Friday night May, 26, 2004 at the 2004 National Convention featured a manufacturers' new product announcement segment. We'll have expanded coverage of these announcements after the convention but here's the latest in brief summary:
A-Line - displayed their long awaited 102" wide roll up trailer door detail part and resin air dams for the Herpa Ford Aeromax and Mack CH announced last year. Athearn - displayed pre-production samples of a Ford C rescue unit with Gerstenslager body and the first public appearance of the updated Kenworth W900. The Kenworth has received a similar upgrade treatment as the recently released Freightliners with some notable improvements: complete interior, sleeper compartment, mirrors, wipers, dual exhausts, sun visor, 10 hole aluminum wheels, and chrome treatment to grille, bumper, fuel tanks, etc. Boley - displayed their upcoming utility truck line, tow trucks, rescue boats (rubber dinghy type). Regrettably no firm news of their release dates. Classic Mint Collectibles - had pre-production samples of their upcoming brass Talbert 55 ton lowboy trailer (photos coming soon) and the Cummins engine and Fuller transmission from the Peterbilt truck tractor. Very impressive by the crowd's reaction! Also coming soon from Classic Mint is a brass Komatsu D575A-3 Super Dozer model! Dennis Aust - had new resin Kenworth W900B, W900L, and C500B in two versions that will be available soon in limited quantities. These are resin cab conversion kits of outstanding quality. Lonestar Models - promises 2004 might be the year of delivery on their auto carrier project! Masterbilt Models - promised their resin Mack Vision would finally be available in kit form at Saturday's show! Also shown was a pre-production sample of a new resin Mack Granite kit to be released later in 2004.
A-Line - displayed their long awaited 102" wide roll up trailer door detail part and resin air dams for the Herpa Ford Aeromax and Mack CH announced last year.
Athearn - displayed pre-production samples of a Ford C rescue unit with Gerstenslager body and the first public appearance of the updated Kenworth W900. The Kenworth has received a similar upgrade treatment as the recently released Freightliners with some notable improvements: complete interior, sleeper compartment, mirrors, wipers, dual exhausts, sun visor, 10 hole aluminum wheels, and chrome treatment to grille, bumper, fuel tanks, etc.
Boley - displayed their upcoming utility truck line, tow trucks, rescue boats (rubber dinghy type). Regrettably no firm news of their release dates.
Classic Mint Collectibles - had pre-production samples of their upcoming brass Talbert 55 ton lowboy trailer (photos coming soon) and the Cummins engine and Fuller transmission from the Peterbilt truck tractor. Very impressive by the crowd's reaction! Also coming soon from Classic Mint is a brass Komatsu D575A-3 Super Dozer model!
Dennis Aust - had new resin Kenworth W900B, W900L, and C500B in two versions that will be available soon in limited quantities. These are resin cab conversion kits of outstanding quality.
Lonestar Models - promises 2004 might be the year of delivery on their auto carrier project!
Masterbilt Models - promised their resin Mack Vision would finally be available in kit form at Saturday's show! Also shown was a pre-production sample of a new resin Mack Granite kit to be released later in 2004.
Athearn has announced their upgraded Freightliner tractors available in a 2 pack; one single drive axle and one tandem drive axle tractor, both in the same paint scheme. They've also announced their trailer converter dollies in a 4 pack painted for CF (red) and generic schemes in black, gray, and orange.
Artwork is now posted on their web site of the forthcoming Ford C rescue unit (shown above).
Brekina kept their promise given at the 2004 Nuremberg Toy Fair. As part of the summer releases, they just recently delivered sedan and wagon versions of their wonderfully detailed and decorated Opel Rekord P2 coupé:
20100 – 1960 Opel Rekord P2 four-door sedan, Hawaii Blue 20101 – Ocean green 20101 – Royal blue
20110 – 1960 Opel Rekord P2 CarAVan (three-door wagon), java brown 20111 – Emerald green 20112 – Gray
The prototypes were offered between 1960 and 1963 with 1.5 and 1.7 liter engines, making between 50 and 60hp. As was the case with earlier Opel designs, they brought a fair share of GM’s North-American design into German mid-size sedans, including rather subtle fin-fails and large amounts of chrome. Brekina follow suit with their finely detailed Top Decoration models.
