(Note: A very special thanks to the following for up-to-the-minute reports from Nürnberg; Jan Scholten, Marc Schmidt, Tony Flemmings and our "locals" Mark Matichek, Bill Cawthon and Dan Goins.)
Athearn has announced a new die-cast metal painted and decorated model of a John Deere Model B farm tractor. This vintage tractor is an American classic. Also coming in John Deere paint schemes are several Ford C series trucks and period outdoor billboards. Also announced are new Ford C truck tractors in Advance Transportation, TNT-Reddaway, Willig, and California Motor Express schemes. The Stake bed will be available with Northern Pacific, Burlington Northern, Santa Fe, and Preston paint schemes. The Ford box van will have Roadway Express, REA, CME, and Branch paint jobs.
Automobilia has announced several new transkits that include numerous photo-etched parts. Of particular interest are ones for the Herpa AC Cobra (former Monogram Mini-Exact) and the BWM 328. Due for production in Summer, 2002.
AWM has announced the forthcoming Renault Clio (the model is ready), later followed by the Citroën Berlingo and Peugeot Partner small vans. Announced is the Peugeot 307 for next year.
Boley was once again displaying their Kenworth T800 prototypes and some "new" die-cast Ford LTL-9000 truck tractors (shown above). These are the same Ford trucks that have been available in Germany for quite some time and have filtered into the US from our German friends. Boley intends to replace the funky gold grille with a more proper chrome plated one. Look for summer US availability. The Spartan fire trucks are already shipped and should be on your hobby dealers' shelves very soon.
Brekina will be producing a Peugeot 404 (shown above).
Busch Based on the information contained in the press info, here are the translations and notes for the new Busch releases. Busch expects to deliver most of these models by August 2002. This means US delivery should be sometime in August or September.
New Models:
40000 1886 Benz-Patent-Motorwagen - Limited Edition (shown above) 40101 Fiat Fiorino "Pizza Service" (according to the Busch information, the old Praliné tooling has been reworked) 40102 Fiat Fiorino "Elevator Service" 40200 1937 BMW 327 Sedan 41850 Ford E-350 Cargo Van 46501 Renault 4 CV "Arbeille" This is a modification of the sedan with the rear windows blocked out to make it a commercial vehicle. 46800 1977 Mercedes W 123 Station Wagon 46805 1977 Mercedes W 123 Station Wagon "CMD-Collection" 48535 2002 Mercedes ML-Class W 163 "CMD-Collection" 49250 2002 Audi A 4 Avant 49255 2002 Audi A 4 Avant "CMD-Collection"
Race Cars:
40801 Mercedes 300 SL "Mille Miglia" Nr. 189 42613 Ferrari 250 GTO Racing Nr. 112 46905 Auto Union Type C "Crystal" (Transparent body with chrome details) 47006 Mercedes Silver Arrow "Spa 1955"
European Cars:
42733 Volkswagen Beetle Convertible "Hippie Beetle" 43102 Borgward Isabella Coupe, pink 48915 Smart City Coupe, "Follow Me" 48918 Smart City Coupe with ski rack and skis 48920 Smart City Coupe, Hamburg "Waste Watcher"
American Cars:
43466 Cadillac '52 Hearse 44613 Plymouth Voyager "Woody" 44614 Chrysler Voyager "Red" 46651 Plymouth Fury (back after being on hiatus)
Crazy Cars and Monster Trucks:
44651 Dodge Ram Van Monster Truck "Terminator" 44717 Buick '50 "Crazy Car" 45012 Chevrolet Bel Air "Crazy Car" 46616 Dodge Monaco Monster Truck "Bloodhound" 47718 Ford AA Hot Rod "Gravedigger"
European Police Vehicles:
48112 VW Passat Munich Police 49151 MB C-Class station wagon Baden-Württemberg Police 49201 Audi A 4 sedan, Bavarian Police 46502 Renault 4 CV, French Police 47331 Fiat Ducato, Italian Police 48914 Smart City Coupé, Italian Police 48919 Smart City Coupe, German Police
US Police Vehicles:
46408 Chevrolet Blazer, Park Ranger 46409 Chevrolet Blazer, Alaska State Trooper 47622 Chevrolet Caprice, Police Museum 47686 Chevrolet Caprice, Maine State Police 47687 Chevrolet Caprice, New Hampshire State Police 49078 Ford Crown Victoria, Maryland State Police 49079 Ford Crown Victoria, North Dakota State Patrol 49080 Ford Crown Victoria, Wyoming Highway Patrol
European Fire Brigade Vehicles:
48512 Mercedes M-Class, Salzburg Fire Brigade 44616 Chrysler Voyager, Osnabrück Airport Fire Brigade 47827 MB Sprinter, Fire Emergency 48115 VW Passat, Tempelhof (Berlin) Fire Brigade (this is a 500-piece limited edition) 48917 Smart Coupé, "Heinzl Brandschutztechnik" (factory fire brigade) 49153 MB C-Class Station Wagon, Fire Brigade 48911 Smart City Coupé, Brandweer Fire Brigade
US Fire Department Vehicles:
47620 Chevrolet Caprice, San Francisco Fire Department 41809 Ford E-350, Chicago Fire Department 41810 Ford E-350, New York Fire Department - For each one sold, Busch is donating one Euro to the fund for the survivors of the 9/11 attack on NYC.
