHAMPS
By John Whitehead
Last weekend at a hobby shop in Greeley, Colorado I saw several new 1:43 scale die cast Road Champs models. They are quite typical of this company's recent releases. That means great subjects, much improved packaging, good tampo print for emblems and trim, decent paint finish, design shortcuts and glaring historical inaccuracy. The four new models I saw (each available in two or more trim and colour variations) were: 1932 Ford three window coupe; 1949 Mercury two door sedan; 1970 Plymouth Barracuda coupe; 1996-98 Ford Mustang coupe. Price is about $8 to $10. errors include identifying the 32 Ford, obviously a V-8 from the big 'V8' logo on the headlight tie bar, as a model B. The model B was a four cylinder car only. Design shortcuts include incomplete interior tubs, eliminating side panels and resulting in an unfinished, contrasting interior. They also forgot to put the distinctive and large outside rear view mirrors on the Mustang, a glaring fault. I suggest that collectors avoid disappointment with these models, examine them first to see if they will be satisfactory for your standards.
JOHNNY LIGHTNINGS
By John Whitehead
Four new scale models appeared at my local target store recently, all from Johnny Lightning and the first models from that company I have seen in the collector scale of 1:43. Two of them use the same casting, a 1971 Ford Mustang Mach One and a 71 Mustang Boss 351. This is the first diecast model of the big 71 to 73 Mustang I have seen since the long obsolete Corgi red James Bond car. These are both the 'Sportsroof' cars, the almost horizontal fastbacks. Also JL has released a 1970 Dodge Challenger hard-top, another good and previously ignored subject. Then they had to do something everyone else has done, a 68 Camaro coupe. For all cars finish and tampo detail is quite good; accuracy to original is good; wheels and tyres are small, generic and bad. This JL series also has a Plymouth muscle car of the same era; it was not on the shelves, so I have not seen it yet.
POWER BOOKS 'VETTES
Power Books - Chevy & Vette Parts is a company highly specialising in Corvette and Viper literature, all types of scale models, accessories and spare parts. Since 1996 they have had their own line of 1:43 scale models of Chevrolet Corvette and Dodge Vipers, each limited to 100 pieces. These models are currently sold exclusively in their shop, and at toy shows in Switzerland, in two series. The Power Books (PB) series features production cars. The other series, Chevy & Vette Parts (CVP), features special cars and race cars. We have no illustrations, and no idea of prices. PB-CVP can be contacted at: Hintermatthof 1, CH-5452 Oberrohrdorf, Switzerland.
PROTO MOVES
Proto, the MAR stockist to the south of Paris, has moved premises to another part of Chaville. The new address is: Proto, BP 66, 39 Rue Anatole France, 92370 Chaville, France
BUSCH New Releases
By Hans-Georg Schmitt
Busch recent releases all 1:87 scale plastic from Germany: 42000 Opel Rekord C. The original was launched in September 1966, a completely new car with coke-bottle shape,1,274,362 sold between 1966 and 1972. The body is accurate, lights are separate inserts, the interior is sufficiently detailed. The well-detailed base-plate has a separate exhausr system.Wheel rims and bumpers are chrome plated, all emblems are clearly printed.
46400 Chevrolet Blazer 1997.
40781 Mercedes-Benz LP 809 van ABX Transport, a Belgian transport company.
40908 DKW 3=6 Ambulance in mouse grey
43248 Fiat Ducato drawbar van with trailer THW Ludwigshafen, Germany.
43790 Ford Transit van Marklin, as used by Swiss Marklin distributor in Unterentfelden.
43791 Ford Transit Belgian Army Ambulance
45010 Chevrolet Bel Air in Crazy Cars series. Flame design and many chromed parts.
46614 Dodge Monaco in Crazy Cars series. Ramchargers printing, many chromed parts
47318 FIAT Ducato Ambulance of Bucks and Northants NHS ambulance service.
47354 Citroen Jumper Dortmund fire service
47615 Chevrolet Caprice Chicago PD.
47616 Chevrolet Caprice Beverley Hills Cab
47909 Iveco Daily heavy load escort vehicle, as used by Gerber from Eching, Bavaria. The equipment includes three changeable signs.
48108 Volkswagen Passat DBP Telecom.
48208 Chevrolet farmer's pickup, scruffy.
48506 Mercedes-Benz M-class German Red Cross Emergency Doctor, NEF Fulda, Hessia.
48605 Mercedes-Benz A-class Falk promotion vehicle, printed with a road map.
49004 Ford Crown Victoria Chicago Checker Taxi Inc.
The following models are produced ias Limited Editions for special customers:
Mercedes-Benz Sprinter box van with trailer Bitburger for Die Ecke toy shop in Bitburg.
Mercedes-Benz Formula One diorama: Mercedes-Benz A Motorsport, Hakkinnen 1 with race accessories, for DaimlerChrysler
Fiat Ducato 'We work for You' for Fiat AG.
Smart city coupe in three new colours for MCC Smart GmbH.BEETLE SHOP POSTERS
The Beetle Shop in Paris publishes a series of ten posters, all blueprints of Volkswagens from 1940 to 1964. Original blueprints at 1:10 scale have been reduced to a standard format of 500 x 700 mm (20 x 27.5 inches) for easy framing. They are printed on thick paper in sepia tint. The series includes Beetle sedans and convertibles, Karmann types 14 and 34 coupe and convertible as well as a Kubelwagen and Schwimmwagen. Blueprints came from the Volkswagen and Karmann factories and from Porsche in the case of the Kubeln and Schwimmwagens. Essential for the scale modeller, these reprints also make unique and original decorations. The price is 120 French Francs for your choice of three posters, worldwide p&p included. A free comprehensive brochure is available upon request. The Beetle Shop in Paris, 28, rue Eugene-Carriere, 75018 PARIS, FRANCE
Copyright 1999 Modelauto Ltd and Solnet Systems Ltd
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