P-I-E Nationwide 28' Doubles Shown Here With New P-I-E Ford C Tractor
Roadway Express Ford C Tractor & 28' Exterior Post Trailer combo
"New" Yellow Freight Paint Scheme On 28' FRP trailer
Several Different Variations Of 28' CF Trailers May Be Offered
Athearn Athearn will soon be releasing their first assembled and painted 28' van trailers from the former Rail Power Products kit line. Shown above are pre-production samples of several of the upcoming paint schemes. These will be available as a tractor-trailer combo (featuring the Ford C cab) or as a two trailer set (two different paint schemes for the same freight company) with converter dolly. Special paint schemes include CF's "No-Zone" safety campaign trailer graphics and Roadway's Time Critical Services trailer graphics.
Athearn has announced a new beverage delivery trailer in several Coca-Cola paint schemes. Shown above are the first four paint schemes to be offered with the Ford C cab truck tractors. Expected delivery is early March, 2003.
Big Boys Toys announces the availability of their spectacular American Style Motorcycle model in 1/87 scale! This model comes fully assembled and painted and is assembled from photo-etched metal, white metal castings, and rubber tires. The wheels actually turn! The photograph above gives a relative size to the American penny coin. [Update 01/01/2004 - This model is no longer available!]
Cursor's Rosenbauer Panther 8x8 Lettered For Athens Airport
Cursor is producing a diecast model of the Panther 8x8-AT, the newest, and most spectacular, addition to Austria-based Rosenbauer's line of fire equipment. With 1000 hp from a MAN V12 engine driving eight wheels on four axles, and filled with 3,300 gallons of water, 395 gallons of foam plus 2,200 pounds of fire-extinguishing powder this is one very impressive machine. And because these 1000 horses are just enough to accelerate its 44 tons to 86 mph, there is an additional 311 hp-engine reserved for the pumps.
Cursor's Rosenbauer Panther 8x8 Lettered For Munich Airport
A 1/87th scale die-cast metal model of this truly exceptional vehicle is now available from Cursor. However, as the company heavily relies on the production of promotional items, a regular version, lettered for German Leipzig/Halle airport, will have to wait. Currently available are both the Munich airport crash tender (shown immediately above), which was produced in a limited edition for Märklin dealers as a flat-car load, and the Greek "Athens International Airport" truck (shown above this section), commissioned for MAN.
Mack B875 Truck Tractor - Resin Kit From Don Mills Models
Don Mills Models announces their latest release, B-875 Mack 1/87th scale cab & chassis kit released 1/01/03 and available now. The kit comes with complete cab interior detail, and a choice of two styles of wheels, Spoked or Budd disc, and also has either vertical or chassis mounted exhaust system. It also comes with a fifth wheel assembly but does not include the winch and deck that is shown in the photo above. This piece is "in stock" ready for immediate shipping. Price is $24.95 plus $3.00 for shipping per order. Patterns are by Ralph Ratcliffe, some of his best work!
JBOT Decals is a specialty decal manufacturer offering a variety of emergency, aircraft, vehicle, and rail related decals that we've just added to our Manufacturers' Directory.
Kibri - The Claas Lexion 480 combine harvester is the company's top-of-the-line machine. Kibri has sold models of the green-and-white prototypes Claas builds in Harsewinkel, Germany for quite some time, but building the Caterpillar Lexion 480 required extra work on the part of the hobbyist.
Now, as the licensing issues have been resolved, a scale model of the CAT version with a small grain head is finally coming to dealers' shelves. Expect a similar corn-head version to follow soon.
While all Lexion combines are powered by Caterpillar engines of 173 to 431 hp, only the ones sold in NAFTA member states feature the well-known CAT color scheme. For six years, the combines destined for these markets had been built in a joint-venture of the two companies. However, in early 2002, Claas bought out Caterpillar's share and the Omaha, Nebraska-based assembly site is now owned solely by Claas, with Caterpillar handling North American distribution, sales and service.
Walthers has not yet received this item but lists the model as 405-11106 with a retail price of US $49.99.
MFM has announced the following models:
MFM #026 Peugeot 403 Break (right in photo above) MFM #361 Opel Kadett Combo (left in photo above)
These are resin models, made by Martin Fredrich. They come as complete, unassembled kits with body, chassis/interior, vacuformed glazing and wheels. [Thanks to Christian Grottendieck for this info]
MFÖ (Modellbau Fait & Öhlenschläger) introduces a ready-made model of NYFD Ladder 10 (#0020-F) as a beautiful 9/11 memorial edition. The model pictured above is available now, but please be aware that it being hand-made in a limited run and features, among other things, a movable ladder park. It sells for €135 (€=Euro) plus shipping. Announced for January are both kits and ready-made models of NYFD Engine 10 (order number is not yet available) as well as Staten Island Rescue 5 (#0001). Rescues 1 through 4 (#0017/R1 through #0017/R4 for Manhattan, Brooklyn, the Bronx, and Queens respectively) are scheduled for the Dortmund Intermodellbau fair in April at the latest. More information is available at www.mfoe.de; however, it is German language only at this time.
