Athearn will be delivering the four Coke beverage delivery trucks shown above. Each truck has a different paint scheme. The Hackney beverage trailer is all new tooling and, as we have come to expect from Athearn, features some absolutely superb printing of the logos.
Athearn has announced a totally new fire truck model that features some absolutely amazing detail (see photos above). The canopy style Ford C cab pumper features all new tooling of every component of this model. Even the wheels are new to this model! Expected availability is May, 2003.
Busch - On March 6, 2003, the same day DaimlerChrysler introduced the real car in Geneva, Busch introduced its 1/87 scale model of the new Mercedes-Benz CLK Convertible.
The model has a super-high-gloss polished body with finely engraved lines. In front is highly detailed with an embossed and chrome-embossed grille, super-bright headlights and chrome-plated fog lights. The rear has separate tail lamps, printed Mercedes star, third brake light and chromed exhaust pipe tips. In between in an accurate reproduction of the interior; including a contrasting color instrument panel and a separate steering wheel with an engraved Mercedes star. Prototypical black trim runs all around up to the windshield. The rims are high gloss painted and behind them, the chrome-plated disk brakes are visible. In addition, the darker body colors also have super-thin printed side trim and door handles in silver. The first models have been delivered to Mercedes dealers in brilliant silver, Iolith blue (Capri Blue in North America) and Cuban silver (Desert Silver in North America).
This fall, the CLK Convertible will become part of the Busch CMD Collection in regular distribution.
Fidelis Models announces the following:
USED ROCO We now have over 40 used Roco items available at discount prices. PREMO/KOMO We now have T-34/76, T-34/85, SU-85/44, and SU-100/45 in stock but supplies may not last. TRIDENT We have added several "white metal" kits HAULER Several new Hauler kits and detail sets are on the way from the Czech Republic. More details to follow.
Wiking - Here's Marc Schmidt's report on the April 2003 releases for Wiking. Wiking's February releases are just beginning to be available at your hobby shop, and we can already present their April releases. "Small is beautiful" is the appropriate headline in regard to the new HO [Hako] sweeper.
New Tooling
657 40 29 - Hako Citymaster 300 street-sweeper. You thought Wiking's existing Hako Citymaster 1800 TDI sweeper (657 02 22) was small? Think again! Here comes the 21.7 hp "strong" Citymaster 300 for pedestrian areas and sidewalks. Despite its size, the articulated steering is functional, and the trash bin may be taken out of the rear compartment. To top this off, the bin's lid can be opened and closed. (We are talking about the scale model here.) Regular trash-bins are used because these are changed and emptied most easily, and communities may use existing containers in combination with this little sweeper. 394 01 27 - Fella rotary rake with two rotors, red. A new, and huge, back-end implement for the increasing number of heavy farm tractors. 379 40 31 - Fendt Favorit 926 farm tractor with front-end loader and hay bale-gripper. New equipment for the front-end loader, completing the line of harvesting equipment. This makes sense, especially considering the Claas bale press. 538 11 41 - Mercedes-Benz Actros tractor and semi-trailer "Schober Transporte". The Actros is by far Europe's best selling long-distance truck, so Wiking could not resist modifying the tooling to offer recently the facelifted prototype. Herpa has already done this and both AWM and Schuco are to follow suit. The Wiking rig is the third model made by this manufacturer to come in Schober colors; previously, the semi-trailers featured additional advertisements for Dannon yogurt. 019 01 26 - Rosenbauer "Fox" portable pump engine with fireman and warning sign. According to Wiking, this pump is used in all parts of the world. 019 02 26 - Jumping cushion with group of firemen. A nice little accessory for Wiking's ensemble of aerial ladder trucks.
657 40 29 - Hako Citymaster 300 street-sweeper. You thought Wiking's existing Hako Citymaster 1800 TDI sweeper (657 02 22) was small? Think again! Here comes the 21.7 hp "strong" Citymaster 300 for pedestrian areas and sidewalks. Despite its size, the articulated steering is functional, and the trash bin may be taken out of the rear compartment. To top this off, the bin's lid can be opened and closed. (We are talking about the scale model here.) Regular trash-bins are used because these are changed and emptied most easily, and communities may use existing containers in combination with this little sweeper.
394 01 27 - Fella rotary rake with two rotors, red. A new, and huge, back-end implement for the increasing number of heavy farm tractors.
379 40 31 - Fendt Favorit 926 farm tractor with front-end loader and hay bale-gripper. New equipment for the front-end loader, completing the line of harvesting equipment. This makes sense, especially considering the Claas bale press.
538 11 41 - Mercedes-Benz Actros tractor and semi-trailer "Schober Transporte". The Actros is by far Europe's best selling long-distance truck, so Wiking could not resist modifying the tooling to offer recently the facelifted prototype. Herpa has already done this and both AWM and Schuco are to follow suit. The Wiking rig is the third model made by this manufacturer to come in Schober colors; previously, the semi-trailers featured additional advertisements for Dannon yogurt.