20121 – 1961 Opel Rekord P2 coupé, metallic silver, Top Decoration + Interior Treatment
The coupé, which first appeared in hobby shops in late February, goes even beyond that. On top of chrome, detail prints, white-wall tires and more, the precisely molded interior receives attention: The seats are painted blue and the dashboard reveals the prototype’s broad-band speedometer, radio, and other details. Spectacular!
Co.Met Milano is an Italian maker of high-quality small-series resin kits and ready-mades. In addition to their previous Lancia Delta Integrale and Alfa-Romeo 75 sedan models, they announced the following variations:
1988 Alfa-Romeo 75 2.0 T.Spark, Polizia Comunale Lugano/Switzerland (ready-made) 1988 Alfa-Romeo 75 1.8i.e. Carabinieri/Italy (kit and ready-made) 1988 Alfa-Romeo 75 1.8i.e. Polizia Stradale/Italy (kit and ready-made) 1988 Alfa-Romeo 75 1.8i.e. Polizia di Stato/Italy (kit and ready-made)
Herpa announced no less than 29 items to be delivered in August and August, 2004. There is the usual number of new decorations, but there are six models from entirely new molds, as well.
023252 – 2004 Mercedes-Benz SLK roadster Mk2 (R171), black w/grey interior. Suggested U.S. retail price $8.95 033251 – 2004 Mercedes-Benz SLK roadster Mk2 (R171), metallic andradite green w/beige crème interior. Suggested U.S. retail price $9.95 Herpa is doing their part to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Mercedes’ famous 300SL roadster. Only four months after the promotional models were delivered to DaimlerChrysler, Herpa will bring the SLK Mk2 to hobby shops and retailers. Unlike its 1996 predecessor, the Herpa model will not come with a removable hard-top, but it feature a nose copied from Merc’s current supercar, the SLR McLaren. New tooling. 101684 – 2004 BMW Alpina Roadster S, red, Private Collection. Suggested U.S. retail price $17.50 For those who find the 231hp of BMW’s top-of-the-range Z4 3.0i just is not quite enough, Burkhard Bovensiepen offers an alternative: his Alpina Roadster S, boasting 300hp from a heavily reworked 3.4 liter inline-six. Of course, Herpa makes the appropriate changes to Chris Bangle’s flame-surfacing design, adding specially designed rims and decorations aplenty. New tooling. 046237 – 2000 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 316CDI EMS-van (Strobel box-type body), German Red Cross, Böblingen. Suggested U.S. retail price $19.95 046244 – 2000 BMW X5 3.0d, German Red Cross, Rheinfelden. Suggested U.S. retail price $13.95 Two vehicles from German Red Cross chapters, one serving as an EMS van and the other an emergency doctor’s car. Both come in white with red markings. 046251 – 1996 Mercedes-Benz Vito passenger van, Berlin Fire Brigade. Suggested U.S. retail price $15.25 Herpa continues their series of Berlin fire brigade vehicles with a multi-purpose passenger van that may occasionally serve as a command car. Silver is the base color of choice these days, with red self-adhesive foils and yellow markings to be removed once the lease contract has expired. 046268 – 1996 Mercedes-Benz Vario armored van, Prodiac Security. Suggested U.S. retail price $16.75 Herpa resurrects their armored car of the late 1980s, giving it a new Vario cab for the first time as a regular-release model. 046275 – 2003 Mercedes-Benz/Binz A 2003 ambulance. Suggested U.S. retail price $19.50 As with every mid-size Mercedes for decades, Binz coachbuilders offer an ambulance shortly after a new model’s introduction. Herpa’s initial release of Binz’s most recent effort features the bright red-and-yellow factory colors the demonstration vehicle wears. Making fun of a well-known energy drink, the ambulance is called RettBull. 046282 – 1997 Porsche 911 Carrera (type 996), German police. Suggested U.S. retail price $13.95 Although the Baden-Württemberg police were given a couple of Porsche sports cars in the past, this Carrera coupé made its appearance as a highway high-speed pursuit-car in a German TV series and is not in daily use. Coppers may wish for such means of transport. 