Category Archives: Wiking

WIKING October 2023 Part 2

By Maz Woolley

This article continues my look at WIKING releases for October 2023.

Construction material vehicle (Mercedes-Benz) “Raab Karcher” – 1:87

This Mercedes-Benz tractor unit with its long trailer was designed to haul steel girders and long pipe sections. The ‘square cab’ Mercedes-Benz brings back a piece of German construction site history. In the 1970s, Raab Karcher was a large and expanding builder’s merchant in the Federal Republic. The tractor unit was made between 1965 an 1976.

Image from eBay listing

Of course this generation of Mercedes-Benz tractor unit has appeared in the WIKING range in the past with the tipper shown above an example of the earlier simpler finish provided in the past.

The new model is liveried in Raab Karcher logos and has had silver detailing applied with a neat Mercedes-Benz star on the front of the grille. It also includes a crane to handle loading and unloading of the heavy and long items carried.

Truck trailer – alpine blue – 1:87

Trailers of many kinds have been made by WIKING over the years with a wide variety of agricultural trailers in particular. The Photograph below shows an older item from WIKING with the simpler finish and limited detail seen in the past.

Photograph from eBay listing

Here WIKING produce a trailer to contemporary standards with twin axles and a draw bar to contemporary standards. It is based on a trailer produced between 1956 and 1968 and is based on an older moulding.

There is limited detailing on this trailer though it does get made in two plastic colours and has red printed rear lights.

Polizei – Unimog U 1700 – 1:87

The Unimog has featured in the WIKING range ever since its arrival on the market. It has appeared in many different variations just like the original vehicle. An early and very simple model from WIKING is shown below.

Here the latest version of this vehicle is a Unimog U 1700 in the livery of the German Polizei . This has often been purchased for use by the riot police. For this version WIKING have created a new tilt and added it to their true-to-life portfolio of German emergency vehicles. The type of Unimog shown was made between 1975 and 1993.

The model is neatly detailed with separate blue beacons fitted to the roof and Polizei printed on the bonnet. A nice separately inserted exhaust stack is moulded in black as is the chassis and grille. As ever the Mercedes-Benz emblem is silver printed as are the headlights, whilst the rear lights are printed in red.

Borgward flatbed truck – rose – 1:87

Borgward is a name from the past with the German car and truck maker having gone into receivership in 1963.

Wiking made Borgward commercials in their older and simpler style for many years including the models shown belwo.

Image from zuckerfabrik24

Here WIKING produce another version of the flatbed truck with much more detailing. In the 1950s, Borgward still ranked among the republic’s major producers of small commercial vehicles. This Borgward has the brand’s distinctive diamond shaped logo in the middle of the radiator grille. Produced from 1957 to 1961 it remained a common sight on German roads for many years after Borgward production ceased.

Here the model is produced in rose with yellow chassis, wheels and bumpers. The grille is black and silver printed and the headlights are printed silver and tail lights printed red.

Mercedes-Benz 280 SE Cabriolet, red – 1:87

The 280 SE Cabriolet has long featured in the WIKING range. Originally issued in the classic modelling style that lasted for many years with simple generic ‘turbine’ wheels and limited detailing and a scale of around 1:90. An earlier example is shown below.

Image from modellbahn-nuetz

Here we see the latest incarnation of this car from WIKING. It has previously been released in blue and brown. The model has been updated and a new interior created as the old tooling did not exist. The real car was made from 1968 to 1972 and is now a classic car. Here the new detailing includes a grille in black and silver, inserted detailed front lights, silver body trim and bumpers, as well as printed model number and rear Mercedes-Benz star logo.

DKW Munga Civil defence -1:87

Another vehicle that has appeared in WIKING’s range in many guises over the years. The DKW Munga was developed as a field car for the Bundeswehr (German Army) and carried on in production under Volkswagen’s ownership until 1968. The example shown below shows the simple self-coloured model with simple wheels and none of the detailing now expected.

Image from eBay seller

The DKW Munga was used by other government services in addition to the Bundeswehr. It was made from 1958 to 1968 and used the DKW car two stroke engines. The civil protection guards used these two stroke vehicles until well into the 1990s but they went out of service when the civil protection guards were wound up the re-unification of Germany. They then went on to have a variety of civilian roles when auctioned off by the government.

Here the model has a variety of added details like the separate steering wheel, emergency beacon to painted head and taillights and the ZS logo on the sides.

DKW Junior de Luxe, pastel blue with white roof – 1:87

The DKW Junior has long featured in the WIKING range. The Junior was the entry level car in the DKW range from 1959 to 1963. Below is an example of the model in earlier years with simple finishing.

Image from automodelly.sk

A competitor to the Volkswagen Beetle, though never sold in anything like the same numbers, this two stroke car was well made and performed well by the standards of the time. The Junior deluxe model was introduced in 1961 and had a 796cc engine rather than the 741cc engine in the base model. Here the moulds have been re-worked to produce a more detailed model.

Additional detailing on this generation of the model includes improved wheels, two tone printing, printed badging and lights.

Opel Rekord P1, beige with black roof – 1:87

The Rekord was Opel’s foray into US influenced mid 1950s styling. LIke their GM stablemates Vauxhall in the UK they enthusiastically adopted the curved front windscreen giving a ‘panoramic’ view as did the curved rear window. The Rekord is said to have been influenced by the contemporary Buick styling. WIKING made a contemporary model as shown below.

Image from eBay seller

The new model has been upgraded though it still retains the WIKING turbine wheels. It also gains a contrast printed roof like many of the original cars as well as silver printed Opel and Rekord badging. Opel sold roughly one million units of this model series between 1957 and 1962.

Flatbed lorry (Magirus) Union Transport – 1:160

WIKING has gradually added to its 1:160 scale range. These are not strong sellers when compared to the 1:87 range as they tend to appeal to few collectors other than those with continental N Scale railway layouts. They are considerably smaller than UK N Scale (1:148) so do not look right on UK N Scale layouts.

Here we have a flatbed lorry as made from 1958 to 1967 and made in the livery of Union Transport with white letters on a deep red background which were used in the 1960s. At that time, this former forwarding company had a headquarters in Düsseldorf and other locations throughout the country. WIKING has used their existing 1:160 Magirus round hood cab. For such a small model there is considerable printed detail including the period correct livery.


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Wiking October 2023 – Part One

By Maz Woolley

Wiking regularly announce new models, particularly in 1:87 Scale. October’s announcements also include one model to continental N Gauge, 1:160 scale, too. There are no new 1:32 scale models, which are usually agricultural models, announced this month. WIKING models are injection moulded plastic made to a high standard of detail and finish. Models of vehicles already made in previous years are frequently revised and improved or even totally re-engineered.

One of the WIKING earlier releases this year that caught my eye is shown below.


Fiat 1800 – 1:87

The Fiat 1800 introduced in 1959 had an imposing, fashionably styled, monocoque body and six cylinder engine. It sold quite well outside Italy in an age when tariffs made imported cars expensive in European countries. WIKING originally produced a model of this car in 1962 which is shown below. The real car was updated in 1961 and the 1800 rolled off the line until 1968. Its WIKING model counterpart was removed from the line-up in the same year.


The new model is in the type of dark colour used by Italian Ministries and other Government bodies who may well have used these Fiats.