019 01 26 - Rosenbauer "Fox" portable pump engine with fireman and warning sign. According to Wiking, this pump is used in all parts of the world.
019 02 26 - Jumping cushion with group of firemen. A nice little accessory for Wiking's ensemble of aerial ladder trucks.
New Colors
696 22 28 - VW Golf Variant estate "Bundeswehr" (German federal army), metallic silver. Germany's federal agencies tend to lease rather than buy their fleets nowadays, and the army is no exception. The reason for the color chosen is a higher resale value after two or three years of use. 505 05 46 - 1994 Mercedes-Benz SK 3-axle tractor with 6-axle lowboy semi-trailer and load (dozer, wheel-loader), gray/yellow. We can't get rid of these machines - the Kaelble dozer and the Hanomag wheel-loader date back to 1959 and 1966, respectively. Maybe they are on their way to a museum? 405 02 26 - Unimog U140 tractor with asphalt trailer, gray. One more item to be offered in the new gray construction-company colors. Different from the previously available pavement-maker, the tractor is now a Unimog, and a U140 for the first time. 866 01 31 - 1960s Kaelble KV34 heavy dump truck, gray and yellow. In 1968, Wiking introduced this dumper (ca. 60 metric tons GVW) in 1/90th scale. Now, it gets the most recent color scheme, and admittedly, it still is a sight. 816 07 23 - 1958 Austin Healey 3000, light metallic blue with red interior and whitewall tires. For the first time, the beautiful British roadster will be delivered in a metallic finish. 834 06 24 - 1957 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL roadster, dark gray with beige interior. A classic among Wiking's classic models, and one of the few models with a scaled-down engine under the opening hood. 807 05 22 - 1957 Citroen ID 19, gray with black roof. Another two-color scheme for the French goddess - la déesse, as the DS designation of the series was commonly read. 809 06 20 - 1975 Citroen 2 CV (closed roof), black with red interior. 861 05 31 - 1959 Mercedes-Benz 220 S "fire-chief". Wiking admits there may only be a handful of prototypes, but this may be have been a mayor's car handed over to the local fire brigade's director at some point in the 1960s. 840 04 24 - 1939 Opel Blitz stake-truck "Wein-Groß-Kellerei Justus Friedmann", red. Not exactly an eye-catcher. But if the bottles of wine are good enough… 388 41 17 - Trailer with hay-bales, green. Already offered some years ago, but with the success of the agricultural items, Wiking hopes to find new customers. 016 02 16 - Round hay-bales, in white foil wrapping. A second color for the set of green bales to go with the Claas Rollant 250 baler.
696 22 28 - VW Golf Variant estate "Bundeswehr" (German federal army), metallic silver. Germany's federal agencies tend to lease rather than buy their fleets nowadays, and the army is no exception. The reason for the color chosen is a higher resale value after two or three years of use.
505 05 46 - 1994 Mercedes-Benz SK 3-axle tractor with 6-axle lowboy semi-trailer and load (dozer, wheel-loader), gray/yellow. We can't get rid of these machines - the Kaelble dozer and the Hanomag wheel-loader date back to 1959 and 1966, respectively. Maybe they are on their way to a museum?
405 02 26 - Unimog U140 tractor with asphalt trailer, gray. One more item to be offered in the new gray construction-company colors. Different from the previously available pavement-maker, the tractor is now a Unimog, and a U140 for the first time.
866 01 31 - 1960s Kaelble KV34 heavy dump truck, gray and yellow. In 1968, Wiking introduced this dumper (ca. 60 metric tons GVW) in 1/90th scale. Now, it gets the most recent color scheme, and admittedly, it still is a sight.
816 07 23 - 1958 Austin Healey 3000, light metallic blue with red interior and whitewall tires. For the first time, the beautiful British roadster will be delivered in a metallic finish.
834 06 24 - 1957 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL roadster, dark gray with beige interior. A classic among Wiking's classic models, and one of the few models with a scaled-down engine under the opening hood.
807 05 22 - 1957 Citroen ID 19, gray with black roof. Another two-color scheme for the French goddess - la déesse, as the DS designation of the series was commonly read.
809 06 20 - 1975 Citroen 2 CV (closed roof), black with red interior.
861 05 31 - 1959 Mercedes-Benz 220 S "fire-chief". Wiking admits there may only be a handful of prototypes, but this may be have been a mayor's car handed over to the local fire brigade's director at some point in the 1960s.
840 04 24 - 1939 Opel Blitz stake-truck "Wein-Groß-Kellerei Justus Friedmann", red. Not exactly an eye-catcher. But if the bottles of wine are good enough…
388 41 17 - Trailer with hay-bales, green. Already offered some years ago, but with the success of the agricultural items, Wiking hopes to find new customers.
016 02 16 - Round hay-bales, in white foil wrapping. A second color for the set of green bales to go with the Claas Rollant 250 baler.
