stanhas87
87thScale addict
1978 Dodge Monaco CHP
Posts: 4,906
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Post by stanhas87 on Mar 12, 2004 3:55:24 GMT 1
Dear Sirs:
This thread can be treated as a comment of what exists in this wonderful scale.No lists;that was done.Its main function would be to alert what one could find in terms of different vehicles;comments about the manufacturers,and so on.Look how sucessful the '2004 toy show thread' was.
Hence: The first HO cars were intended for the train lay-outs and these people did not care if they were correct,on right scale or so on; they were concetrating on the trains,scenery and so on. The current Bachmann cars are an example of the earlier issues.Cars,station wagons and trucks that are not related to any real vehicle. Wiking in Germany had detailed-well,close to HO for the first ones-cars since the 1950's.In the US,Jodan was the one who were producing real car kits and by 1955 they released a model that no one ever heard of (and I saw it): the Jeep Willys Wagon.They are still in business and their kits are very good. By the 1970's,even the toy cars started to be detailed,more so by the 1980's.By then.there were several makes doing the cars,and collectors,besides the train folk,started to notice these. 1/87 is unique because there are manufactured cars,kits,'home-done' vehicles and the ones that belong to the toy section.By now,due to the addition to all of these,the variety of vehicles is high indeed.Also,the 1/87 kits has molded several vehicles that are not avaliable by the 'major manufacturers' or do not existed on any scale-e.g..the Roumanian Dacia or even Magnuson's Ford F600 Crew cab. Wiking is the HO manufacturer that,perhaps,is the most known,followed by Herpa.
Germany still the main center of HO car production.Japan never tried because,as I understood,and I could be wrong-HO is too big for them.The Chinese produce some of it;the First Mustangs from Herpa have Hong Kong markings on these; I understand that some others are produced in China now. And there are many other manufacturers.
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stanhas87
87thScale addict
1978 Dodge Monaco CHP
Posts: 4,906
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Post by stanhas87 on Mar 13, 2004 3:23:34 GMT 1
Dear Sirs:
Cars in 1/87 are european at its majority but now it came to the point that the variety of models is quite high. Herpa and Wiking will give the Usual Mercedes and BMW's,and at times interesting pieces as the Volkswagen K70 and DKW Munga.The Wiking range also included the Lloyd,Goliath,NSU a 1957 Continental,1966 Chevrolet Chevelle.Herpa kept after Mercedes,BMW,Porsche and a times an Alfa-Romeo,Range Rover,Jaguar were thrown in. Busch will offer American models from Chrysler,Chevrolet,Ford plus other interesting items such as the Fiat Fiorino panel van,Borgward Isabella and the first Benz vehicles. Rietze offered japanese vehicles from Mitsubishi and Honda besides the usual German prototypes. Brekina has a more historic concept with their offerings,and such items as the BMW Dixie,German Ford Taunus,Volvo Amazon,Citroen traction avant and a fleet of other vintage vehicles and these are supebly done.Their newer offerings brought happiness among the HO collectors. And so it goes.There are manufacturers there that will offer 1950's american cars such as CMW and Alloy Forms,Gregg's Garage,Stoney Mountain,AHI and others.Eastern European Cars are ofered by Berolina,Artapo and Espewe and there are plenty of Trabants,Wartburgs and even Romanian Dacias being molded.Australian cars are manufactured by Weico and one can get their batch of Holdens,Australian Fords and so on. The other factors are the kits and even these are interesting:1971 Ford Econoline van,1976 Chevrolet Nova,Oldsmobile 442 and Plymouth Barracuda by Magnuson;1904 Oldsmobile,Ford A's from Jordan and the list goes on. Japanese cars are somehow where represented.Ironically,most of the modern ones are absent-the same thing as american cars.Small manufacturers will offer that absent models,such as De Loreans,Packards,Nash,Ramblers and so on. Finally,the big diecast companies are also offering HO cars.Matchbox,Mattel,Siku,Schuco either did so or are offering cars at this scale now,suplemented by the ocasional truck or bus. A list of car makes yelded at least 100 different makes and if one adds the different models of each,than the list will get quite huge indeed. And,as it happens with the Chinese junk,there are manufacturers who did not made such outstanding models.However,as is the case,unique models were molded by these.
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BillC
87thScale addict
Posts: 2,541
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Post by BillC on Mar 13, 2004 3:30:00 GMT 1
I believe the Wiking Continental was a 1955 model and the Chevelle was a 1964. There was, up until this year, Wiking also made a very nice 1956-57 Corvette.
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Post by Sylvain on Mar 13, 2004 10:04:13 GMT 1
Wiking Continental was a 1955 model The Wiking Continental is I think a 1957 model. The Continental Mark II has only been produced for two years, in 1956 and 1957, and the only difference between 1956 and 1957 models is the front bumper.