The model is made in medium grey plastic with body trim, door handles, wheel trims are all printed silver. The roof is painted in black. Fiat lettering and 1800 model badging is also in silver. The headlights and grille are Hand-painted. Tail lights are red with a silver reversing light. Finally the tyres are printed with white wall rings.


October Releases

Mercedes-Benz LPS 333 Schenker – 1:87

The international forwarding company Schenker & Co. has featured on many models in the WIKING range. It is now featured on a Mercedes-Benz LPS 333 with the large Pullman cab. This vehicle was once operated by the Viennese branch of Schenker & Co. The trailer unit is period correct and has been developed from an earlier Akermann trailer modelled by Wiking and is a new moulding. The side engravings on the loading door are also included.

As the image below shows this Mercedes-Benz tractor unit which has been in the WIKING range for many years with the mould re-designed at intervals to meet current standards.


For the new model the tractor unit and trailer are in Schenker’s typical leaf green, The interior is in purple and the steering wheel is white. The tractor chassis and wheels are in red. Lights are printed front and rear and the Schenker logo neatly printed on the trailer. This type of unit operated from 1958 to 1961.


Ferguson TE – 1:87

The little ‘grey Fergie’ is very small and non-descript compared to the huge machines currently operating. But it sold more than half a million units and is a true classic. Featuring the patented hydraulic three point Ferguson hitch it was suited to mounting a wide range of equipment giving it a flexibility other makers struggled to match. It was the best selling tractor between 1946 and 1956 whilst Ferguson merged with Massey Harris to become Massey-Ferguson. It was a rare sight in Germany where the market was dominated by the likes of Deutz, Fahr, Normag and Hanomag.

This is a simple model largely in grey plastic with a black steering wheel and tyres. The headlights are hand painted. A fine model of a classic British tractor to keep company with the other 1:87 scale historical tractors from WIKING like the Normag, Allgaier, Porsche and Fahr ones already made..


Opel Caravan 1956 – 1:87

Another updated moulding here of a vehicle that has been in the WIKING range since the days of unglazed models. as shown in the photograph below.


It has been re-modelled in the intervening years and has been available in plain colours in recent years as shown below.


With the latest upgrade, WIKING combines a mint green body with a white roof which was a popular combination in late 1950s advertising.

The car was made from 1956 to 1962.

The green body has a white printed lower section and roof panel. Grille, door handles, lettering and body trim are all printed silver and wheel rims are moulded in silver.


Ford Capri Mark 1 – 1:87

The Capri has featured i the WIKING range several times in the past with the level of detail increasing each time it has been updated as shown in the photographs below.

The WIKING images above are from webpages

The new model features copper brown metallic paintwork as seen in many advertisements of the time, often photographed against the sunset. The Capri Mark 1 was the coupé that caught the public imagination across Europe in the 1970s. Sporty looks and just enough rear space for children or the occasional adult gave it a widespread appeal. Produced between 1969 and 1972 it epitomised the European take on the US ‘personal car’ like the Mustang.

The model has a copper brown metallic body with its roof imprinted black. A sandy yellow interior is fitted with a black steering wheel. Silver wheel rims and bumpers. Headlamps and tail lights are separate inserted plastic mouldings. Appropriate Ford and Capri badging is printed front and rear.


Jaguar XK 120 – 1:87

Another car which has appeared in the WIKING range several times over the years. As the photograph below shows the level of detail has increased steadily over time.

Image from the Internet

The Jaguar XK 120 was originally intended to serve as a stop-gap solution for the London Motor Show in October 1948 to show off the newly developed in-line six-cylinder engine aimed at giving Jaguar’s large Saloon cars a new power and turn of speed. However Pressed Steel couldn’t get a prototype ready for the show so William Lyons decided to create a sports car to show off the engine in a speedy sports car. Over the course of the decades, The XK120 ran from 1948 to 1954 when it was replaced by the XK140.

The model is made with a pastel green body. The wheels have matching green spokes which looks pretty on the model but which is not accurate as the optional spoked wheels would have been chromed items. The interior is in a contrasting dark green with a black steering wheel. Headlamps, parking lights and radiator grille are printed silver and the tail lights are printed in red. The tyres have been imprinted with white sidewalls making the model look like a US market car which were generally specified with wires and whitewall tyres.


Tour Bus (MB O 302) traffic red 1:87

Another long time favourite in the WIKING range has been updated. An earlier example is shown in the photograph below.

Image from eBay seller

Produced from 1965 to 1972 the O 302 was a strong seller for Mercedes-Benz dominating the market due to its flexibility to be used in a wide variety of configurations from an urban bus to a long-distance coach. Over 32,000 were made before production was ceased.

WIKING have taken the opportunity to significantly update the model and here it appears with a red body with central section printed white. The chassis in black as is the radiator grille. The front lights are printed in silver and the tail lights printed in red. The interior is in red. Wheel rims, The central bar and windscreen wipers moulded in the front glazing are printed silver. Side ornamental strips, wheel surround and roof window painted silver. Headlamps hand-painted in silver.


Sideloader -1:87

A Sideloader model had been proposed in the past and a prototype was developed but it was not put into production and remained in WIKING’s archive. This Lancer Boss Sideloader has now been developed for production and add to WIKING’s freight handling line up. The original could handle containers, pipes and timber making it a useful vehicle for many industries. Here WIKING have managed to make a miniature that can replicate the movements of the original making it an excellent addition to dioramas and railway layouts. The original was in production from 1968 to 1977.

The model is a mixture of black and yellow components with a separate orange light beacon and painted on headlights, indicators and tail lights.



Container semi-trailer 20′ (International Harvester) “Sealand” – 1:87

The International Harvester tractor unit hauling a trailer mounted with a shipping container has been in the WIKING range before and is a popular obsolete model. A previous issue is shown below.

Photograph from eBay

An American truck produced from 1962 to 1979 is modelled here. Aimed primarily at the US model railroader I am sure. The International Harvester Loadstar was well suited for use as a tractor unit hauling a container semi-trailer. Here it is hauling a Sealand container.

The cab, chassis and mudguards are all dark agate grey whilst the interior and radiator grille are red as are the Trilex wheel rims. Sealand logos are printed on the cab and container. The IH logo is printed in silver on the cab front. The semi-trailer is in grey and red with Trilex wheels to match the tractor unit. Front lights are printed in silver and tail lights in dark red.



Book “Leidenschaft WIKING-Autos”

This new book written by Ulrich Biene celebrates 75 years of WIKING Models. It is produced by Delius Klasing for WIKING and is printed in German only.

It is a large format book and has been beautifully printed. It is available in the UK from Amazon, and probably from specialist suppliers too. Looking at the copy that I bought it is beautifully laid out and produced on thick, high quality paper and is full of beautifully photographed model displays. Although I struggle to read the German I am sure that over time I will slowly translate and enjoy the text.

A lovely book for lovers of 1:87 scale models.


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Hoffmann Modellspielwaren, Part 3 of 4

Retrospective Musings

Stephen Paul Hardy, Karl Schnelle and Thomas Howard collaborate in an exclusive four part serialisation to reveal the surprising story of a short lived Austrian manufacturer with a prolific output. Part 2 was the first auto related part .

Text and photographs copyright of the Author(s) unless otherwise stated.