NZG delivered some construction equipment to the hobby shops. Announced in Nuremberg in February 2002 for delivery in summer, it took until mid-December before the models were finally released - but they are worth the wait. The first series consists of an Orenstein & Koppel RH 6-22 tracked excavator of about 20 metric tons GVW (#474), the midsize Liebherr L538 wheel loader (#508), and the Bomag BW 213 road roller (#475).
NZG's Bomag BW213-D Compactor
NZG's Liebherr L538 Front End Loader
NZG's O&K RH6-22 Excavator
All of these are fully assembled die-cast metal models, perfect to scale, fully functioning (including the O&K's metal tracks!), neatly painted and printed. Retail prices are comparable to Herpa's bigger L580 loader, as is the quality.
Preiser shipped a third batch of new models in late fall. Among the new releases were modified kit versions of existing ready-made models. Now available are a Deutz D6206 farm tractor with mowing equipment (#17930) and a tool carrier with cab and very delicate farm sprayer (#17933). The plastic parts are realistically colored, needing only minor detailing with paint. Preiser is known for its love for details and these new farm tractors are no exception to this rule.
The other items in the latest release are more of the 1/87-scale miniature figures for which Preiser is famous. This time, perfectly painted sets of parents with babies in buggies (#10493 and #10494 - no, the wheels do not move, but you wouldn't be too surprised if they did), shoppers with grocery carts (#10492), roller-skating teens (#10074), and French or Austrian firemen (#10230, #10232) were included. In additional, there are unpainted sets of 20 firemen or 120 travelers (#16351, #16352).
Promotex announces a new Kenworth W900 model featuring a new Aerodyne sleeper, chrome extended chassis, new grille, bumper, and air cleaners.
Rietze finished the long-awaited Mercedes-Benz Citaro G (O530) articulated city bus just in time for Christmas. The model shown above is one of the first promotional items; the regular versions are reported to be arriving on European dealers' shelves by this time. Although articulated buses are very common sights in European cities with populations larger than 100,000, scale models are a rarity: Wiking's still available Mercedes O305 G dates back to the early '70s while Rietze's O345 G from M-B Turkey is not an obvious choice for central-European bus fleets. Apart from those, there have been only a few attempts to produce articulated buses in H0 scale, making the current Citaro G a most welcome addition to the Rietze range. Coming in 2003 or later, the company already announced a MAN bus of similar style. Very special thanks to Sebastian Ruge - www.h0fan.de - for supplying the Citaro photo.
Surrey Custom Models announces the following new releases:
Tarp Covered Loads - 3 Different 1/87 Scale (shown above) Machinery and Goods covered loads Available unfinished or completely painted finished models Ideal for the model railroader or vehicle collector wanting to add loads to their vehicles Price: $4.50/Set Unfinished or $9.50/Set Finished; Pricing is in US$
See their web site for more info .... www.surreycustommodels.com
US Models has announced the classic Chevrolet powered Italian sports coupe, #077 ISO Grifo 365 GL, see http://www.usmodels.de/ [Thanks to Christian Grottendieck for this info]
Wiking, which will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the birth of its founder Friedrich Karl Peltzer in 2003, will re-create famous model cars and toys of days gone by. The first set (#990.29.46; shown in photo above) in a series of three, probably to be delivered in February, contains a green Mercedes-Benz police car of the sans-windows era, a traffic light, and a reprinted booklet of traffic tickets for children's use. With all of these and a huge selection of other items available fom Wiking, children of the '50s and '60s were able to recreate real traffic scenes on the floor. For years, Wiking models were designed as toys to be used for educational purposes.
Already mentioned more than once on 87scalecars, here is what we know for sure Wiking will introduce in 2003 in the passenger car area. The model on the far left is the recently facelifted Mercedes S-class sedan with new wheels, taillights, front and rear bumpers and other minor changes. In the center, there is the VW New Beetle convertible which differs from its fixed-roof brother not only in the roofline, but received new wheels as well. Just as to be seen on the prototype, the indicator lights went to the rear-view mirrors. The Volkswagen Touareg SUV to the far right is an all-new model of the 313 hp-V10 TDI diesel prototype. As Bill Cawthon noted, this is one nice scale car.
Wiking announced the following models for delivery in February:
646 40 38: Unimog U 400 street-sweeper. The small U300 to U500 ‘Mogs are marketed as tool carriers, and consequently, a huge variety of equipment is available for the prototype. Previously, corresponding items in H0 scale had only been available in kit-style from Kibri, but Wiking is to change this. Colored for a municipal fleet, this model carries a functioning front-end sweeper and a water tank on the cargo bed.
