News Nr 9_ May_2010 - MBMC

Here it is…
News
Nr.9 – May 2010
…finally, the latest Mercedes-Benz W196R version, made by Spark.
It is the model of the streamlined winner of the 1955 Italian Grand
Prix, driven by Juan Manuel Fangio.
As we have come to expect from Spark, their 1:43 resin scale model
is perfect, right down to the accuracy and finish of the smallest details.
Available under the Spark order number S 1356; it should be waiting
for you at your neighborhood scale model dealer very soon now! The
price is not known at time of writing, but should be in line with the
prices of similar W196 GP cars offered by Spark previously.

M.A. scale models…
A name probably unknown to most of you, M.A. models was started
by Mike Arensdorf way back in 1978. By 2002 his product line had
grown to 434 scale models, all of them in 1:43 scale. His production
essentially consists of NASCAR cars, IMSA cars, CANAM cars and other
sports cars having raced in the USA. Luckily for us, there are three
Mercedes cars in Mike’s production line-up, which he’ll make to order:
Mod-263: the 1908 Mercedes G.P. car, with the starting Nr. 35,
driven by Christian Lautenschlager, which won
the French Grand Prix (Grand Prix de l’ACF) of
that year in Dieppe. Or you may choose the car
Nr. 19 (Otto Salzer), or the car Nr. 2 (Willy
Pöge). Apart from the numbers, all three cars
are identical, yet this way, you can recreate the
complete line-up of Mercedes cars, which
started the race in Dieppe. In its assembled, finished version, the
white-metal model is priced at US$ 160 (+S&H).
Mod-81: the 1915 Mercedes 115 PS G.P. car (in
fact a 1914 G.P. type car), with the starting
number 2, winner of the Indy 500 race in that
year, and driven by Ralph de Palma. The price:
US$ 170 (+ S&H)
On this 1:43 white-metal model, some details, as
well as the radiator grille, are decals, not photoetched
pieces, as we might expect nowadays.
Mod-400: this is the famous Mercedes-Benz
SSKL, #87, winner of the Mille Miglia of 1931,
driven to victory by the team Caracciola-
Sebastian. This 1:43 white-metal model is
priced at US$ 185 (+ S&H).
On this model too, some detailing is provided
courtesy of decals.
All in all, these are three interesting and historical models to complete
our collections, two of which are in fact quite rare.
You may place your order with Mike Arensdorf, at M.A. Scale Models;
3074 Gibraltar Avenue; Costa Mesa, CA 92626, USA, or you may email
him: mike@mamodels.com; phone him: (714) 641 1453; or fax
him at: (714) 435 0833. Visa and MasterCard are accepted. No PayPal.

SAFAM / Argus de la Miniature
The same year 1978 saw the birth of the SAFAM Ltd in Le Pecq (near
Versailles), a suburb of Paris. The SAFAM was founded by Etienne
Flament, who started a magazine – available in French only – called
“Argus de la Miniature”, dedicated to new and
obsolete scale models alike, mainly of 1:43
scale, and mostly models of French
manufacturers. Besides introducing the latest
releases, E. Flament started listing the
productions of various large producers, such as
Dinky Toys France, Dinky Toys GB, Solido,
Norev, later on Tekno, Märklin, Schuco, Vitesse,
Mercury, to name only a few of the largest ones ,
and also the models of small artisans, such as
Dubray, Evrat, Gaffe, etc…
Flament’s purpose was and still is to list all
known and sometimes unknown colours and
other variants of each model and car brand
produced, and to establish a fair and not a wildly
exaggerated value or price, for each model and
each model’s condition. These lists are mainly published as special
issues of his magazine, and updated from time to time.
Over the years, scales other that 1:43, including 1:87, have found
their place in his publication as well.
Besides his Argus de la
Miniature, his SAFAM is also
involved in the mail order sale
of various and sometimes
unusual models, at a down to
earth price. In this regard, it
might be of interest to take a
weekly look at his website
(French only, but one can
always understand pictures and
prices☺, n’est-ce pas?): www.argusminiature.fr/blog Once you are on
the page, find “catégories” on the right-hand side and click on
“Mercedes-Benz”, and look at the models on offer. At the bottom of
the page, click on “entrées précédentes” for the “previous” pages, or
on “entrées suivantes” for “next”. The supply of models is always
limited, thus it is useful to contact Mr.Flament (in English or French)
at: argusinfo@argusminiature.com in order to find out the availability
of the desired model, or by phone at: +33 (0)139 76 45 15.

Just for interest, recently SAFAM advertised
among many others a SIKU model, die-cast,
of a Mercedes-Benz L408 in the livery of a
US Postal service delivery van – did the
USPS ever drive or even test drive
Mercedes-Benz vans?? – which was priced
at 15€.
A rare 1:43 (app.) Dinky-Toys GB #237
Mercedes W196 streamline - die-cast with
plastic rims - is
being offered
for 72€. As for
a mint and
boxed
Mercedes-Benz
L319 in 1:87,
made by Brekina, in the livery of
“Canadian Pacific Airlines”, it is listed for
12€. And on it goes!
(All pictures courtesy of SAFAM)
Erratum
In the last issue of the News I wrote that Stanislav Kiriletz’s book
“The automobiles of the Russian Imperial Army” had been officially coauthored
by a Lieutenant-Colonel (ret.) of the Russian Army, but not
factually so. Since then, I have been told by Stanislav, that Lt.-Col.
Gennady Kaninskij in fact did indeed contribute very much to the
successful making of the book, in particular regarding the structure of
the motorized troops, also in regards to the biographies of the military
personalities involved, and many other aspects of the book. My
apologies to both
Stanislav Kiriletz and
to Lt.-Col. Kaninskij.
-x-x-x-x-x-
Until next time, keep
your eyes straight on
the road and your
“paws” firmly on the
wheel!