RCM (RARE CAR MODELS) a model maker from St.Petersburg (Russia, not the one in Florida!), hitherto totally unknown to me, just released a 1:43 model of the 1921 Benz 8/20 HP Doctor's Cabriolet, body by Forton & Bettens (UK).
The model has been produced in a very limited quantity of 25 pieces, and I know of around 20 avid Mercedes collectors in Moscow. So, hurry with your order, and e-mail to: mch@1gb.ru. The shop is called ModelCarsHeritage, all correspondence can be done in English (or Russian), and payment by PayPal is accepted.
A little bit of history about the 1921 Benz 8-20 HP Doctor's Cabriolet, body by Forton & Bettens (UK), Chassis No. 24782, Engine No. 24782.
The following are excerpts from Sotheby’s catalogue describing the car, which was subsequently sold for 53,200 GBP (incl. buyers fee) during the RM-Sotheby’s auction of September 9th, 2013:
The body is by the coach builders Forton & Bettens, of 51 Horseferry Road, London, SW, about whom little is known. According to Nick Walker’s book “A–Z of British Coachbuilders”, it is apparently one of two known surviving examples of their craftsmanship, with the other being a 1923 Bentley.
It is interesting to note that there is correspondence between a former owner and VSCC [Vintage Sports-Car Club] member in the UK, a Mr J.R.H. Ealand, and Mercedes-Benz, which indicates that this rare English coach-built Benz spent some time in England in the early 1990s…
In the next few weeks, Rare Car Models will release another 1:43 model, that will be of interest to us, namely, under the order number “rcm.04”, the Mercedes-Benz Lo2600 from 1934, with a streamlined body by Kässbohrer. The model will be available in three versions: two-tone, in a colour that resembles the ‘Reichsbahn’-buses; in the dark grey Wehrmacht colour of the Second World War (rcm.04a), and in solid mid-brown (rcm.04b).
The price of the model from St.Petersburg – which can be preordered – is 13,500 Russian Rubles, i.e. approx. 175.00€, or approx. 197.00 USD, plus shipping costs. Please email your order to mch@1gb.ru
Upcoming from Matrix, the model of the 1927 Mercedes-Benz 710SS (W06) with body by “Armbruster”. The 1:43 model reprises the model of the same car, which was made nine years ago by EMC for B&G/Euroline. You may remember the car, its history and the model in an article published in the MBMC-Journal No.4/2011. In it, it clearly shows, that the car is presently painted in two-tone red, the sides and the fenders being just a little, but nevertheless noticeably darker than the rest of the car. Mikhail Bashmashnikov of B&G and EMC translated this perfectly.
The same cannot be said of the soon to be released Matrix-model, which, judging by the picture of the pre-production model on the website, is the same solid red all over. A simpler, but less accurate rendering.
As well, it appears on the available pictures, that the roof on the open model is not accurate either, and does not represent the roof of the real car. Hopefully, this can still be corrected prior to the release of the model.
The description which Matrix gives to its model is faulty as well: this particular car is definitely not a 680S from the period 1928 – 1932 with body by Armbruster. It is a one of a kind 1927 Mercedes 710 Type SS (W06), chassis Nr. 35213, coachbuilt by Armbruster (Vienna). Here Matrix fell into the trap of most incorrect descriptions found on the Internet.
Altaya is about to release in its press-collection dedicated to military vehicles the 1:43 model of the Mercedes-Benz 170 VK, not quite a Jeep, but an all-purpose vehicle based on the 170VK (W136K) sedan, specifically made for, and used by the Wehrmacht during WW II. Altaya’s model, made by IXO, is presented in the livery of Fieldmarshall Rommel’s famed ‘Afrika Korps’. The removable window frames should be as grey as the roof, since they were made in the same material.
Scalemasters, from Valkenswaard in the Netherlands, is releasing a 1:43 model of the Mercedes-Benz Atego 1527F Z-Cab XL (Ziegler) in the two versions “Compact” VRU and “Basis” VRU, whereby, as is implied in the name, the “Compact” is somewhat shorter than the standard “Basis” version.
The model can be ordered directly from Scalemasters, by emailing to sales@scalemasters.nl.
Priced at a very reasonable 99 € (+ Shipping), the model is payable by PayPal.
Aurora Design & Creation Limited of Hong-Kong, a toy company I had never heard of before, announces an interesting 1:43 scale model of the Sprinter (incidentally without the ‘star’ in the radiator grille!), as a bomb disposal unit of the Hong-Kong police. The complete model consists not only of the Mercedes Sprinter with a removable container, but also of two blast masters in their heavy protective gear (but without any gloves – go figure!), a miniature bomb (no worries!) and a robot. (Note: there is also a Sprinter bus in the same Hong-Kong police livery, which is available separately for 90 Dollars) – in case you want to make a bomb disposal diorama, by chance.)
For more information and how to go about ordering the model(s), please follow the following link: https://m.facebook.com/AURORAmodel.hk/photos/?ref=page_internal&mt_nav=0
And now, from Hong-Kong to Paris, where MOMACO is soon releasing with some delay, caused by Covid-19, a model by Perfex of the Unimog U 406 in a special Paris Police version used during demonstrations and euphemistically called the “Maintien de l’ordre” ( i.e. “order preservation”) version. I assume the blade up front is supposed to clear more than just snow…
These three models were supposed to be released in April 2020, but Covid-19 decided otherwise. At present the only information available about the release date is the abbreviation “n.c.” i.e. “non connu”, i.e. “unknown”. For those who are interested, may I suggest to go from time to time onto the http://www.momaco.fr/en/ website, then click onto “manufacturers”, then chose “Perfex”. A price isn’t known either at this point.
In any event, here are the details regarding each variant of the model:
Perfex # 727, white /weiss, 150 pcs./Stk. *
Perfex # 728, grey / grau, 150 pcs./Stk. *
Perfex # 729, blue / blau, 100 pcs./Stk. *
*All 3 models have the following description:
Mercedes-Benz Unimog 406, Police Nationale „Maintien de l’ordre“.
Sorry, the May issue of the Newsletter was cancelled, due to the Covid-19 pandemic and a lack of news of new 1:43 scale Mercedes models. Thank you for your understanding.
(с)BERND D. LOOSEN