779 02 42: Mercedes-Benz Econic fuel truck “Jet." A slightly odd looking item, but prototypically correct – the Econic chassis with the low-mounted cab for easy entry has been used for garbage, fire, and beverage trucks by Wiking. With this truck, heating oil will be delivered to your home. 538 10 43: Steyr ST-A XXL-cab tractor & box semi-trailer “Hali." Steyr and ÖAF are the Austrian branches of German MAN group, with ÖAF being responsible for all of MAN’s special vehicles. Regular MAN trucks sold in Austria, however, bear the Steyr grille. Just as Herpa had done earlier, Wiking is to produce this variation of the well-known TG-A tractor. 529 01 43: MAN TG-A tractor & double-stock box semi-trailer “kd." Kaiser’s Drugstore means to attract female customers to their stores with a naked man shown on their trucks. Wiking is probably attached to a similar idea, luring women into hobby shops with the corresponding 1/87th scale rig. (Bill's note: it's appropriate this truck is decorated for a drugstore: One wonders what drugs Wiking was using when they decided to produce this one.)
779 02 42: Mercedes-Benz Econic fuel truck “Jet." A slightly odd looking item, but prototypically correct – the Econic chassis with the low-mounted cab for easy entry has been used for garbage, fire, and beverage trucks by Wiking. With this truck, heating oil will be delivered to your home.
538 10 43: Steyr ST-A XXL-cab tractor & box semi-trailer “Hali." Steyr and ÖAF are the Austrian branches of German MAN group, with ÖAF being responsible for all of MAN’s special vehicles. Regular MAN trucks sold in Austria, however, bear the Steyr grille. Just as Herpa had done earlier, Wiking is to produce this variation of the well-known TG-A tractor.
529 01 43: MAN TG-A tractor & double-stock box semi-trailer “kd." Kaiser’s Drugstore means to attract female customers to their stores with a naked man shown on their trucks. Wiking is probably attached to a similar idea, luring women into hobby shops with the corresponding 1/87th scale rig. (Bill's note: it's appropriate this truck is decorated for a drugstore: One wonders what drugs Wiking was using when they decided to produce this one.)
038 04 23: VW Passat Variant wagon. Painted in metallic silver. 059 02 28: VW Phaeton W12. The second paint scheme of Volkswagen’s upmarket sedan to be regularly available at hobby shops is called papillon silver. Introduced only two months after the metallic gray version’s final delivery, Wiking’s Phaeton apparently outsells its bigger counterpart. (Bill's note: Wiking also seems to have had an easier time producing them. U.S. availability of the Phaeton has been delayed until later in 2003.) 071 08 29: Mercedes-Benz E-class “emergency doctor" white body with red markings. 124 05 22: Audi A6 sedan, metallic beige. 864 07 23: VW Beetle, Berlin Police. Another classic German police car, showing the blue color used in Berlin from late ‘40s to the ‘70s. 714 15 46: Mercedes-Benz O 404 RHD coach “Hertha BSC." Updated with new sponsor logos, this is Berlin premier-league soccer club’s current means of traveling. The prototype probably is the newer Travego coach.
038 04 23: VW Passat Variant wagon. Painted in metallic silver.
059 02 28: VW Phaeton W12. The second paint scheme of Volkswagen’s upmarket sedan to be regularly available at hobby shops is called papillon silver. Introduced only two months after the metallic gray version’s final delivery, Wiking’s Phaeton apparently outsells its bigger counterpart. (Bill's note: Wiking also seems to have had an easier time producing them. U.S. availability of the Phaeton has been delayed until later in 2003.)
071 08 29: Mercedes-Benz E-class “emergency doctor" white body with red markings.
124 05 22: Audi A6 sedan, metallic beige.
864 07 23: VW Beetle, Berlin Police. Another classic German police car, showing the blue color used in Berlin from late ‘40s to the ‘70s.
714 15 46: Mercedes-Benz O 404 RHD coach “Hertha BSC." Updated with new sponsor logos, this is Berlin premier-league soccer club’s current means of traveling. The prototype probably is the newer Travego coach.
636 03 35: Mercedes-Benz Atego towing truck. Colors are pink and blue. No comment on this one. (Bill's note: I predict a long and lonely shelf life for this one.) 849 01 39: Büssing BS 16 truck & trailer "Spedition Holdmann." 1967 prototype in the red and yellow colors of a forwarding company. A previous Roskopf item, now in Wiking packaging.
636 03 35: Mercedes-Benz Atego towing truck. Colors are pink and blue. No comment on this one. (Bill's note: I predict a long and lonely shelf life for this one.)
849 01 39: Büssing BS 16 truck & trailer "Spedition Holdmann." 1967 prototype in the red and yellow colors of a forwarding company. A previous Roskopf item, now in Wiking packaging.
Together with the already mentioned Peltzer anniversary set, these will arrive at hobby shops next month. (Bill's note: Look for U.S. delivery in March. No suggested U.S. retail prices at this time, due to the significant shift in currency exchange. As soon as we know the new price structure, we'll post prices)
Reported by Marc Schmidt
