Ertl is currently selling a Correct Craft ski boat that is advertised as 1/64 scale. However, closer inspection of the boat reveals that the boat is almost exactly 1/87 scale! The trailer, however, appears to be closer to 1/64. If you always wanted a 1/87 scale ski boat and are willing to supply a trailer or a place in the water already picked out, this just may be your best bet!
Fidelis Models is now offering twelve new 1/87 scale die-cast metal models just released from Imex Model Company:
M60A1 Tank M551 Sheridan Lt. Tank King Tiger Tank Leopard Tank Panzer IV Tank Panther Tank Chieftain Tank Centurion Tank T-54 Tank T-10 Joseph Stalin AMX-30 Napoleon Tank Japanese Type 61
These die-cast metal models are assembled, painted, and decaled. Many of you will recognize these kits as retooled and improved versions of the discontinued Zylmex line. Please visit their website at www.fidelismodels.com for photos and prices or for a direct link to Fidelis' IMEX products page, Imex Model Company.
Herpa announces their new release for December is the Porsce 911 Targa that made its debut at the 2001 Frankfurt IAA.
023030 Porsche 911 Targa, Black Standard Finish 033039 Porsche 911 Targa, Silver Metallic Finish There is also 045384, a model of the facelifted Mercedes A-Class in the increasingly popular silver and green German police livery. 045414 is a unique BMW X5 4.4 SUV. It is decorated for "BMW Group Mobile Tradition," a BMW factory operation that specializes in the care and restoration of classic "Bimmers". BMW uses two of these X5 4.4s to transport vehicles to shows and events. For Metz aerial fans, there's a Hamburg Fire Brigade unit with a Metz 23-12 on a MAN 2000 chassis. There are also a number of current European truck models in new decorations.
023030 Porsche 911 Targa, Black Standard Finish 033039 Porsche 911 Targa, Silver Metallic Finish
There is also 045384, a model of the facelifted Mercedes A-Class in the increasingly popular silver and green German police livery.
045414 is a unique BMW X5 4.4 SUV. It is decorated for "BMW Group Mobile Tradition," a BMW factory operation that specializes in the care and restoration of classic "Bimmers". BMW uses two of these X5 4.4s to transport vehicles to shows and events.
For Metz aerial fans, there's a Hamburg Fire Brigade unit with a Metz 23-12 on a MAN 2000 chassis.
There are also a number of current European truck models in new decorations.
Check the Promotex Online web site for the new releases.
Sheepscot Scale Products has announced a batch of new resin truck models (shown above) that include an International R-220, International F-230D, International LC-180, Autocar U-90, and a Link-Belt HC108 45 ton truck mounted crane. The new urethane truck cabs and equipment (bodies) will be sold direct only, not through dealers. The advantage to modelers is that they can get the configuration they want; size tires, frame, and miscellaneous parts can be specified for their particular project.
Cost per kit is $18.00 and includes a long metal frame, front wheels, single axle rear end. Available are 10.00-20 tires with disk wheels, 11.00-20 with spoke wheels (normal size, most commonly used), 12.00-24 with either spoke or disk, and for rare use there's the 14.00-20 spoke and planetary drive rear that will be on the Link-Belt 45 ton truck crane. The cost of a second rear axle w/tires for a tandem rear end is $2.00. Tires are $0.50 each, any size.
Shipping costs are $4.00 for UPS insured but for orders of more than $100.00 there will be no charge.
Sheepscot also reports they will be replacing the existing plaster bodies in their line with urethane. These should be available in a month or so.
Walthers' latest HO Model Railroad catalog is out and, among numerous other items of interest, contains a two bay firehouse. Check it out at http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/933-2809
Wiking - In December Wiking will introduce a 4-model set celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Mercedes-Benz Unimog. In 1953, just five years after he started making HO scale vehicle models, Wiking founder Friedrich Pelzer produced his first Unimog, an open 411. This was the same year Mercedes took over production of the Unimog from the Boehringer family.