046299 – 2000 BMW X5, Samur (Spain). Suggested U.S. retail price $19.95 046305 – 1995 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 312D EMS-van (Strobel box-type body), Samur (Spain) . Suggested U.S. retail price $26.95 Samur is a Spanish EMS organization and their vehicles feature quite distinctive decorations. Herpa offers two models of their current fleet. Limited edition. 149754 – 2002 Volvo FH12 Globetrotter truck-trailer, Pflanzer (Switzerland) . Suggested U.S. retail price $29.95 Limited edition. 150309 – 2002 DAF XF SuperSpaceCab truck-tractor w/Spitzer silo semi-trailer, Riwatrans. Suggested U.S. retail price $27.50 150316 – 2002 Volvo FH12 Globetrotter XL, high-volume truck-tandem-trailer, Riwatrans. Suggested U.S. retail price $27.50 Herpa’s fictitious forwarding company gets two more rigs. Limited edition each. 150415 – 1985 Mercedes-Benz 1635 S truck-tractor w/tank semi-trailer, Hoyer (Classic-Line) . Suggested U.S. retail price $33.95 As Herpa has been offering 1/87th scale vehicles for 26 years, some of their older toolings pass through as vintage trucks nowadays. The model features authentic decorations including license plates that were not feasible when the first Herpa models were released in the early 1980s. Limited edition. 150439 – 2003 Mercedes-Benz/Titan Actros 4158 SLT four-axle heavy-duty truck-tractor w/Goldhofer lowboy, Scholpp. Suggested U.S. retail price $33.95 The Titan heavy-duty tractor was heavily modified with the Actros’ relaunch last year. Herpa did the same with their scale model. New tooling, limited edition. 150446 – 2004 Scania R Topline truck-tractor w/LAG Bree silo-container semi-trailer, Europool (The Netherlands). Suggested U.S. retail price $29.95 New tooling for both the R-series Scania and the LAG Bree silo container from Belgium. Limited edition. 150453 – 2004 Scania R Topline tractor/reefer-trailer, Kleiner Feigling. Suggested U.S. retail price $33.50 Kleiner Feigling (little coward – a pun on the main ingredient, fig, or Feige in German) is a notorious party liquor that is also gaining in popularity in the U.S. Herpa releases one more truck in the black, green, and mauve corporate colors. New tooling, limited edition (thank goodness). 150583 – M.A.N. Trucknology Center truck dealer/service area (Starter Set) . Suggested U.S. retail price $115.00 Herpa’s fifth Starter Set is modeled after a M.A.N. truck dealership and service center with four garage bays. The buildings, which feature MAN’s corporate design, will be easily put together without the need for cement. In addition, the set contains three different MAN trucks, two car models, and ground foils. 150422 – 2004 Scania R Topline truck-tractor, black. Suggested U.S. retail price $14.75 The new Scania R-series was presented to the public on April 5, 2004. The Herpa model was ready at the same time, thanks to Scania having supplied CAD data months in advance. As part of the Herpa range, the new “R” is not a minor facelift of the previous 4-series, but an entirely new model. The design was aided by state-of-the-art CAD/CAM technology while the predecessor was developed by rather traditional model making techniques that involve a hand-built master-model. Even the chassis has been revised thoroughly, featuring a new tank, exhaust system, and drive-axle brakes. Initially, Herpa will release the high-roofed Topline version, complete with roof-spoiler, deflectors, and chassis paneling. Without being announced, Herpa already delivered a metallic-green Private Collection-version with their April releases. 150460 – 2002 Mercedes-Benz Actros LH-cab tandem truck-tractor, red. Suggested U.S. retail price $14.75 The current M-B Actros truck-tractor is finally released in a tandem-axle version that will be a welcome addition to any construction fleet, especially so since Herpa chose a matching color. New tooling. 