Auto Related Part 2

Hoffmann Modellspielwaren’s imaginative play toy range included a couple of sets that drew together a collection of items also available singly in the catalogue. The largest, number 1/30 Der Kleine Städtebauer (Little Town Planner), was complete stand alone small town sold as a boxed set. Produced in two main versions (labeled A and B) as shown in our illustrations, they can be dated by their contents – primarily the Kiosk, Tankstelle and Manǔrba vehicles.

Although as we have already said, the Town Planner set was complete and stand alone, it was also intended to be used with a soft plastic double sided play sheet – 1/31 Verkehrstisch. One side of this sheet was covered with a full colour street layout much like an amalgamation of the LEGO town board and the various WIKING street plans. The other side by a traditional racing game.

The early and later versions of the Little Town Planner set can be quickly differentiated by the inclusion of six traffic signs in the latter. These, like the vehicles, were a random selection drawn from manufactured stock.

The complete range of Hoffmann traffic signs were offered in two impressive sets that equalled the later WIKING sets but in a style very much like the contemporary LEGO ones of the System Town Plan era and earlier offerings from WIKING.

LEGO traffic signs changed in style as the System Town Plan morphed into LEGOs later, larger scale, series styles. WIKING versions similarly changed over the two decades or so in production. But comparing all three manufacturers traffic signs from the early 1960s, we can see some distinct similarities. Assigning them to their respective manufacturer comes down to matters of detail.

LEGO versions carried the company name in the base moulding. WIKING’s versions carried the logo WM encased in a circle also in the base. Hoffmann’s, however, were unmarked which makes their recognition a bit of a challenge on internet auction sites. The other difference was in the sign faces. Whilst by the late 50s, LEGO had perfected beautiful clear colour printing on its bricks and accessory items, the WIKING and Hoffmann traffic signs were finished with printed paper sign faces.

As we shall see in the final part of this series, one particular Hoffmann traffic sign – the one with white surround yellow diamond face signifying a priority road – has, however, also become a significant piece of evidence in trying to unravel one of the biggest mysteries in the Hoffmann story.


For readers interested in more in-depth insights into the Hoffmann range including an explanation of how the unique ‘Autohaus Hoffmannwald’ Volkswagen dealership came into being, there is a dedicated Hoffmann Modellspielwaren fan Facebook Group .



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Cabrio Concerns

By Stephen Paul Hardy

Text and photographs copyright of the Author(s) unless otherwise stated.

Amongst the 2023 New Models in 1:87 WIKING announced in February to coincide with Spielwarenmesse 2023 (The International Nürnberg Toy Fair) was a Karmann Ghia cabriolet:

“ 01.02.2023 Karmann Ghia débuts as a convertible

Sometimes the conversion from a coupé to a convertible requires the finesse of a true model artisan. WIKING certainly used these skills to create the classic Karmann Ghia and thereby managed to close a gap in their product range. After shedding its roof, the body was furnished with an inserted windscreen and a tarpaulin – elements which lend the miniature the appeal of an authentic convertible. The interior is rounded off by matching seats and a typical three-spoke steering wheel. Produced between 1955 and 1974, its real-life brother ranked among the most legendary lifestyle vehicles ever made in Germany. Mounted on a VW chassis, the convertible along with the coupé were manufactured at Karmann in Osnabrück.”

https://www.wiking.de/en/news/news/2023-new-models-in-scale-187.html

Rumours had been circulating for many years suggesting WIKING had done work on such a model back in the 1960s. Given this combined with the interest by WIKING over the past few years to bring other previously unreleased models from the same era to see the light of day, its announcement about the Karmann Ghia Cabriolet wasn’t that surprising.

What I did find surprising though were some of the details of that preproduction version. The original tooling which appears to share with the long established Coupé dates back to the late 1950s for release in 1960. It was customary in that era for WIKING to present all its 1:96 and then 1:87 scale convertibles with a transparent windscreen component assembled to the car’s self coloured plastic body. One the best examples being the cabriolet version of the VW Beetle in “1200” guise between 1957 and 1971. WIKING carried over the  windscreen and folded hood from that model on the succeeding “1302” cabriolet released in 1972 and which remains in the WIKING catalogue even today making it, at over 50 years old, one of the longest surviving models in the firm’s catalogue.

At this point we hit the issue I touched upon in a previous Wiking Musing about how far contemporary upgrading of old moulds with additional painted details etc., can go before the result looks awkward. If the new Karmann Ghia is intended to be sympathetic to that original 1957 Coupé — or indeed a release of an old tooling almost as originally intended – then an unframed, clear plastic windscreen is a totally consistent detail. That is as long as the model does not then get the over embellished treatment we have seen on other releases of late where simplicity would have been more sympathetic to the originals.

It is a relevant aside to mention that, again in keeping with established WIKING tradition newer toolings of both a 1960s era Beetle and companion Cabriolet together with a Karmann Ghia Coupé share catalogue space with continuations (or reissues) of old models. Which begs the question why the new Karmann Ghia Cabriolet isn’t a retooled version based on the newer 1999 (Art Nr.805) Coupé rather than the original 1960? I guess the answer lies in the trend of releasing previously unissued old toolings.

The crunch for me however is what appears to be expediences in the use of components. The current DKW cabrio Art Nr.125 which is another modern release of a model not available back in the 1960s appears to carry an identical folded hood to the original Beetle and looks slightly out of character with that the DKW had. (The DKW Coupé from which the current Cabrio version is derived  was itself only originally available in the catalogue for a very short catalogue period between 1960 and 1964).

When it comes to the Karmann Ghia, however, the windscreen section shown on the pre-production model is beyond expediency. It looks as if it has been “borrowed” from another old WIKING tooling – maybe a Mercedes-Benz? Irrespective of whether it is borrowed or bespoke however irrelevant because it sadly wrong – and wrong ‘big time’ as a quick comparison with contemporary Volkswagen press photos aptly illustrate. By similar token the profile of the folded hood as currently shown on the pre-production model is wrong.

What saddens me most of all is that the Karmann Ghia Cabriolet is hardly a previously unknown shape to WIKING. The fabulous 1:40 promotional versions that they made for distribution exclusively through Volkswagen Dealerships in the 1960s and then reissued in the early 1990s as part of the Volkswagen AutoMuseum series were profile perfect. I can only hope that significant changes to the windscreen and folded hood components are made before the currently proposed model reaches production; otherwise, the disappointment amongst WIKING collectors and Volkswagen model collectors in particular is going to be significant indeed.


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The ‘Missing’ VW Typ.2 Pickups

By Stephen Paul Hardy

Text and photographs copyright of the Author(s) unless otherwise stated.

My attention was grabbed by a Preview from Wiking ahead of both
Spielwarenmesse 2023 (The International Nürnberg Toy Fair) and its bi-monthly announcement of the February 2023 new releases. That Preview showcased the latest variation of WIKING’s model of the third generation VW typ.2 double cab pickup in green with grey tilt cover (tarp). This crew cab, or double cab, was also covered in a recent MAR Online article.

The Preview read:

23.01.2023
Preview February Novelties 2023
A classic complements Bulli chronology

WIKING had plans for a model of this “Bulli” even at the time when the original was still in production. However, the realisation of the “Doka” double cabin was eventually abandoned back then, and the blueprint was relegated to the archives. Only the box van and the bus version found their way into the hands of collectors in the 1980s. Remaining loyal to the brand’s history, the traditional model makers finally adopted the favoured double cabin of the VW T3 into their portfolio in 2013. Since that time, an abundance of new versions have joined the model family, which will be expanded yet again with the latest product from the soon- to-be-released February package. 