The 50th anniversary set, # 990 24 58 - Unimog 50th Anniversary Set (U.S. price still undetermined) includes:
A closed U411 fire brigade truck that has been converted to a snow plow. Such conversions were quite common as a way to get additional use from vehicles that had outlived their primary purpose. Snow plows were often in short supply and many old public trucks were repainted and equipped with snow removal equipment. An ex-Bundeswehr S-404 flatbed decorated for one of the THW's local groups. Surplus Bundeswehr vehicles were often recycled through other public service groups. A U406 in Munich Police colors. The cops used the Unimog as a towing vehicle. A U1700 with box body decorated for the Red Cross' sister organization, the Red Crescent (Red Half-Moon in German). Incidentally, the Red Cross and Red Crescent are symbols used by the same society, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. The American Red Cross is a national member of the IFRC. Today the Red Crescent is primarily used by Islamic countries.
A closed U411 fire brigade truck that has been converted to a snow plow. Such conversions were quite common as a way to get additional use from vehicles that had outlived their primary purpose. Snow plows were often in short supply and many old public trucks were repainted and equipped with snow removal equipment.
An ex-Bundeswehr S-404 flatbed decorated for one of the THW's local groups. Surplus Bundeswehr vehicles were often recycled through other public service groups.
A U406 in Munich Police colors. The cops used the Unimog as a towing vehicle.
A U1700 with box body decorated for the Red Cross' sister organization, the Red Crescent (Red Half-Moon in German). Incidentally, the Red Cross and Red Crescent are symbols used by the same society, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. The American Red Cross is a national member of the IFRC. Today the Red Crescent is primarily used by Islamic countries.
For December, 2001, Wiking will be shipping the following:
839 01 25 - Volvo PV544 in dark red with gray interior. Boasting the largest number of improvements since the PV series was introduced in 1944, 243,990 PV544s were produced from 1958 to 1965. It was the first Volvo actively marketed in the United States and many are still on the road today. Wiking's model features the fine printed and painted detail we have come to expect on new models. Definite addition to Oddball's inventory! Estimated retail price is $11.50. 646 03 35 - Unimog U400 with Snowplow. In an earlier version of the Wikingnewsletter, there was a picture of a blue U400 with a snow plow. Wiking's December release comes in orange but is otherwise the same. Unlike earlier Wiking snow removal models, there is no salt/sand unit or warning light on the 646-03. Should replace the current U140 version in the 2002 Wiking catalog. Estimated retail price about $23.00. 006 08 00 - Wiking magazine for 2001. This year's focus is the 50th anniversary of the Unimog. Other articles cover the MAN TG-A and the Eurocopter EC135 model. According to Babelfish, Wiking recommends the magazine as "maintenance-to-amusing reading." German language only, special order in U.S.
839 01 25 - Volvo PV544 in dark red with gray interior. Boasting the largest number of improvements since the PV series was introduced in 1944, 243,990 PV544s were produced from 1958 to 1965. It was the first Volvo actively marketed in the United States and many are still on the road today. Wiking's model features the fine printed and painted detail we have come to expect on new models. Definite addition to Oddball's inventory! Estimated retail price is $11.50.
646 03 35 - Unimog U400 with Snowplow. In an earlier version of the Wikingnewsletter, there was a picture of a blue U400 with a snow plow. Wiking's December release comes in orange but is otherwise the same. Unlike earlier Wiking snow removal models, there is no salt/sand unit or warning light on the 646-03. Should replace the current U140 version in the 2002 Wiking catalog. Estimated retail price about $23.00.
006 08 00 - Wiking magazine for 2001. This year's focus is the 50th anniversary of the Unimog. Other articles cover the MAN TG-A and the Eurocopter EC135 model. According to Babelfish, Wiking recommends the magazine as "maintenance-to-amusing reading." German language only, special order in U.S.