046367 – 1990 Volkswagen Transporter (T4) passenger van BF3. Suggested U.S. retail price $15.25 150552 – Liebherr R954 Litronic tracked excavator. Suggested U.S. retail price $40.95 150569 – 2002 MAN TGA M-cab four-axle concrete mixer. Suggested U.S. retail price $20.95 150576 – 1996 Mercedes-Benz Actros (tandem-axle) tractor-trailer. Suggested U.S. retail price $29.50 The Max Bögl-series of construction equipment grows with the addition of four items. The VW Transporter serves as an escort vehicle for heavy-haulage transports. Future releases will contain even more models. 120623 – 2001 MAN TGA XXL-cab truck-tractor w/Krone Safeliner semi-trailer, Bavarian Regional Truck, Private Collection. Suggested U.S. retail price $62.95 Herpa offered so-called “Regional Trucks” in the past. These always are rigs without a prototype that display sights and specialties from a German federal state or region. Now it’s Herpa’s home-state of Bavaria. Limited edition. 120586 – 2002 DAF XF SuperSpaceCab tractor/reefer-trailer, Fabrice Curty II, Private Collection. Suggested U.S. retail price $69.95 Airbrush artist Isabelle Chrysalide created a second spectacular design for Swiss hauler Fabrice Curty. Limited edition. 120593 – 1996 Scania R124 high-volume reefer truck-trailer, Frank de Ridder, Private Collection. Suggested U.S. retail price $69.95 Nine years ago, Herpa released a Scania 143 semi in Frank de Ridder’s paint scheme. Now, another rig of the Dutch company will be part of the Herpa range, if only in a limited edition.
023252 – 2004 Mercedes-Benz SLK roadster Mk2 (R171), black w/grey interior. Suggested U.S. retail price $8.95 033251 – 2004 Mercedes-Benz SLK roadster Mk2 (R171), metallic andradite green w/beige crème interior. Suggested U.S. retail price $9.95 Herpa is doing their part to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Mercedes’ famous 300SL roadster. Only four months after the promotional models were delivered to DaimlerChrysler, Herpa will bring the SLK Mk2 to hobby shops and retailers. Unlike its 1996 predecessor, the Herpa model will not come with a removable hard-top, but it feature a nose copied from Merc’s current supercar, the SLR McLaren. New tooling.
101684 – 2004 BMW Alpina Roadster S, red, Private Collection. Suggested U.S. retail price $17.50 For those who find the 231hp of BMW’s top-of-the-range Z4 3.0i just is not quite enough, Burkhard Bovensiepen offers an alternative: his Alpina Roadster S, boasting 300hp from a heavily reworked 3.4 liter inline-six. Of course, Herpa makes the appropriate changes to Chris Bangle’s flame-surfacing design, adding specially designed rims and decorations aplenty. New tooling.
046237 – 2000 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 316CDI EMS-van (Strobel box-type body), German Red Cross, Böblingen. Suggested U.S. retail price $19.95
046244 – 2000 BMW X5 3.0d, German Red Cross, Rheinfelden. Suggested U.S. retail price $13.95 Two vehicles from German Red Cross chapters, one serving as an EMS van and the other an emergency doctor’s car. Both come in white with red markings.
046251 – 1996 Mercedes-Benz Vito passenger van, Berlin Fire Brigade. Suggested U.S. retail price $15.25 Herpa continues their series of Berlin fire brigade vehicles with a multi-purpose passenger van that may occasionally serve as a command car. Silver is the base color of choice these days, with red self-adhesive foils and yellow markings to be removed once the lease contract has expired.
046268 – 1996 Mercedes-Benz Vario armored van, Prodiac Security. Suggested U.S. retail price $16.75 Herpa resurrects their armored car of the late 1980s, giving it a new Vario cab for the first time as a regular-release model.
046275 – 2003 Mercedes-Benz/Binz A 2003 ambulance. Suggested U.S. retail price $19.50 As with every mid-size Mercedes for decades, Binz coachbuilders offer an ambulance shortly after a new model’s introduction. Herpa’s initial release of Binz’s most recent effort features the bright red-and-yellow factory colors the demonstration vehicle wears. Making fun of a well-known energy drink, the ambulance is called RettBull.