As the Preview acknowledged, the model was first released a decade ago in light blue with both that and the current colour version prompting strong deja vu recalls. Now that WIKING’s proposals for the coming year have also been announced at Spielwarenmesse 2023 to include an update of the second generation VW typ.2 double cab pickup was first released five years ago now also with the addition of a tilt cover (tarp), my musings intensified. If this pair are not exactly new, why then do I refer to them – and a third version – as ‘missing’? And what recalls did that feeling of deja vu invoke?

Turning back the clock

To explain how there came to be some ‘missing’ WIKING VW typ.2 pickups, we need to go back to the late 1950s and the transition between WIKING’s solid window ‘Unverglaste’ models into the new glazed window ‘Verglaste’ ones. Contemporary with this also was the expansion of Volkswagen’s range of body styles offered in its typ.2 transporter range.

So beginning in 1959 and following through to 1962, the new WIKING ‘Verglaste’ depiction of VWs first generation typ.2 models ended up covering all the main series production body types. This comprised of the pickup, double cab pickup, van, kombi and de-lux microbus. Manufactured in an extensive range of colours – often in two tone making best use of the two part body moulding – these represented the civilian market variations. They were supplemented in time also by the familiar fire, police, ambulance and postal versions.

WIKING were hot off the mark in 1968/69 after Volkswagen updated the typ.2 range into its second generation – but only with pickup, van and kombi versions. For some reason the double cab wasn’t included. As previously, the civilian versions were supplemented by emergency and postal service versions, some of which lingered in the catalogue for a long time.

Inevitably in turn WIKING introduced its representation of the third generation VW typ.2 a little late in the Spring 1983 and as just two models – the van and kombi (and a high roof post van the same Autumn). Although Volkswagen initially introduced the third generation still with a traditional air-cooled engine, it was fairly quickly supplemented and then replaced by the ‘water boxer’ (wasserboxer) version with its additional lower grill on the front panel. WIKING’s late off the mark introduction of a third generation typ.2 is witnessed by the models representing the water cooled version.

These 1983 releases were disappointing in so much as that they were not even joined by a pickup let alone by a double cab pickup. By the time that the fourth generation typ.2 – rebranded by Volkswagen as the T4 (and then hence retrospectively the previous three generations as T1, T2 and T3), Volkswagen had returned to sourcing promotional models from WIKING. As a result the T4 body types were more extensively modelled by WIKING that for the T2 and T3.

The Austrian alternative

As it happens the release of WIKINGs third generation typ.2 models came at a time when ROCO was rapidly expanding the civilian version models out of its Minitanks range. By the late 1980s this included an extensive range of third generation VW typ.2s (T3) in a full range of body types. We shall never know if this strong competition in the HO scale market was one of the reasons WIKING didn’t release further body type versions of the T3, but conjecture suggests it might have been a contributing factor even though toolings for the double cab seem to have existed given commentary from WIKING itself.

The deja vu recall I mentioned earlier was initially prompted by the first release WIKING T3 double cab in blue back in 2013 but now compounded and brought to the fore of my mind by the latest version a decade later in green with grey tilt. They strongly evoke memories of the ROCO version in very similar colour schemes from the late 1980s.

Two down, one to go …

So then of those three ‘missing’ WIKING typ.2 pickups we at least now have both T2 and T3 double cabs retrospectively released by WIKING in 2018 and 2013 respectively. We are however still ‘missing’ a T3 (single cab) pickup from WIKING to complete the coverage of the main body types through the first three generations…

As for the ROCO models themselves, that is a musing for another day…

Body Style Glossary

These different body styles were mentioned in this article (in order of appearance):

  • Bulli – generic colloquial term normally applied to the first three generations of Volkswagen typ.2 transporter based on, or derived from, the Kombi body type. Opinions vary about the original derivation with some suggesting that it merges the German for “bus and delivery van”. Regardless of the origin the term was initially used informally as an affectionate nickname within popular usage but has, more recently, been adopted and formalised as a trademark by Volkswagen.
  • Doka – or DoKa abbreviation of the German ‘Doppelkabine’ literally meaning ’double cabin’. Universally used to describe the ‘crew cab’ version of the Volkswagen typ.2 transporter with a double row of passenger seats and shortened pickup bed.
  • Pritsch – (Pritschenwagen) a platform or pickup bodied vehicle.
  • Doppelkabine – as for Doka above.
  • Kasten – (Kastenwagen) a box van bodied vehicle or literal translation being (carrying) case.
  • Kombi – (Kombiwagen) an combination bodied vehicle. In the case of the Volkswagen typ.2 transporter arguably the most versatile and successful body type of all. The designed intention right from the start in the 1950s was a transporter that could carry passengers – as in a small bus – or could have all but the front seats easily removed to accommodate luggage or cargo. This body type was marketed under several names depending on the market including Combi and Microbus it was also the base on which the de-lux bus, ambulance and camping versions were developed.
  • Samba – the top end model of the first generation Volkswagen typ.2 transporter bus with full de-lux trim and additional panoramic windows along each side of the roof gutter line. This version was particularly favoured in central Europe by hotels and the tourist industry for sightseeing tours and has become the most coveted of all the Volkswagen typ.2 transporter models of its generation.

A highly recommended archive of Volkswagen sales literature
illustrating all these body types and more can be found at https://www.thesamba.com/vw/archives/lit/type2.php .


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Wiking February 2023

By Maz Woolley

Wiking are part of the Sieper Group which also owns and produces Siku Toys. Wiking models are moulded in plastic in Europe and are aimed at the modeller of dioramas and serious model collector. They produce models in multiple scales with the smallest being Continental N Gauge of 1:160 and largest 1:32 scale which is used for agricultural and constructional machines. The majority of their output is in 1:87 (HO) scale which is the predominant scale for Continental railway modellers.

Wiking models are released in many liveries and opportunities are taken to add detail or even re-mould entirely when vehicles are revived.

1:160 Scale

097403 Hanomag B11 Wheel loader – orange

Finished in construction industry favourite orange colour this model has a poseable front lifter and bucket. The Hanomag B11 was powered by a six cylinder engine with 110hp. 2,423 of these vehicles were made from 1964 to 1972.

1:87 Scale

042905 Flatbed road-train (Mercedes-Benz LP 333) – grass green

Wiking have has the short cab Mercedes-Benz LP333 tractor unit in their range for many years but revisited it in 2019 to create a long distance cab version. The twin front axles were a response to amended vehicle construction laws in the late 1950s and it allowed a truck the have a gross weight 16 tons. In 1960 the law was amended and two axle trucks gross weight limits were lifted from 12 to 16 tons. So the twin steer LP333 was only sold between 1958 and 1960 and only 1,833 were built.

Here the tractor unit pulls a drawbar trailer in a configuration common on the Continent but seldom seen in the UK.


079433 Volkswagen Beetle 1200 with folding roof – chocolate brown – ivory

Although most Volkswagen Beetles were produced in a single colour a few special paint jobs were to be seen. Here Wiking’s Volkswagen 1200 is finished in two-tone colours and fitted with a matching soft top. The Volkswagen has been in Wiking’s range for all its 75 years of existence with steady improvements to the level of details modelled. The version of the 1200 modelled here was in production from 1960 to 1967.


