MBMC: Newsletter No 16 - December 2020

SPARK announces the 1:43 release of the Sauber C9 Mercedes No.61, the winning car of the 1987 Würth SuperCup Nürburgring race, with Jo Schlesser at the wheel.

     

Minichamps presents the 1:43 BRABUS 550 4x4² „Adventure”, based on the Mercedes-Benz G 500 4x4. Soon available in black or in white at your model car dealer for around 72 Euro.

Memories - A tribute to the 25th anniversary of the company CMC.

(by/von/door: Roland Rittmann)

This year marks the 25th anniversary of the modelmaker CMC, well known for its outstanding quality in their larger models in the scales 1:10 to 1:24. Very unfortunately for us collectors of the 1:43 scale, CMC so far has only produced one single 1:43 model, the “Blue Wonder” Mercedes race transporter used in 1954 and 1955 for the speedy transportation of Mercedes GP racers. But here again, CMC produced an incredibly fine and detailed model, still the very best by a long shot among all the ones made before and after in 1:43.

In the following article our former MBMC president Roland Rittmann recalls his early experiences with the founders of CMC, Mrs. Shuxiao Jia and Mr. Nickerl, and the 25 years of co-operation between Mercedes-Benz, the MBMC and CMC.

At the beginning of the 80's the car exhibition “Car Show of Superlatives”, sponsored by the oil company Veedol, wandered through our country. The so-called Mercedes "Black Prince", a special body of the SSK of Conte Carlo Felice Trossi, could be admired here. A visit to the exhibition of, inspired me to collect historical information and pictures of this admirable automobile.

Our patron and supervisor for our club at that time on the part of Mercedes-Benz was Friedrich Müller, who was in charge of the Mercedes store in the 1980s - 90s. He invited me to a conversation with Mr. Nickerl in the early 90s. During this time Mr. Nickerl imported goods, toys and model cars from China. Friedrich Müller's goal for the store was to offer extraordinary automobilia and model cars with the star and he was always looking for appropriate objects. Mr. Nickerl for his part had the plan to have larger model cars produced in high quality under his new company name CMC. From these conversations and the convincing documents of the "Black Prince", which I had collected, Mr. Nickerl decided to have this car manufactured in China in a 24x reduction in high quality. Thus, the MBMC indirectly participated in the selection of the first car model by CMC.

After the great success of the "Black Prince" on the model market, a first series, also called "Solitair", of five Mercedes models in four years started in 1995. This was followed by the types 500K Special Roadster, 540K Cabriolet B, these in scale 1/24; a Benz tricycle in scale 1/10; then in 1998 the Silver Arrow W 196 Monoposto already in the larger scale 1/18. These models were characterized by great detailing, originality, as well as by an engine replica, opening hoods and doors, steering and with special equipment in leather and textiles.

Six more models with the star followed to the millennium, mostly in 1/18th scale.

As a "big" surprise in "small" size, CMC created in 2002 the racing car transporter, the "Blue Wonder", in 1/43 scale.

It was, and it still remains to this day the only 1/43 model from CMC, an outsider in this scale. It was a feast for the eyes, the detailing with opening doors and the view into the engine compartment.

Afterwards, many more models with the star followed. The share of models with the star alone makes up the largest part of the car brands, with 24 car types. This resulted in a multiple of design variants. The CMC price list from 2006 offered 36 Mercedes-Benz models!

With the years of experience and further improved production techniques the range of scales 1/10, 1/12, 1/18, 1/24 made in fascinating detailing developed up to approx. 270 model miniatures. With the announcement of the Mercedes 600 Pullman, CMC has added a crown to the 1/18th scale range.

The collector also owes a special respect to the individually offered engines from some models. This realization, to be able to remove the scaled down engine from the model, requires a perfectly fitting miniature.

No matter whether limousines, racing cars or commercial vehicles, over decades CMC achieved an extraordinary perfection in detail, function and finish and left competitors such as Franklin-Mint, Paul's Model Art, AutoArt and Exoto behind.

I can follow this amazing development on the specimens in my collection.

When looking at the variety of models, the Mercedes collector had wished to be able to admire the 300 D ("Adenauer" in 1/24) also as an open convertible or sedan in the showcase.

The company CMC rightly calls its products "solitary exhibits", one-of-a-kind ones.

On the occasion of the CMC anniversary year, we were again presented with a new model bearing the star. The "Black Prince" in super scale 1/18. A good selection, and a reference to the beginnings of the successful company. We are curious what CMC will present to us collectors in the future.

A special quality of the company can be seen in the supplements to the delivered models. Here you can find documents, certificates as well as historical and technical information, and thus round off the collector item perfectly.

 

To all the friends and readers of the “Newsletter”, I herewith would like to wish at the end of this year from hell that was 2020, if not a merry, then at least a serene Christmas, and above all a healthy and happy New Year 2021. Let’s start it with hope and determination! It can only get better!

(с)BERND D. LOOSEN