046282 – 1997 Porsche 911 Carrera (type 996), German police. Suggested U.S. retail price $13.95 Although the Baden-Württemberg police were given a couple of Porsche sports cars in the past, this Carrera coupé made its appearance as a highway high-speed pursuit-car in a German TV series and is not in daily use. Coppers may wish for such means of transport.
046299 – 2000 BMW X5, Samur (Spain). Suggested U.S. retail price $19.95
046305 – 1995 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 312D EMS-van (Strobel box-type body), Samur (Spain) . Suggested U.S. retail price $26.95 Samur is a Spanish EMS organization and their vehicles feature quite distinctive decorations. Herpa offers two models of their current fleet. Limited edition.
149754 – 2002 Volvo FH12 Globetrotter truck-trailer, Pflanzer (Switzerland) . Suggested U.S. retail price $29.95 Limited edition.
150309 – 2002 DAF XF SuperSpaceCab truck-tractor w/Spitzer silo semi-trailer, Riwatrans. Suggested U.S. retail price $27.50 150316 – 2002 Volvo FH12 Globetrotter XL, high-volume truck-tandem-trailer, Riwatrans. Suggested U.S. retail price $27.50 Herpa’s fictitious forwarding company gets two more rigs. Limited edition each.
150415 – 1985 Mercedes-Benz 1635 S truck-tractor w/tank semi-trailer, Hoyer (Classic-Line) . Suggested U.S. retail price $33.95 As Herpa has been offering 1/87th scale vehicles for 26 years, some of their older toolings pass through as vintage trucks nowadays. The model features authentic decorations including license plates that were not feasible when the first Herpa models were released in the early 1980s. Limited edition.
150439 – 2003 Mercedes-Benz/Titan Actros 4158 SLT four-axle heavy-duty truck-tractor w/Goldhofer lowboy, Scholpp. Suggested U.S. retail price $33.95 The Titan heavy-duty tractor was heavily modified with the Actros’ relaunch last year. Herpa did the same with their scale model. New tooling, limited edition.
150446 – 2004 Scania R Topline truck-tractor w/LAG Bree silo-container semi-trailer, Europool (The Netherlands). Suggested U.S. retail price $29.95 New tooling for both the R-series Scania and the LAG Bree silo container from Belgium. Limited edition.
150453 – 2004 Scania R Topline tractor/reefer-trailer, Kleiner Feigling. Suggested U.S. retail price $33.50 Kleiner Feigling (little coward – a pun on the main ingredient, fig, or Feige in German) is a notorious party liquor that is also gaining in popularity in the U.S. Herpa releases one more truck in the black, green, and mauve corporate colors. New tooling, limited edition (thank goodness).
150583 – M.A.N. Trucknology Center truck dealer/service area (Starter Set) . Suggested U.S. retail price $115.00 Herpa’s fifth Starter Set is modeled after a M.A.N. truck dealership and service center with four garage bays. The buildings, which feature MAN’s corporate design, will be easily put together without the need for cement. In addition, the set contains three different MAN trucks, two car models, and ground foils.
150422 – 2004 Scania R Topline truck-tractor, black. Suggested U.S. retail price $14.75 The new Scania R-series was presented to the public on April 5, 2004. The Herpa model was ready at the same time, thanks to Scania having supplied CAD data months in advance. As part of the Herpa range, the new “R” is not a minor facelift of the previous 4-series, but an entirely new model. The design was aided by state-of-the-art CAD/CAM technology while the predecessor was developed by rather traditional model making techniques that involve a hand-built master-model. Even the chassis has been revised thoroughly, featuring a new tank, exhaust system, and drive-axle brakes. Initially, Herpa will release the high-roofed Topline version, complete with roof-spoiler, deflectors, and chassis paneling. Without being announced, Herpa already delivered a metallic-green Private Collection-version with their April releases.
150460 – 2002 Mercedes-Benz Actros LH-cab tandem truck-tractor, red. Suggested U.S. retail price $14.75 The current M-B Actros truck-tractor is finally released in a tandem-axle version that will be a welcome addition to any construction fleet, especially so since Herpa chose a matching color. New tooling.