012848 NSU Ro 80 Limousine – copper metallic

Copper metallic paintwork was very fashionable in 1967. The Neckarsulm car makers NSU selected for their Ro 80 Wankel car was intended to create the impression of a premium executive car. The Ro80 has been in production by Wiking for 18 years and the number made is considerably more than the 37,000 cars made by NSU. The Ro80 was only in production from 1967 to 1977 before Audi who had taken over NSU stopped production.


079605 Opel Commodore B traffic yellow

The early 1970s were a time of bright primary colours and here a bright yellow is used that was a very popular colour on Opel cars. Here it is seen on the Commodore B with a black vinyl roof providing an upmarket contrast. Although the Commodore B shared the body of the Rekord D it was fitted with a six cylinder engines rather than the four cylinder engines fitted to the Rekord. It also enjoyed a generally higher level of fittings and fitments than the Rekord including different grilles and wheels. The Commodore was a popular executive car and was in production from 1972 to 1977.


082410 Mercedes-Benz 220 S – pastel turquoise

The 220S replaced the Ponton and sprouted relatively restrained fashionable pointed rear wings. Wiking has had a 220S in their range for many years and it has been continually upgraded. Here it is modelled in a pastel blue rather than the more predictable blacks, dark greys, and deep reds which are often associated with this car. The car was in production from 1959 to 1965 before the fins were removed again and a squarer line emerged.


029309 Volkswagen Transporter T3 crew cab – grass green

The ‘Double Cab’ is commonly called ‘Doka’ in Germany. It was a popular combination for many trades people and particularly landscapers. A reasonable load area easily covered by a canvas hood and plenty of room for the workforce in the cab. Grass-Green was a special order colour but proved to be very popular. When this vehicle was in production Wiking got as far as making a prototype but it never went into production, languishing in the companies archive., whilst the box van and minibus models were launched and sold in large numbers.

Produced between 1978 and 1992 this third generation of the Transporter this vehicle was a common sight across Europe. It was also the end of the line for the original rear engined, rear wheel drive format with the T4 introducing a front engine, and front wheel drive.


026208 Citroën HY box van pearl beige

The HY van was introduced by Citroën in 1947 and it was a big sales hit becoming a best seller in France and the Low Countries as well as Saarland where France and Germany meet. The vehicles distinctive look comes from the heavy use of corrugated metal panels which allowed light metal panels to form a stronger structure than flat sheets would have done. The HY stayed in production with evolutionary changes until 1981.


042003 Magirus flatbed truck ‘Thörl

Thörl made protective clear coat varnishes and supplied distributors direct from the oil mills. Here the Magirus Sirius modelled by Wiking has been finished in the Thörl company colours as shown in their period advertising. The Magirus was powered by Deutz air-cooled engines with a distinctive sound. This version of the Magirus was produced from 1958 to 1967.


050206 Henschel low-loader truck-trailer ‘Frederici’

Here the Henschel is finished in the livery of a Swiss haulage company ‘Friderici‘ who were long time users of Henschel trucks. The HS140 was used by this haulage company in a number of roles and it was a powerful truck capable of heavy work and was made from 1955 to 1961.

Although Henschel’s have been in the Wiking range for many years this model is based upon a new moulding with considerably more detail than was present before. The driver’s cab doors have been faithfully reproduced with their bulbous shape. In addition there is fine detailing of the rear window, roof fans as well as the radiator grille. The radiator grille now includes a separate insert which shows off the typical Henschel star. Both Henschel badging and the raised bonnet hinges are also replicated.


012503 DKW Cabriolet – iron grey

Wiking have had a coupe in their range for many years but now the roof has been removed to create a convertible version of the late 1950s DKW. The DKW was often finished with white sidewalls and shiny paint jobs to emphasise it being upmarket from the Volkswagen Beetle. Here it is finished in iron grey and with a red hood and white wall rings. . The original car was made from 1958 to 1961.


027602 Mercedes-Benz G-Class – pebble grey

A five door G Class has been in the Wiking range for many years but it is only recently that the two door version which had been planned and discarded many years before saw the light of day. Here Wiking has made a second release of this two door G-Wagen , this time in pebble grey. The basic two door version was very popular in rural areas, in particular the mountainous regions where its all wheel drive would have been a great advantage. This vehicle was made in 1979 and 1980. Perhaps Wikiing didn’t proceed with the two door version as they had heard it was being phased out.


016004 Porsche 911 Coupé – khaki grey

The 911 was modelled from the start by Wiking and many versions have been made over the years as Porsche’s reputation grew and the 911 turned into a motoring legend. Here the model is finished to contemporary standards of detail and finish. The model represents the car as made between 1963 and 1973.


086904 Agricultural Trailer – green

Early trailers pulled by tractors had often been converted from those pulled by horses with a drawbar fitted instead of shafts for the horses. Here we have a simple trailer as often used in the 1950s.


035403 Opel Blitz box van’ (Opel Blitz) “‘Mollerus’

This Opel Blitz is finished in a German Laundry firm’s period livery. Based on an original vehicle this is the second Wiking modelin this firms livery. Founded in the 1940s Mollerus grew rapidly operating with the slogan ‘the housewife’s servant‘. The livery is a period graphic where the M was stylised into a bell boy figure. The Blitz featured was in production from 1952 to 1960.


009237 Caravan (T@B) “Mexican Sunset”

The T@B is a classic caravan made by Tabbart based on teardrop shapes developed to tow behind relatively small engined vehicles. It has been in the Wiking range for a while but has been updated with detailed printing to represent an upmarket trendy version of this retro trailer. It comes with towbar fitments to add to models posed towing it.


042502 Henschel box truck ‘Union Transport’

This model complements the semi-trailer already made by Wiking in ‘Union Transport‘ livery. Here Wiking have replicated a box truck as used for a wide variety of deliveries on German roads. The Henschel cabover engine unit is on a twin axle chassis and replicates one of the haulier’s vehicles that operated from their Düsseldorf depot. This generation of Henschel was produced from 1955 to 1961.

1:32 Scale

077864 Fendt 1050 Vario

This is an updated version of the 1050 Vario from Wikiing. It features a large number of working features and is designed to operate with a wide range of model agricultural implements. This Vario can be fitted with engines of between 380 and 500hp and is a strong seller across the world.

The Wiking designers have had to make many detail changes to replicate the newer version of this tractor and have incorporated a considerable amount of fine detail.


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Wiking December 2022

By Maz Woolley

Wiking seem to be quite firmly back to regular releases after a period of disruption during Covid lock downs. This article takes a look at the releases in 1:160 (Continental N Scale) and 1:87 (The main Continental Railway modelling scale). All these models are moulded in plastic in Europe.

1:160 Scale

094508 Concrete mixer (Mercedes-Benz) water blue

Primarily targeted at Continental N Scale railway modellers Wiking make several water blue painted construction vehicles. This will go well with the Hanomag Wheel Loader in the same colour.


1:87 Scale

022607 Police – Morris Mini-Minor

An elaboration on a previously seen Mini moulding, here in a generic Police livery with a rather large roof beacon. The MIni Cooper S was used by some forces as a fast response vehicle. The MIni is a very difficult car to catch when making model masters and Wiking have done a reasonable job but it is not as good as Herpa’s later Minis and the grille area looks to be at a strange leaning back angle.