Ambulances:
41804 Ford E-350, MedTrans 41808 Ford E-350, Paramed-Ambulanz 47824 MB Sprinter, Bavarian Red Cross Life Guard 47825 MB Sprinter, German Red Cross Information - for each one sold, Busch is donating one Euro to the German Red Cross 48514 Mercedes M-Class, German Red Cross Emergency Doctor 48515 Mercedes M-Class, Rescue Ambulance, Greiz 48916 Smart City Coupé, Johanniter (German branch of St. John Hospitaller and St. John Ambulance Service)
Miscellaneous Trucks:
42321 Peugeot 403, French Tow Truck 47332 Fiat Ducato Heavy Load Escort 48216 Chevrolet Pickup, Stockton Tow Truck 41420 Mercedes 170V Sedan, German Postal Service 40640 Tempo 3-Wheeler "Bolte Wooden Toys" 40641 Tempo 3-Wheeler "Shell" 40724 MB LP809 van "Milch (Milk) Express" 40726 MB LP809, "Karl Schäffert" Lumber Yard 40910 DKW 3=6, "Albert" Liquor Distributors 41943 Citroën H French Glass Sales 47717 Ford AA "Grocers Biscuit Company" 47826 MB Sprinter "Fulda Tires" 48212 Chevrolet Pickup, US Farm Truck 48217 Chevrolet Pickup, Mobil "Flying Horse"
Taxis:
44615 Plymouth Voyager, Rosemont Taxi (Rosemont, IL is the site of the International Model & Hobby Expo, North America's biggest trade show for the hobby industry.) 49152 MB C-Classe Station Wagon, German Taxi 49204 Audi A 4 Sedan, German Taxi
Buses:
41045 MB O-3500 Tour Bus 45325 Renault FR 1 "Evian" 47200 Renault R 312 "Paris" ninth version 47213 Renault R 312 "Jeans"
Herpa will be introducing their first construction equipment model, the Liebherr L580 wheel loader (shown above).
Also, the former Mini-Exacts line of North American automobiles will be getting a facelift, such as the Corvette above, with painted details.
This set is a pair of Mercedes trucks with heavy duty trailer and load.
Above is the Fulda Tire promotional truck model.
High Tech Modell will be producing a Porsche 550 Spyder Panamericana '54, Mercedes 300 SLR Mille Miglia '55, and Porsche 550 A Spyder (racing) Targa Florio '56 (shown above).
Norscot will be introducing in the latter part of 2002 the following Caterpillar die-cast models in 1/87 scale: D5M dozer, 315C excavator, and 966 wheel loader. [Check advertisement]
NZG will be offering several 1/87 die-cast construction equipment models. Initial offerings will include a Bomag compactor, O&K excavator, and Liebherr L538 wheel loader (incidentally, smaller than the new Herpa produced Liebherr wheel loader mentioned above).
Oddballs Decals announces set #684 for decaling Geiger Concrete mixers. For a good look at these decals installed check Paul Knowles' Kenworth.
Rietze will be producing an Opel Vectra and Citroën C3 and C5 models.
Schuco will be adding several new items to their die-cast Junior line including a Karmann Ghia, BMWs, and Mercedes Benz autos.