046367 – 1990 Volkswagen Transporter (T4) passenger van BF3. Suggested U.S. retail price $15.25
150552 – Liebherr R954 Litronic tracked excavator. Suggested U.S. retail price $40.95 150569 – 2002 MAN TGA M-cab four-axle concrete mixer. Suggested U.S. retail price $20.95 150576 – 1996 Mercedes-Benz Actros (tandem-axle) tractor-trailer. Suggested U.S. retail price $29.50 The Max Bögl-series of construction equipment grows with the addition of four items. The VW Transporter serves as an escort vehicle for heavy-haulage transports. Future releases will contain even more models.
120623 – 2001 MAN TGA XXL-cab truck-tractor w/Krone Safeliner semi-trailer, Bavarian Regional Truck, Private Collection. Suggested U.S. retail price $62.95 Herpa offered so-called “Regional Trucks” in the past. These always are rigs without a prototype that display sights and specialties from a German federal state or region. Now it’s Herpa’s home-state of Bavaria. Limited edition.
120586 – 2002 DAF XF SuperSpaceCab tractor/reefer-trailer, Fabrice Curty II, Private Collection. Suggested U.S. retail price $69.95 Airbrush artist Isabelle Chrysalide created a second spectacular design for Swiss hauler Fabrice Curty. Limited edition.
120593 – 1996 Scania R124 high-volume reefer truck-trailer, Frank de Ridder, Private Collection. Suggested U.S. retail price $69.95 Nine years ago, Herpa released a Scania 143 semi in Frank de Ridder’s paint scheme. Now, another rig of the Dutch company will be part of the Herpa range, if only in a limited edition.
Pricing provided by Promotex Inc. (www.promotex.ca). All prices are subject to change without notice.
Martin Fredrich (www.mfredrichmodelle.de) recently announced a 1964 Fiat 850 resin kit. The photo shows the master model. The final version will come as a kit, but includes wheels and windows.
MEK has announced a resin kit for the MCI MC5C 35' bus used by Greyhound and others.
Schuco stays on the safe, but somewhat dull side, and models German premium brands and German automotive history. The quality is constantly improving, with the most recent models being true to scale and rather neatly detailed. Of course, die-cast models will rarely be as delicate as injection-molded plastic pieces, but Schuco demonstrate they can, and will, do more than simple toys. The special treat is the price of about half a comparable Herpa model. Unfortunately, there have been only models previously done by other makers so far. It remains questionable whether a fourth 300SL Gull-wing coupé is the model we actually need.
21792 – 1954 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gull-wing (shown above) 21793 – 1954 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL roadster 21799 – 2001 Mini Cooper "Happy Digits"
Wiking announced their third batch of new models for 2004. All of the newly tooled items were shown at the Nuremberg Toy Fair in February.
New Tooling
321 01 30 – 2004 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 416CDI EMS-van (box-type), German Red Cross (NRW paint scheme). Suggested U.S. retail price $16.00. During the last decade, box-type EMS vans made quite a career in Germany. Before, panel vans were the usual choice for fire-brigades and other EMS providers. The first model’s paint job represents the federal state of North-Rhine Westphalia, where day-glow red and white form the mandatory color scheme for EMS vehicles, be they operated by fire brigades, the German Red Cross, or other organizations. Different from Herpa’s offerings, the Sprinter is modeled after the heavy-duty version (4.6 metric tons GVW) with dual rear wheels. Wiking does not disclose which prototype’s body was scaled down. 388 04 26 – Joskin tandem-axle agricultural dump-trailer. Suggested U.S. retail price $12.00. Wiking adds a third trailer to their fleet of large agricultural equipment modeled after a prototype produced by Belgian maker Joskin. It will attach to the big Massey-Ferguson, John-Deere, or Fendt farm-tractors Wiking released previously. 862 40 39 – late 1950s Magirus Sirius crew-cab DL 25 h aerial-ladder. Suggested U.S. retail price $27.00. At Toy Fair, Wiking displayed a whole series of Magirus round- and square-nose fire engines of ‘50s and ‘60s vintage. Pumper, pumper-tanker, square-nose versions and day-cabs will follow later this year and next. This ladder-truck may well be the classic German fire-engine of the period. Magirus, the truck-specialist from Ulm that is now part of Italian Iveco group, designed everything from cab and chassis to the air-cooled engine as well as the ladder body.