New Colors:
035 08 24 - The New Beetle finally appears in silver. Perhaps we'll start to see some of the other colors VW reserved for its promotional models back when the New Beetle made its European debut. Retail price remains $10.50. 503 02 40 - MAN TG-A XXL with 2-axle lowboy trailer and container load. White-and-blue cab with lots of detail. The container is marked "Precision Machinery for Wiking, Berlin" and rides on a conventional dark gray lowboy trailer with silver load deck. Should retail for around $29.00. 636 02 35 - Mercedes-Benz Atego with tilt-bed wrecker body. This is the second release for this very nice model and this one might be a bit more useful to modelers and collectors (at least in Germany). Whereas the first release was decorated for "Kroll," a Berlin-based towing company, the new model comes in ADAC (German Auto Club) colors. Price remains the same as the previous model at $23.00 665 01 24 - Trailer for Roll-Off Container Truck. This is the trailer introduced originally as part of a set including the Mercedes-Benz Actros with Meiller roll-off body and container. Orange only. Retail $9.50 681 04 28 - Mercedes-Benz 4-axle Cement Mixer. The newest version is in blue with a blue-and-white striped drum. This completes the blue period of Wiking construction models. Estimated retail $14.00 696 17 27 - Construction trailer in Bundeswehr colors. Perhaps this will be the first in the next round of construction vehicle releases with everything in NATO Olive. However, the prices being charged for the military versions of Wiking standard models reminds me of those $500 hammers. The regular construction trailer (656 03 20) is $7.50 but the new release will be around $13.00. 894 01 26 - Borgward Isabella Sedan with "Egg" Travel Trailer. Set includes a re-release of the 1950s style travel trailer Wiking first produced in 1970 and a new color for the base 1954 Isabella that has been part of Wiking's Classic lineup for several years. The Borgward is in blue, the trailer is beige. Price about $12.00 954 03 25 - Mercedes-Benz Actros with Van Trailer. For list members (like me) who also enjoy 1:160, this is a junior version of the Meisel Brothers beer truck introduced in 1/87 in October. Features a holiday scene with Santa sliding down a snow-covered slope. It's a shame Wiking couldn't have provided a real holiday gift to N-Scale fans by producing a nice model of the MAN TG-A 460 that was supplied with its big brother. The new rig should retail for $11.50.
035 08 24 - The New Beetle finally appears in silver. Perhaps we'll start to see some of the other colors VW reserved for its promotional models back when the New Beetle made its European debut. Retail price remains $10.50.
503 02 40 - MAN TG-A XXL with 2-axle lowboy trailer and container load. White-and-blue cab with lots of detail. The container is marked "Precision Machinery for Wiking, Berlin" and rides on a conventional dark gray lowboy trailer with silver load deck. Should retail for around $29.00.
636 02 35 - Mercedes-Benz Atego with tilt-bed wrecker body. This is the second release for this very nice model and this one might be a bit more useful to modelers and collectors (at least in Germany). Whereas the first release was decorated for "Kroll," a Berlin-based towing company, the new model comes in ADAC (German Auto Club) colors. Price remains the same as the previous model at $23.00
665 01 24 - Trailer for Roll-Off Container Truck. This is the trailer introduced originally as part of a set including the Mercedes-Benz Actros with Meiller roll-off body and container. Orange only. Retail $9.50
681 04 28 - Mercedes-Benz 4-axle Cement Mixer. The newest version is in blue with a blue-and-white striped drum. This completes the blue period of Wiking construction models. Estimated retail $14.00
696 17 27 - Construction trailer in Bundeswehr colors. Perhaps this will be the first in the next round of construction vehicle releases with everything in NATO Olive. However, the prices being charged for the military versions of Wiking standard models reminds me of those $500 hammers. The regular construction trailer (656 03 20) is $7.50 but the new release will be around $13.00.
894 01 26 - Borgward Isabella Sedan with "Egg" Travel Trailer. Set includes a re-release of the 1950s style travel trailer Wiking first produced in 1970 and a new color for the base 1954 Isabella that has been part of Wiking's Classic lineup for several years. The Borgward is in blue, the trailer is beige. Price about $12.00
954 03 25 - Mercedes-Benz Actros with Van Trailer. For list members (like me) who also enjoy 1:160, this is a junior version of the Meisel Brothers beer truck introduced in 1/87 in October. Features a holiday scene with Santa sliding down a snow-covered slope. It's a shame Wiking couldn't have provided a real holiday gift to N-Scale fans by producing a nice model of the MAN TG-A 460 that was supplied with its big brother. The new rig should retail for $11.50.
Since North American retail prices are set by the distributor, actual price at your hobby shop may vary from those shown. Prices shown are estimated based on the current pricing structure used by Flint Imports and are subject to change without notice. As December releases, these models will hit the holiday shipping season. Accounting for standard shipping times, the chances are very good they won't reach U.S. distributors until late January. Currency exchange rates between the dollar and Deutsche mark remain fairly steady, but Wiking (and other manufacturers) may announce changes in their pricing structure at the Nuremburg Toy Fair which opens on January 31, 2002.