Trident news is that the Ford F-350 is finally close to completion, lacking only the mold for the clear windshield insert (shown above, right). Speculation for completion is Summer, 2002. News on the Freightliner M915A2 and newly announce Oshkosh M1070 HET tank transport is not so good; next year at best.
Vollmer is producing a kit for a Porsche dealership (shown above).
Wiking has released their February introductions. The new models include a couple of new toolings and the return of some models that have been absent for a while.
034 01 26 Volkswagen Polo 4-door. This is the new Polo, a model Volkswagen does not sell in the United States. A size smaller than the Golf, it is the second-smallest car built by VW. Mercator blue with gray interior. Retail price should be around $12.00 in the US
034 01 26 Volkswagen Polo 4-door. This is the new Polo, a model Volkswagen does not sell in the United States. A size smaller than the Golf, it is the second-smallest car built by VW. Mercator blue with gray interior. Retail price should be around $12.00 in the US 390 01 21 Blade Transporter for Claas Harvester. This trailer carries the harvester's front blade assembly as the Harvester travels between jobs or fields. Estimated retail about $8.00.
390 01 21 Blade Transporter for Claas Harvester. This trailer carries the harvester's front blade assembly as the Harvester travels between jobs or fields. Estimated retail about $8.00.
799 01 41 Esterer Tanker on Mercedes-Benz Atego Chassis. Wiking says this is the most detailed tanker they have ever made. White body and cab with "Esterer" markings. Estimated retail $34.00 599 04 52 MAN TG-A XXL Double-Bottom (van-body truck and full trailer) decorated for Maisel's Weisse beer. Lots of 4-color printing. Estimated retail $54.00.
799 01 41 Esterer Tanker on Mercedes-Benz Atego Chassis. Wiking says this is the most detailed tanker they have ever made. White body and cab with "Esterer" markings. Estimated retail $34.00
599 04 52 MAN TG-A XXL Double-Bottom (van-body truck and full trailer) decorated for Maisel's Weisse beer. Lots of 4-color printing. Estimated retail $54.00.
New colors:
022 03 43 EC-135 Eurocopter with yellow-and-black "ADAC" German Auto Club) markings. Third release of Wiking's helicopter model. Estimated price $40.00. 092 02 25 Dethleffs 350 Travel Trailer. New color scheme. Estimated retail $11.50. 104 17 27 Volkswagen LT28 Van. This old model wears the markings of a specialized diver's pressure chamber van that was used in the German state of North Rhein-Westphalia. Wiking says this completes their collection of historic German police vehicles. Estimated retail $13.00. 647 03 27 Mercedes-Benz Unimog U1850 with loading crane. Now in gray. Estimated retail $13.00. 830 05 14 Volkswagen Brezelkäfer. The one that started it all; the postwar Beetle now comes in copper with a ruby-red interior. Wiking has dressed this release up with whitewall tires. Estimated retail $5.50. 833 03 25 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gull-Wing. This is one of Wiking's better models, now in its third release. Red with cream interior. Estimated retail $11.50. 879 40 14 Trailer for Porsche farm tractor and similar models. Dark gray with red wheels. Estimated retail $5.50
022 03 43 EC-135 Eurocopter with yellow-and-black "ADAC" German Auto Club) markings. Third release of Wiking's helicopter model. Estimated price $40.00.
092 02 25 Dethleffs 350 Travel Trailer. New color scheme. Estimated retail $11.50.
104 17 27 Volkswagen LT28 Van. This old model wears the markings of a specialized diver's pressure chamber van that was used in the German state of North Rhein-Westphalia. Wiking says this completes their collection of historic German police vehicles. Estimated retail $13.00.
647 03 27 Mercedes-Benz Unimog U1850 with loading crane. Now in gray. Estimated retail $13.00.
830 05 14 Volkswagen Brezelkäfer. The one that started it all; the postwar Beetle now comes in copper with a ruby-red interior. Wiking has dressed this release up with whitewall tires. Estimated retail $5.50.
833 03 25 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gull-Wing. This is one of Wiking's better models, now in its third release. Red with cream interior. Estimated retail $11.50.
879 40 14 Trailer for Porsche farm tractor and similar models. Dark gray with red wheels. Estimated retail $5.50
Estimated prices are based on Wiking's price structure from 2001, there may be changes. North American distributors are free to set their own retail prices so there may be differences from the prices shown here.
The new models can be seen at http://www.wiking.de select "Neuheiten."