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Post by cfesmire on Mar 13, 2004 15:36:43 GMT 1
I have a tendency to shy away from the "big four" most of the time. Thier models are easy to acquire and don't require much work, if any, to look good. Don't get me wrong, I own my fair share. I try to find pieces that are rare or represent classic vehicle styling. One look at most of my models will reveal a penchant for classic old American trucks. The resin kits offered by a few small manufacturers are just about all one can find in vintage trucks, with the exception of some of the Wiking rereleases and they are mostly European (yes, I know there are exceptions) Sheepscot Scale Products, Don Mills and Sylvan Scale are a few that offer some high quality castings and are rarely a disappointment in opening the package. I find resin kits are easy to work (i.e. filing cutting etc.), lend themselves to many kitbashing opportunities and there is a wide variety of subject vehicles. Often the quality of detail and true to prototype proportions are of the highest levels. I offer one more thought; throughout the year we see offering from these smaller, often only one or two people operations, and it is a delight to be surprised by the announcement at any time of something new. Waiting for a single annual event builds a great deal of anticipation and although there are many high points in the products from the big guys at the toy fair, I hear an equal amount of disappointment at what is and is not released from where I sit. Chester
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Post by cfesmire on Mar 13, 2004 15:51:06 GMT 1
One question: Why is this considered off topic? Or am I just not getting it? (wouldn't be the first time eh?)
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stanhas87
87thScale addict
1978 Dodge Monaco CHP
Posts: 4,906
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Post by stanhas87 on Mar 13, 2004 16:29:34 GMT 1
Dear Sirs:
It is interesting to notice that the array of kits on 1/87 supplement the makes of vehicles that otherwise will be absent from the collector's shelf. I still do not know who did it,but the resin-molded Dodge Ramcharger is one of these.I also knew this person who molded the Divco (body only;later,he was supplying the chassi) and a good line of truck cabs including an older Fiat.Along the line,some of these trucks were molded by the major manufacturers.These people are the ones who are doing this scale so rich-by adding vehicles that no larger manufacturer wants to deal with (excuse: poor sales return). Everybody attacks EKO (poorly done vehicles-true) but one fact stands:they made vehicles that are not so often reproduced (and,as I heard,with the right touches,they will look all right) such as the Willys Jeep Wagon (another was done by Promotex-last year!),Kaiser Jeep FC series,Fiat Multipla,Seat panel van,Thornycroft/Antar semi cab and flat bed trailer,Ebro (Ford Thames) truck,Ford FK van (Roco came with another some time ago).The same thing is true of New Ray models,but they offered a Jeep Dakar and a Mitsubishi Crew Cab pick-up (these are toys on the real sense;yet they can be detailed and it already happened). There is not a shy amount of Eastern European or Russian Vehicles,either,be the Moskvitch,Lada,Volga or their trucks and buses.An unknown make such as the Aro (1910's) was reproduced as well on truck and bus forms.And the list of Eastern European cars,trucks and some of the buses-are represented.Cars such as the EMW,Syrena,Polski Fiat and Warsawa have its model counterpart. The big abscence is of modern american cars-Saturn,Olds Aurora,Pontiac Gran Prix.And some of the newer Chryslers exists as models attached to a Keychain,such as the Neon.300 C and I believe the Avenger.Japanese cars such as the Camry,Altima,Sentra are also absent-and that is interesting. Otherwise,1/87 is a very assorted scale in terms of (all) vehicles.And that includes.....................well,you know.
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Post by cfesmire on Mar 14, 2004 1:29:50 GMT 1
Since this is off topic I believe I can get away with this. When I was young, I knew a native American gentleman that was a prolific fisherman and made his own lures and sold a few to locals for a few cents each. Several out-of-staters found this fellow and soon large outfits like Pflueger and Rapala were knocking at his door to mass produce his pieces. As luck would have it, he released his rights to the lures for a mere pitance, although a fortune to him. Today fishermen across the globe use his designs and he took the money he got from the settlement and sadly drank himself to death. Have we small manufacturers in this scale that have had an experience similar to this in designing and building a great model and then having it made by a larger manufacturer?
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stanhas87
87thScale addict
1978 Dodge Monaco CHP
Posts: 4,906
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Post by stanhas87 on Mar 14, 2004 19:46:43 GMT 1
Dear Sirs:
Trucks in 1/87 comes from the regular manufacturers,kits and Toy companies and the variety of these is very,very high. Albedo's main products are trucks and their trailers have an infinite array of liveries.Wiking had a good selection of these,be it a Dodge,Fiat,White,Chevrolet,Mercedes-Benz.Henschel,Bussing,Krupp,Peterbilt and many more.Their semi trailers also had a large array of liveries and sold under other brand names as well. Herpa trucks are also sold as Promotex and Con-cor and the are the usual,including a DAF and Scania tractor Units. Kits include untis like several Internationals,Fords,GMCs and more.Several manufacturers,such as IMEX,CMW,are offering trucks that were avaliable only as a kit before. Yatming offered the Ford 'C' series years before Athearn.Matchbox had Bedfords,Ford.GMC trucks in 1/87;Mattel had the Ford CL and LTL.Fact is,since 1/87 rigid trucks have an three inch average size for 1/87,several of these were offered by the diecast companies.Zee Toys also had an interesting range besides the Pets and Kemworths: Mack Cruiseliner,International 9000 series Cabover.Lindberg offered the Ford 'W' series tractor,GMC astro Cabover.Majorette had the GMC brigadier tractor.And so on. Brekina had a historica variety of Magirus and Mercedes-Benz trucks;Roskopf offered Swiss Saurer trucks and this chinese company offered a circa 1/90 International Transtar tractor. The Ford 'C' series was originally developed by Mack.Aurora has a 1/90 slot racer version of the latter.And I can not forget the International Loadstar,Mack R and Ford F-600 crew cab from Magnuson.And small kit manufacturers offered not so-known truck such as the Kleber or well known such as Autocar,Diamond Reo.And there is more.