080915 Citroën 2 CV “Christmas Model”

Wiking’s Christmas special for 2022 has a 2CV painted up in Christmas red and green and with a luggage rack and green storage box. Not quite convinced that the chrome area representing the front light lenses they do not seem to be large enough for the late model 2CVs. Still a bit of fun for the holiday season.


020002 Ford 17M “Toense”

Fifty years ago the Olympics were held in Germany and at this time the crane rental company Toense displayed a Ford Taunus painted in their colours lifted into the air. The model from Wiking recreates the car from that advertising campaign.


026207 Citroën HY sales van “Migros”

This is the familiar Wiking moulding painted in the colours of Swiss retailer Migros which trades in many European countries.


088303 Tanker (Magirus S 7500) “Shell”

A typical period tanker from the mid to late 1950s in the classic Shell livery of the period. The mirrors and mudguard mounted width markers and other small items are supplied on a sprue to fit yourself. Magirus tankers have featured in the Wiking range since the days of unglazed models.


067312 High-sided tipper (Mercedes-Benz) “Raab Karcher”

Another construction site vehicle, this time a tri-axle Mercedes-Benz in the livery of Raab Karcher a German buildings supply company.


043703 Flatbed truck (Mercedes-Benz New Generation) “Spedition Schmidt”

This is a smaller version of the Mercedes-Benz New Generation truck on sale from 1973 to 1980. Here it is in the livery of Schmidt which is a German logistics company operating across Europe.


001825 Accessory pack – trucks

A set of spare parts to allow missing parts to be replaced on older models. Sure to be popular as Herpa’s spares have always been.


055602 Refrigerated semi trailer (MAN Pausbacke) “Transthermos”

A classic MAN tractor unit from 1960 to 1967 fitted with a Dorsay designed trailer with refrigerated unit.


022606 Austin 7 – silver grey

A new colour on a familiar moulding. Here the grille is supposed to be that of an Austin MIni from 1959 onwards but it somehow lacks the ‘wavy’ effect .


022446 Renault R4 with folding roof green

Yet another colour for this Wiking moulding which catches the later Renault 4 from 1967 onwards very well.


079005 Opel Kadett B – gold-metallic

Made from 1965 to 1973 the second generation of the Kadett was produced in Bochum. Here painted in Gold one of the metallic finishes available in the mid 1960s. Seen as one step up from a VW, Opel cars were best sellers and the Kadett B was one of their best selling models with no fewer than 2.6 million units of the Kadett built between 1965 and 1973, which makes it one of the most successful Opel models to date.


027601 Mercedes-Benz G-Class – green

Wiking has produced the five door G Class for many years but here we have the classic two door version as made in 1979/80.


010504 Range Rover – red

This moulding has already been seen in a variety of colours and is now produced in red. Sadly the black window fittings are printed like Oxford Diecasts often are leaving big stripes of body colour where there should be none. This lets down an otherwise presentable model of the original Range Rover made from 1970 to 1975.


060402 Fire brigade (Opel Blitz) powder extinguishing vehicle

In the sixties, Total manufactured a standard superstructure that was specially designed to combat particular hazards. The TroLF had 750 kg of dry powder on board. Some vehicles were delivered for factory fire brigades built on the Opel Blitz chassis, while others were delivered on the Unimog chassis S 404. Here Wiking present this body on an Opel Blitz for the first time.


041102 Flatbed truck (MAN 415) blue/melon yellow

Fitting into the MAN range below the Pausbacke this short truck was useful where manoeuvrability was important like historic City Centres. It is in the colours of the Braunegger forwarding company who had contracts to do deliveries for Deutsche Bahn These trucks were made from 1960 to 1967.


088704 Fortuna manure spreader – silver/carmine red

The Wiking range has always contained agricultural vehicles and machinery. Here they add a manure spreader to the range. Much smaller than the current high sided trailers which carry out this work this Fortuna dates back to a time when smaller mixed farms were more common.


067710 Rear tipper semi-truck (Hanomag Henschel) – grey-beige/red

In production for only two years from 1969 this is a construction site delivery vehicle. This is the fourth release using this rear tipper bodywork, a style commonly seem in use in the 1970s superseding the older rigid chassis tippers.


041702 Flatbed road train (Henschel) -greenbeige

Dating to the later half of the 1950s this unit with draw bar trailer was a workhorse mainly carrying out long distance transport.



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Wiking Musings: Auto Transporter Nr. 58, Part 3

By Stephen Paul Hardy

Text and photographs copyright of the Author(s) unless otherwise stated.

Nr. 58 Pkw-Transporter (1957-1974), Part 3 of 3

Part 2 of this series covered the specific years 1968-74.

A WIKING Pkw-transporter from between 1961 and 1974 fully loaded with contemporary cars in a variety of colours has got to be a candidate for hitting the sort of display image I mused over in Transported in Delight Part 1. A sight bettered only, in my view, by a full load of bright yellow postal versions. During the era we are focussing on, WIKING postal models came only in Deutsche Bundespost livery with the exception of the Swiss home market where of course PTT livery was the order of the day.

In WIKING terms some of the public and emergency service versions led an interesting production history in that they were released when the tooling for the equivalent standard (civilian) version became obsolete. It was for this very reason that the last bastion of the Unveglast Modelle era lasted in the catalogue until as late as 1967 in the form of the 3p VW-Post (Beetle). In turn then obsolete Verglaste Modelle ‘1200’ Beetle became its successor for one year only being replaced by three different versions of the 3p ‘1300’ Beetle in as toolings were updated in rapid succession between 1969 and 1972.


At this point it seems worthwhile just to sidetrack for a moment to reflect on WIKING reference sources.

The ‘WIKING fan’ website is a focus point for WSN – the WIKING Sammler Netwerk – with numerous links to useful databases and resources. It also used to carry a gallery section from which the inspirational photo of no less than seven fully laden first series Art. Nr Pkw-transporters came: https://blog.wiking-neuheiten.de and https://blog.wiking-neuheiten.de/netzwerk/

The ‘Gelber Katalog Jahrbuch’ Editions have long been a standard reference for WIKING collectors with excellent, clear, listings supported by charming line drawings of each production version. They brought with them a colour card set that is an essential reference for accurately identifying the colours of the plastic components and cross referencing back to the listings in the Katalog itself:
http://www.marktpreis-verlag.de/marktpreis/aktuell.htm and https://www.auktionshaus-saure.de/en/wiking-handbuch

More recently the auction catalogues and WIKING Handbuch series from Auktionshaus-Saure have become the alternative frequently quote reference source on eBay and elsewhere:
https://www.auktionshaus-saure.de/en/ and https://www.auktionshaus-saure.de/en/wiking-handbuch


To give one brief glimpse for readers not necessarily into WIKING is the ‘Neuer Gelber Katalog 2000’ (GK 2000) that I am going to turn to concerning the WIKING 3p Post-VW variations. Bear in mind that they each came in DBP and PTT livery is easy to start to realise that some versions were effectively one-year-only releases, and that given the PTT examples were only available in Switzerland some versions are consequently very clearly of the “more difficult to find” variety.

Finally, well almost, then let’s return to that recent ‘The Grand Ponton Mercedes Set’ over which I expressed mixed feelings about in “Transported in Delight Part 1” in the light of my subsequent musings.