321 01 30 – 2004 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 416CDI EMS-van (box-type), German Red Cross (NRW paint scheme). Suggested U.S. retail price $16.00. During the last decade, box-type EMS vans made quite a career in Germany. Before, panel vans were the usual choice for fire-brigades and other EMS providers. The first model’s paint job represents the federal state of North-Rhine Westphalia, where day-glow red and white form the mandatory color scheme for EMS vehicles, be they operated by fire brigades, the German Red Cross, or other organizations. Different from Herpa’s offerings, the Sprinter is modeled after the heavy-duty version (4.6 metric tons GVW) with dual rear wheels. Wiking does not disclose which prototype’s body was scaled down.
388 04 26 – Joskin tandem-axle agricultural dump-trailer. Suggested U.S. retail price $12.00. Wiking adds a third trailer to their fleet of large agricultural equipment modeled after a prototype produced by Belgian maker Joskin. It will attach to the big Massey-Ferguson, John-Deere, or Fendt farm-tractors Wiking released previously.
862 40 39 – late 1950s Magirus Sirius crew-cab DL 25 h aerial-ladder. Suggested U.S. retail price $27.00. At Toy Fair, Wiking displayed a whole series of Magirus round- and square-nose fire engines of ‘50s and ‘60s vintage. Pumper, pumper-tanker, square-nose versions and day-cabs will follow later this year and next. This ladder-truck may well be the classic German fire-engine of the period. Magirus, the truck-specialist from Ulm that is now part of Italian Iveco group, designed everything from cab and chassis to the air-cooled engine as well as the ladder body.
New Decorations
990 38 50 – Mercedes-Benz Jubilee Set. Suggested U.S. retail price $50.00. 1954 300 SL Gull-wing in light metallic-blue, 1955 190 SL roadster in oxide red, 1963 600 in anthracite silver, and a 1/160th scale 300 SL Gull-wing pin in light metallic-gold form this year’s special edition. The occasion is the 50th anniversary of an automotive legend, the 300 SL Gull-wing introduced at the New York Auto Show on February 6, 1954. In addition, Wiking reactivates the tooling for the beautiful 190 SL and the 600 state limousine. Perhaps the only wish for these two models would be newly designed moulds to match the wonderful 300 SL with its opening doors and bonnet. 405 03 26 – 1992 Unimog U140 w/asphalt trailer, crème beige. Suggested U.S. retail price. Suggested U.S. retail price $12.00. 656 04 20 – Construction Trailer, crème beige. Suggested U.S. retail price $7.50. Wiking’s fictitious construction company gets a new color scheme: New models will come in crème beige. 731 06 46 – 1989 MAN/Waggon-Union D89 Berlin double-deck city bus, “Hertha BSC”. Suggested U.S. retail price $42.00. This, for a change, is not Berlin’s premiere-league soccer-club’s new means of transport. Rather, the club advertises on one of the double-deck city buses that are so typical for the German capital. It is questionable, though, whether Berlin’s Public transport still relies on the 1989 model. 811 04 24 – 1960 Ford 17M, sand/black w/red interior. Suggested U.S. retail price $10.50. The two-tone decoration was one of the period’s luxury accessories. 823 38 25 – 1957 Borgward Isabella coupé, metallic silver/black w/red interior. Suggested U.S. retail price $11.50. 50 years ago, Carl. F.W. Borgward introduced his Isabella sedan. Three years later, the even more upmarket coupé made its appearance – it would become the car of those who had made it during Germany’s Wirtschaftswunder. Despite the awesome vehicles, Borgward went bankrupt only four years later. 849 03 40 – 1967 Büssing BS 16L stake-truck w/full trailer, “Veltins Brewery”. Suggested U.S. retail price $29.00. Beer trucks, and even more so vintage beer trucks, are a safe bet for sales. Wiking could not resist, once more. 863 01 23 – 1940 Opel Blitz 1.5 ton LF8 pumper w/portable-pump trailer, voluntary fire brigade. Suggested U.S. retail price $9.50. From 1943 on, small pumpers were officially called Löschgruppenfahrzeug, or LF8 in Germany. 8, because the pump could handle 800 liters of water per minute. 894 39 30 – 1961 Mercedes-Benz 250 SE coupé w/trailer and motor boat (dark metallic blue w/ blue interior). Suggested U.S. retail price $16.00. This is how the rich and famous approached their summer holidays in Italy or the Switzerland in the ‘60s. Already delivered with a fresco-green coupé late in 2003, Wiking changes the color for the second release of their re-issued coupé. The current Touareg with Performance yacht tells how far 1/87th scale models have come in four decades.