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Post by Christian on Mar 15, 2004 23:29:26 GMT 1
Chester: my thoughts exactly on the resin kits. Have we small manufacturers in this scale that have had an experience similar to this in designing and building a great model and then having it made by a larger manufacturer? Most smaller manufacturers work with hobby materials. Even if a large manufacturer would be interested I don't see how a plastic master model could be "translated" into a steel mold. Yes, why is this off topic? (It is now anyway ...)
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stanhas87
87thScale addict
1978 Dodge Monaco CHP
Posts: 4,906
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Post by stanhas87 on Mar 16, 2004 4:38:52 GMT 1
Dear Sirs:
On the truck grounds,it can be said that the most of the Russian trucks are well represented.I know versions of the Ural,Kamaz,Zil and others.Mostly of these were molded in resin by several small companies from Russia and at times some will come from the former Soviet republics or Czeck republic. Sdv from the Czeck republic does offers a good amount of Czeck trucks such as Tatras and Skodas.These kits can be difficult to build;yet,once these are ready they look good. Japanese trucks are made by the diecast companies such as Tomy.Nissan Diesel cabover trucks and Hinos were molded by latter and there is a Hino version in plastic-I did not knew that. In Australia and Canada,there are places that one can see trucks with more than two trailers-road trains-and sure enough,there are HO manufacturers which molded these versions of trucks.
Dear Chester: I also know that during the history of HO-specially the trains-sorry!- it was the small manufacturers who called the attetion of the big manufacturers how to do things right and/or in scale.Adittionally,there were cases when an individual abilitys 'taught' the big companies how to manufacture some details that were impossible to do.Surely enough,as anyhing else,many of them had their innovations bought for nothing.
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BillC
87thScale addict
Posts: 2,541
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Post by BillC on Mar 16, 2004 11:48:53 GMT 1
The Wiking Continental is I think a 1957 model. The Continental Mark II has only been produced for two years, in 1956 and 1957, and the only difference between 1956 and 1957 models is the front bumper. Sylvain: I believe you are correct. The vertical bars in the grille of the 1956 model (introduced in 1955) are not on the Wiking model. Apologies for the inaccuracy. Bill
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stanhas87
87thScale addict
1978 Dodge Monaco CHP
Posts: 4,906
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Post by stanhas87 on Mar 17, 2004 3:15:14 GMT 1
Dear Sirs:
In all,there is a good variety of buses at this scale and again,these can be ready-made,kit,or diecast. Rietze is the manufacturer who offers the most models of buses.Neoplan,Volvo,MAN,Mercedes,Van Hool and Scania are being modeled by this company and these are not one model of each.Busch does offer an vintage Mercedes bus, the Renalt/Mack highway buses and Renault City buses,some of Paris Liveries.Wiking had and has an good assortment:Bussing single and double-decker,Mercedes and Man,both single and Double Decker.AWM has the Setras and so does Herpa.Smaller manufacturers would offer a good variety of vehicles,from BOVA from Efsi,Ikarus from Espewe.There are Skoda,Saviem,Flexble,GMC old look buses avaliable as well. Diecast buses include Saviem,AEC,GMC Scenicruisesr and a range of japanese Mitsubishi coaches. Kits include GMC Scenicruiser,GMC TDH and RTS,Bluebird,Renault,Flexble and Ford. There are several Russian buses as well,such as ZIS,ZIL and others.Weico complete the roster with their Australian buses.In all,one can say that there is a good variety of this vehicles in there. David Roberts from Florida also molded an extensive amount of bus kits; altough these were seldom seen,they are of regular quality and accorfing to their catalogs,there were a good amount of these and their Scenicruiser preceded the one currently made by MEK.
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Post by cfesmire on Mar 17, 2004 14:17:02 GMT 1
Relatively new to 1-87 manufacturing is Newgard Model Ind. that produce a series of vintage buses in resin. Very nice. Chester
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Lee
Senior Member
Posts: 1,899
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Post by Lee on Mar 18, 2004 0:58:58 GMT 1
Relatively new to 1-87 manufacturing is Newgard Model Ind. that produce a series of vintage buses in resin. Very nice. Chester Is there more than one type of bus available? I know he has come out with the '35 and was working on others, but have not heard anything since.
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