Athearn has announced an agreement with Coca-Cola to produce licensed models. The first items to be released will be The Coca-Cola Billboard Collection (Series #1) consists of 6 billboards depicting unique and classic advertisements from Coca-Cola's storied history of billboards, posters, and ads. The Coca-Cola Vehicle Collection (Series #1) contains 6 distinctive Ford "C" trucks including a service truck with circa 1960's vending machines, four unique Coca-Cola delivery trucks, and a service truck with circa 1970's vending machines. The initial releases of these unique Coca-Cola products will be in summer of 2002. During the balance of 2002 additional product releases will include the Coca-Cola 40' trailer on 50' [railroad] flat car and the Coca-Cola Kenworth with 45' trailer. [Courtesy Athearn, Inc.]
Automobilia has announced photo-etched transkits for the Herpa BMW 328 and Shelby Cobra (originally Monogram Mini-Exacts). Check their web site for photos. Due this summer.
Busch will produce an exclusive limited-edition set of American fire vehicles for Idee+Spiel. The set includes a Ford Crown Victoria, American LaFrance Pumper and American LaFrance Ladder Truck decorated for the New York City Fire Department's Station 40. The printing is based on authentic vehicle markings. The run is limited to 999 sets to be available this fall. Busch part number is 49931 and the recommended price for the set is 39 Euros.
The following models are now available in new colors:
45602 Citroen AX hatchback with sun roof: Red with black bumpers and cladding and gray seats; Green with dark gray bumpers and cladding and gray seats
46401 Chevrolet Blazer, 1998 model year: Mystique Beige metallic with beige seats; Dark Cherry Red metallic with medium gray seats 46500 Renault 4 CV sedan: Bordeaux red with rose-colored seats; Beige with blue seats 46705 VW Hebmueller Convertible: Gray with light-grey side panels; Black with red side panels 47500 Ford Mustang Convertible: Fire-engine red with red boot and black seats; Turkish blue with black boot and black seats 48900 Smart City Coupé: Tridion frame in silver, body panels in Path Red; Tridion frame in silver, body panels in Stream Green 41409 Mercedes 170V: Upper body in light beige/lower part in dark brown; Upper body in dark green/lower body in black 46603 Dodge Monaco sedan: Orange; Orange-brown
46401 Chevrolet Blazer, 1998 model year: Mystique Beige metallic with beige seats; Dark Cherry Red metallic with medium gray seats
46500 Renault 4 CV sedan: Bordeaux red with rose-colored seats; Beige with blue seats
46705 VW Hebmueller Convertible: Gray with light-grey side panels; Black with red side panels
47500 Ford Mustang Convertible: Fire-engine red with red boot and black seats; Turkish blue with black boot and black seats
48900 Smart City Coupé: Tridion frame in silver, body panels in Path Red; Tridion frame in silver, body panels in Stream Green
41409 Mercedes 170V: Upper body in light beige/lower part in dark brown; Upper body in dark green/lower body in black
46603 Dodge Monaco sedan: Orange; Orange-brown
Additionally, Busch has begun shipping the following new models:
40102 Fiat Fiorino, Elevator Service (the original Praline tooling has been reworked) 40641 Tempo 3-wheeler, Shell 41045 MB O-3500 Tour Bus "in the typical colors of the good old days" 41808 Ford E-350 Ambulance, Paramed (a private ambulance company in Germany) 41810 Ford E-350 NYFD (Busch is donating one euro for each one sold to a fund for victims of 9/11. And yes, Busch does know it is not exactly prototypical) 41943 Citroën H van, French Glazier 43466 Cadillac '52 Hearse 44616 Chrysler Voyager minivan, Osnabruck Fire Brigade 44651 Dodge Ram Van Monster Truck "Terminator" 44717 Buick '50 Crazy Car 46409 Chevrolet Blazer, Alaska State Trooper 46805 Mercedes 1977 W 123 Station Wagon, CMD-Collection 47332 Fiat Ducato, Heavy Load Escort 47620 Chevrolet Caprice, San Francisco Police Department 47824 MB Sprinter van, Bavarian Red Cross Lifeguard Service 48115 VW Passat Station wagon, Berlin Tempelhof Fire Brigade (this is a 500-piece limited edition) 48916 Smart City Coupé, Johanniter (German branch of the Order of St. John, Hospitaler) 48920 Smart City Coupé, "Waste Watcher" (used for street cleaning in Hamburg) 49152 MB C-Class Station Wagon, German Taxi in ivory 49201 Audi A 4 Sedan, Bavarian Police (traditional Bavarian green and white markings)
At the 72nd International Automobile Salon in Geneva, MCC Smart presented the Crossblade, a summer sports version of the City Coupe. Described as a "motorcycle on four wheels," the Crossblade is an open roadster without doors or roof. Instead of a windshield, there's a low wind deflector. First seen as a show car, the Crossblade will be built in a 2,000-unit limited run. Each will be individually manufactured and will receive a special serial number as a mark of its exclusivity.
Now Busch presents the Smart Crossblade in 1:87 scale. All details of the original are captured perfectly in the model. A special challenge to the developers of the model were the many delicate individual parts, like the splash guards on the wheel housings, safety loops (instead of doors) with outside mirror, draft deflector etc. As you expect from Busch, the model has a super-high-gloss polished body with finely engraved lines, transparent headlights and tail lamps, prototypical interior with color-coordinated instrument panel and separate steering wheel. The wheel rims are high gloss painted. Fine printing accents enhance the overall appearance: Model designations on the vehicle front and rear, seat faces as well as seat backs, headrests on the Tridion frame, brake light, colored accents on the Tridion and the front windscreen.