Yes, sure my preference then would be to have the original models themselves unadorned with paint, but there is, in my mind, a pretty good second choice alternative. The (German) Post Museums Shop (PMS) have for over two decades been marketing Exclusive Editions of models including ones by WIKING. Back in December 2018 they released a limited run boxed set of ten reissue Mercedes-Benz 180s in a replica WIKING Händlerkarton (dealer package) of the sort that WIKING used to distribute the models wholesale to retail outlets.

Subsequently a replica Mercedes-Benz L 5000 version of the Pkw-transporter was released in set 6 (Art. Nr 175528) of PMS’s the long running Wiking-Verkehrs-Modelle Sets. A Mercedes-Benz ‘1413’ reissue was released in set 44 (Art. Nr 199457) of the same series. https://www.conradantiquario.info/content/model/wiking/pms/pms-06.html and
https://www.conradantiquario.info/content/model/wiking/pms/pms-44.html

This PMS initiative of reissuing three or four old mouldings in sets has run to something like 100 sets now. Some are excellent and some include rather dubious ‘dumbed-down’ modern tooling models, but all of which is best left for a future WIKING musings article …. The point is t that with one Händlerkarton box of 180s and a pair of Verkehrs-Modelle transporters the combined replicas offer a very attractive alternative to the 1960s originals enabling the display of two fully loaded, period consistent, transporters.

That PMS Mercedes-Benz Händlerkarton set is one of only two offered to date by the shop. The second, the following year, in 2019 contained ten VW typ.2 (T1) Double Cabin Pickup models. Frustratingly though they are too high to fit between the lower and upper car decks of any of WIKINGs Pkw-transporters that utilise the trailer based on the 1957 1:100 tooling!

The original WIKING Pkw-transporter releases 1957 -1974:

Unverglaste Modelle (1:100 ):

  • 58 White and Henschel HS 140 S tractor cabs (1957-1960*)

Verglaste Modelle (1:90/1:87):

  • 58 MB L 5000 S tractor cab (1961-1964*)
  • 58 MB L 3500 S tractor cab (1962-1964*)
  • 58 Magirus S 3500 tractor cab (1961-1964*)
  • 58 MB LS 1413 tractor cab (o.Lüfter^) (1965-1967*)
  • 58 MB LS 1413 tractor cab (m.Lüfter^) (1968-1971*) and “Auto-Transfer’ printing (1972-1974*)

* = WIKING catalogue
^ = GK 2000 reference

The author’s Facebook page can be found at https://www.facebook.com/stephenpaulhardyautomotivehistorian



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Wiking Musings: Auto Transporter Nr. 58, Part 2

By Stephen Paul Hardy

Text and photographs copyright of the Author(s) unless otherwise stated.

Nr. 58 Pkw-Transporter (1957-1974), Part 2 of 3: Years 1968-1974

Bringing the various thoughts mused over in Part 1 together then (and setting aside for a moment the fact that one of my mainline automotive interests is in Volkswagen vehicles), I have to admit that it was the particular version of that catalogue illustration that dates from when I first discovered WIKING models back in 1970 that has had a lasting influence.

From an esoteric point of view, the fact that they were Beetles was incidental – it could have been any one of number of German cars from the 1970 WIKING range – or preceding decade. The attraction was the image of a bonneted German truck loaded with one make of car – Opel, Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen etc., – in various colour variations and/or body style variations. The tractor cab trucks that particularly did it for me were ones that evoked an image of German road scenes from the early Verglast era through to the mid seventies . Top of the list in that respect being the Magirus-Deutz 3500 ‘Rundhauber’ and Mercedes-BenzKurzhauber” common to the L323, L323, L327, L328, (1961-63) L710, L911, L1113, L1413 (1963-70) but often just referred to in listings of WIKING as the ‘1413’.

Without a doubt the image in my mind of road scenes of the period has also been deeply and forever influenced by the LEGO’s HO scale orientated town-plan era which I was deeply into as a child in the early 1960s completed with its VW Beetles and Mercedes-Benz ‘1413’ trucks.

Although the tractor cab units changed over the years, the original 1957 car deck trailer remained in production substantially unchanged throughout. Apart from the obvious updating over time with different road wheel styles and colours, the only significant variation in it concerns the drop down ‘tailgate’ ramp to lower deck. Consistent with the Unverglaste Modelle range, the trailer was 1:100 yet managed to plausibly survive into the succeeding 1:90 and then 1:87 eras reasonably unnoticed. Just one downside of this morphing however is that the head height between the lower and upper deck was only sufficient to accommodate car loads and precluded the tantalising opportunity of carrying light commercials.

Without a doubt the most popular and longest running WIKING Pkw-transporter was the one with the Mercedes-Benz LS ‘1413’ tractor cab in semi-trailer guise. First released by WIKING in 1968, the actual vehicles first hit the road in the early 1960s and so (in my mind) validly carry loads of WIKING’s Art.Nr 3 Beetles in pre ’68 ‘1200’ and post ’68 ‘1300’ versions with equal credibility. An additional dimension for me is that the ‘1968’ WIKING HO scale Beetle was used quite extensively as a dealership promotional model in addition to being part of the shop accessible range. Its charisma therefore as representing stocks of factory fresh cars out on distribution from the factory to dealerships just adds to its allure as perfect load material of the Pkw-transporter.

In doing so both the Beetles and the transporter fulfil their destiny as encouraged by those catalogue – and by this time also box artwork – illustrations. Only right at the end of its catalogue life did the illustration of 58 become ‘Sans-load’ as it headed into renumbering as 580. With the era of cardboard boxing for the truck, bus and accessory models also came the pairing of the transporter and its upper deck loading ramp that for a long while had been separate catalogue items.

Whilst for me the attraction of the Pkw-transporter fully loaded with factory fresh contemporary Beetles has a high visual appeal, it is topped by a full load of special versions. What versions? – I will reveal all in the third and final part.


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Wiking Releases October 2022

By Maz Woolley

Wiking releases for October introduce a few new mouldings and some upgrades to existing ones.

1:32 Scale

077857 Claas Trion 720 Montana with Convio 1080 and trolley

Trion is the name of Claas’s new generation of combine harvesters. Awarded “Farm Machine 2022”, it has become the world leader in its category of combine harvesters! The Wiking Claas Trion 720 Montana, has chassis tilt compensation in a model for the first time. The model features a Convio 1080 cutting unit on this launch model. The model features many working features and many details in the modelling.

077863 Claas Axion 950

The Claas Axion range has been a considerable success and has now been fitted with a whole range of digital technology in the cab including a driver assist system which optimises settings for the attached equipment as well as the Tractor itself. It is hoped that these advances will optimise the fuel consumption as well as improve the quality of the work.

The photograph’s show the detailed modelling with the mesh bonnet panels being particularly fine. As usual on Wiking models the model has all the attachment fittings needed to mount various items from the Wiking Range.

077862 Pöttinger front mower Novacat

The Novacat front mower engineered by Pöttinger is used to cut forage crops. This mower is designed to automatically adjust cutting height to the ground being worked and to leave cut forage cleanly cut for storage and use.

The model fits all Wiking 1:32 scale tractors.