990 38 50 – Mercedes-Benz Jubilee Set. Suggested U.S. retail price $50.00. 1954 300 SL Gull-wing in light metallic-blue, 1955 190 SL roadster in oxide red, 1963 600 in anthracite silver, and a 1/160th scale 300 SL Gull-wing pin in light metallic-gold form this year’s special edition. The occasion is the 50th anniversary of an automotive legend, the 300 SL Gull-wing introduced at the New York Auto Show on February 6, 1954. In addition, Wiking reactivates the tooling for the beautiful 190 SL and the 600 state limousine. Perhaps the only wish for these two models would be newly designed moulds to match the wonderful 300 SL with its opening doors and bonnet.
405 03 26 – 1992 Unimog U140 w/asphalt trailer, crème beige. Suggested U.S. retail price. Suggested U.S. retail price $12.00.
656 04 20 – Construction Trailer, crème beige. Suggested U.S. retail price $7.50. Wiking’s fictitious construction company gets a new color scheme: New models will come in crème beige.
731 06 46 – 1989 MAN/Waggon-Union D89 Berlin double-deck city bus, “Hertha BSC”. Suggested U.S. retail price $42.00. This, for a change, is not Berlin’s premiere-league soccer-club’s new means of transport. Rather, the club advertises on one of the double-deck city buses that are so typical for the German capital. It is questionable, though, whether Berlin’s Public transport still relies on the 1989 model.
811 04 24 – 1960 Ford 17M, sand/black w/red interior. Suggested U.S. retail price $10.50. The two-tone decoration was one of the period’s luxury accessories.
823 38 25 – 1957 Borgward Isabella coupé, metallic silver/black w/red interior. Suggested U.S. retail price $11.50. 50 years ago, Carl. F.W. Borgward introduced his Isabella sedan. Three years later, the even more upmarket coupé made its appearance – it would become the car of those who had made it during Germany’s Wirtschaftswunder. Despite the awesome vehicles, Borgward went bankrupt only four years later.
849 03 40 – 1967 Büssing BS 16L stake-truck w/full trailer, “Veltins Brewery”. Suggested U.S. retail price $29.00. Beer trucks, and even more so vintage beer trucks, are a safe bet for sales. Wiking could not resist, once more.
863 01 23 – 1940 Opel Blitz 1.5 ton LF8 pumper w/portable-pump trailer, voluntary fire brigade. Suggested U.S. retail price $9.50. From 1943 on, small pumpers were officially called Löschgruppenfahrzeug, or LF8 in Germany. 8, because the pump could handle 800 liters of water per minute.
894 39 30 – 1961 Mercedes-Benz 250 SE coupé w/trailer and motor boat (dark metallic blue w/ blue interior). Suggested U.S. retail price $16.00. This is how the rich and famous approached their summer holidays in Italy or the Switzerland in the ‘60s. Already delivered with a fresco-green coupé late in 2003, Wiking changes the color for the second release of their re-issued coupé. The current Touareg with Performance yacht tells how far 1/87th scale models have come in four decades.
Wiking prices provided by Flint Imports. All prices are subject to change without notice.
European new products reported by Marc Schmidt