The Smart Crossblade model will be available at Smart centers in early June. Beginning in 2003, the Crossblade will be also be available in the Busch standard collection.
Thanks to Bill Cawthon for the Busch update.
Crescent Station has announced that Truck Stop Models, owned by Trip and Cheryl Aiken, have purchased the retail mail order operations fo Crescent Station. You may recognize Trip's name from the many 1/87 Vehicle Club contest winner photos and his models' appearances in the Photo Galleries; we sincerely wish Trip, Cheryl, and Truck Stop Models all the best!
SFTT-3 $4.00
SFTT-2 $3.00
SFTT-4 $4.00
Karl Erk has released three new decal sets for Santa Fe Trail Transportation Company (shown above). These decals are appropriate for the period 1940-1969. Each set will finish one model and includes photo of finished model with painting suggestions. The decals are designed by Karl and printed by Donald Manlick. Shipping and handling for up to 5 sets is $1.00. Payment by check or money order payable to:
Karl Erk 878 Macopin Rd. W. Milford, NJ 07480
Herpa is now shipping the following models previously announced as May-June releases:
023092 Mercedes Benz Vaneo 033091 Mercedes Benz Vaneo, metallic 045544 Mercedes Benz W 210 Binz Ambulance "ADAC" 045551 Mercedes-Benz E Class sedan, Director's car, THW North Rhein-Westphalen 045568 Mercedes Benz C-Class Station Wagon, Mobile Command Center - Duesseldorf Fire Brigade 051798 Heavy duty tower (MAN) (2 pieces) 051828 Ballast pick-up (2 pieces) 075732 2x20 ft. tank container; (undecorated) 075848 Silo trailer FFB 42m³ 110273 Renault Magnum rigid tractor PC 120326 Scania 124 refrigerated box trailer "Koch" 147934 MAN TG-A XXL interchangeable cargo box trailer "German Parcel" 147972 Scania Hauber TL rigid tractor 148016 Large capacity semitrailer truck "Hochtief" 148023 MAN F 8 Jumbo curtainside trailer "Deutrans" 148054 MAN TG-A XXL silo semitrailer 60m³ "Heibo" 148085 Mercedes-Benz Actros LH curtain canvas semitrailer "Chantré Rouge"
Announced as a August Release:
148122 Liebherr L580 Wheel Loader (shown above)
Photo by Ralf Grote
MEK is currently producing resin kits for the 1955 GMC Greyhound Scenicruiser intercity bus (shown above). This bus is probably the defining vehicle for intercity motorcoach travel for the period 1955-1970. Some remained in charter and local service well into the 1970s.
Micron Art has announced a photo-etched brass model kit of a 1914 Knox fire engine. Loaded with cast brass and photo-etched details. Check it out at either the Micron Art web site or Walthers web site.
OHS Models is currently shipping six different paint scheme and detail versions of a Terex 100 ton mining dump truck. These schemes cover most of the different variations offered by Terex during the life of this vehicle. Contact your OHS dealer or Dan Goins of Zycon Models for more details. Shown below is a larger photo of the Terex 33100 version (third from right in above photo).
Terex 33100, Dan Goins photo
Promotex has announced the following for June release:
# 6298 - White Road Commander Dump Truck: This model features the White Road Commander COE as a dump truck. It comes in handy for all those construction sites that need equipment from the late 60's to the mid 70's. Of course, many of these trucks can still be seen today. As with all Promotex dump trucks, this too has a working dump mechanism and opening tailgate. The cab is painted yellow, the dump bed silver. Price: $10.95
# 6303 - Peterbilt 362 COE "Flames": With this truck from our Independent Series you can virtually feel the heat of the road. The Peterbilt 362 is painted maroon. Flames are streaming out of the front of the tractor and trailing along the sides. Print colors are white, yellow and orange. The theme is continued on the 48' van trailer. The box is maroon, flames are trailing along the side of the trailer. Price: $17.95
# 6304 - Work Force Mack with 2-axle Drop Deck: This item is one of two brand new trailers which we are featuring in this release. The 48' spread-axle drop deck has a 102" wide deck - ideal for heavier pieces of equipment and wide loads. The trailer is modeled after plans from a trailer manufactured by a California company. The real thing is made of aluminum. Ours is made of plastic and a lot less expensive. The wheels of this model feature low profile tires - another first on the market. The trailer is pulled by a Mack CH 603 in the Work Force design. Price: $15.95 (includes pocket knife)
# 6305 - Work Force Kenworth T-600 with 3-axle Drop Deck: This model has the second brand new trailer of this release. Everything that has been written for # 6304 is true for this unit, except that this trailer has three axles, all of them with dual low profile tires. The decks for both trailers are painted aluminum color, the frames are red. The trailer is pulled by a short Kenworth T-600 in the Work Force design. Price: $15.95
# 021999 - Chevrolet Corvette ZR 1: After a lengthy absence from our line-up this sporty dream car of days gone by is back, this time in bright red. Price: $7.95
# 022026 - Buick Grand National: Another great model from the past makes a reappearance - very powerful looking and very black. Price: $7.95
ROCO Minitanks has announced a new helicopter kit in scale 1/87. It is the gunship helicopter "Apache" AH-64 A/B/C, Item-# 718. Special thanks to Ralf Grote for being persistent enough to get this posted!