1:87 Scale

Photograph of Taxi at Bremen Oldtimer Classics

080015 Taxi – BMW Isetta

Made between 1955 and 1956 this Taxi offered only minimal space and I can’t imagine that there were many in service. However a real life example can be seen on the internet as shown above.

It will certainly stand out on mail rail diorama builders station forecourts amongst the Mercedes-Benz and Opel cabs.

020307 Ford Escort scale 1:87

A sober colour on the Mark One Escort for those who the bright yellows, oranges and purples fashionable at the time did not impress. It is also the four door model which is less commonly modelled. Designed in Britain to replace the Ford Anglia and produced at Ford’s new Halewood plant from 1967. It was adopted by Ford of Germany three years later and was produced at Saarlouis. It’s dog bone nickname came from the shape of the front grille/lights. It remined in production until 1974.

031405 Police – Volkswagen Transporter T2 Double Cab

This ‘Doka‘ moulding is a new one adding to the myriad of other flatbed Transporters made by Wiking. Here it is finished in the livery of a Police Riot Squad vehicle. It will no doubt appear in many other liveries in the future.

022406 Renault R4 “Parisienne”

The decoration was inspired by Renault’s marketing Group wanting products with more feminine appeal. They were made available to women to test drive for 48 hours in a special sales drive. The R4 was a very popular car in it’s home market and widely sold in other continental countries as its practicality made it a popular family vehicle.

This generation was in production from 1964 until 1968

022504 Renault R4 box van “Spar”

The R4 van had a very boxy body suitable to fit in a bulky load from the suppliers. Spar was a marketing consortium which small retailers joined which gave them access to bulk buying discounts and subsidised retail signage and material. Spar shops sprang up all over Europe and their livery on vans and lorries was frequently seen on the road.

Produced from 1961 to 1967 the R4 van continued in production with modified styling after that.

022505 Renault R4 box van – ivory

A plain livery for this model. But like the Spar model the rear roof section can be opened above the rear doors. This feature was popular with builders and window cleaners as you could stick your ladders in the back of the van with any excess length sticking out of the roof – no need for a special roof rack. This is again finished as the version made from 1961 to 1967.

068904 Municipal mastic asphalt mixer (MAN)

A MAN F7 chassis fitted with a mastic asphalt mixer body ideal for construction site dioramas. This is a new fitment and the first F5/F7 vehicle in the Wiking range. Many more will follow in future!

062647 Fire brigade – Rosenbauer FLF Panther 6×6 with extending arm

Yet another Rosenbauer joins the Wiking range. The Panther 6×6 has already been seen in 1:43 scale and now appears as a 1:87 scale model. Like many newer Wiking models it now has a sprue with some of the more delicate parts for the purchaser to fit themselves.

Here it is modelled with an extendable arm carrying the foam supply closer to the blaze and extensive detailing of the roller shutters and cabin.

038915 Claas Trion 730 harvester with Convio 1080

Here again we see a model made to 1:32 scale has been reduced to 1:87 scale. Here the 1:87 model is shown which is inevitably less detailed and with fewer working parts and opening parts. But it is a good replica of the new Claas Trion and a new moulding from Wiking. Like the larger 1:32 model it is fitted with a Convio 1080 cutting unit

Well detailed and printed for its relatively small size this model would look good on any diorama showing a contemporary farm.

022805 Volvo Amazon – dark green

A classic three-box shaped car from Sweden produced from 1956 to 1970 with over 660,000 sold by the time it was withdrawn. This existing moulding, seen previously in light blue for example, has been finished with a fine grille and printed badging. Engraved and silver printed door handles, rubbing strips and even reflectors all add to the quality of the model. Inside the model has a separately inserted steering wheel, a dashboard and an easily recognizable reproduction of the ribbon speedometer. Front and back seats are also separate inserts,

010204 Land Rover Defender 110 scale 1:87

Already seen in a variety of colours and finishes we have the Defender here with the addition of a double layer roof to reduce cabin heat in hot climates and a snorkel exhaust to make sure that fording water doesn’t stop it in its tracks.

This model is of the final generation of the Defender and features finely detailed and printed door handles, grilles and light surrounds. Again small parts like mirrors are supplied on a sprue to self fit.

088010 Lanz Bulldog with roof- yellow

Produced in several versions over time this is the first appearance in yellow and with a roof fitted. It appeared in the first classic series release from Wiking in 1973 and has been seen in several colours since. A German classic tractor which was in production from 1936 to 1954 and stayed in use for many years after production ended.

038819 Krampe Halfpipe tipper trailer black

Krampe tipping trailers are used in agriculture, civil engineering and lansdscaping. Many are owned by German municipal authorities. The HP20 modelled by Wiking features a tipping mechanism and connectors to allow it to be towed by other vehicles.

067405 Flatbed tipper (Mercedes-Benz NG) “Bölling”

Another Bölling liveried vehicle joins the Wiking range. Here a New Generation (NG) chassis from Mercedes-Benz, already seen on a flatbed tipper and the road sweeper, is the tractor unit pulling a four-axle flatbed tipper.

The model is well finished with good printed livery and a functioning tipper body. The grille unit and lights in bumpers neatly done to capture the original NG look.

042496 Flatbed tipper (Magirus)

Another re-engineering of a vehicle that has been in the Wiking range for a long time. The bonnet is now a separate part from the rest of the cab and the gap between mouldings seems rather large on photographs, but is perhaps better seen from a normal distance? The Magirus with its characteristic engine noise was often seen on building sites in the 1950s and 1960s. Here Wiking has modelled it in two tone green and it comes with mirrors and other small items on a sprue for self-fitting. The flatbed can be turned upright and the rear panel will open for tipping.

The original vehicle was produced from 1957 to 1967.

055601 Semi-trailer box truck (Mercedes-Benz Pullmann)

Here a Mercedes-Benz tractor unit pulls an American box trailer made by Dorsay with its characteristic ribbed structure. Wiking based this on on photographs of Dorsays launch of their trailers in Europe in 1963.

This box trailer was entirely re-engineered for this issue as the moulds made for the original historic issue of this trailer had been converted to other uses. The Mercedes-Benz Pullman cab unit has also been re-made several times over the years and is used here in its latest incarnation with finely printed details and a fine grille/light unit.

055407 Stanchion trailer truck (Faun)

Hauled by a Faun tractor unit this stanchion trailer is liveried for Paul Rosenkranz who made heavy duty transporters in Witten on the Ruhr. Wiking have featured many vehicles in Rosenkranz livery over the years including a similar stanchion trailer pulled by a MAN tractor unit. The Faun F610 series provided heavy-duty tractor units capable of pulling up to 80 tonnes – even as a semi-trailer vehicle. The engine output alternated between 250, 262 and 275 hp. This distinctive normal control unit was manufactured from 1965 to 1977.

Here we see the new Faun tractor unit from Wiking in Rosenkranz colours for the first time.

1:160 Scale

096138 Fire Appliance – TLF 16 (Magirus)

Here the Magirus fire appliance from the 1:87 range has been ‘shrunk’ to the Continental N Gauge of 1:160 scale with a little simplification along the way. There has been a flatbed Magirus in Fire Service livery in 1:160 scale in the past but no appliance,

The classic ’round hood’ Magirus cab/chassis was used to build appliances between 1955 and 1961 before the hood and cab changed to the squarer generation which replaced it and which has also been made in Wiking’s 1:87 scale range.


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