Audi scale model news

[Tom Nas]

Greetings all,

Went to the Techno Classica in Essen today, noticed a coupla new Audi models.

-Revell is going to release a 1:24 plastic kit of an A1 rally car in
AudiSport colours later this year. The preview looked pretty good and
Revell is no Tamiya- this one'll be cheap and plentiful.

-Bought the 1:43 Minichamps A3 3.2q, '03 version. The second edition, looks
pretty good as a model.

-Trofeu are still releasing new versions of their urquattro, more rally
cars. All limited edition stuff, previous issues are NLA. If like me you
want all versions, get 'em when you see 'em.

-Audi have ordered 1,000 Tornado red 1:18 urquattro 20V models from
AutoArt. Price is about 50% over what the non-Audi issues (metallic black
and Zermatt) cost. If you really want one, you'll have to order it pronto
and from a German Audi dealership, I guess... they come in the Audi
Collection packaging.

-The DTM TTR seems to be the hot model of today. Both the yellow
Hasseroeder and the blue Red Bull versions are available from several
manufacturers, in scales from 1:24 to 1:87.

-Audi have sold off their remaining stock of Audi-boxed Minichamps 1:43
models, a huge stock because they're everywhere. They're first-generation
A3s, A4s and A8s, current-model A2s, TTs and A6es. They also seem to have
dumped their RS4 Avant models from the same manufacturer. Prices are less
than 50% of regular levels and you get the nice Audi box.

-Some unknown manufacturer has filled a hole in the collection by releasing
a 1:43 Sport quattro rally car, a decent model if not exactly Minichamps
territory. I've managed to find one for my collection for a decent sum but
they're fetching silly money already. Its only competitors are limited
edition resin kits which require assembly and painting as well as actually
finding one.

-Rumour has it that Sun Star will be releasing a 1:18 urquattro model
later. Good news if they do a 10V, they're not as good as AutoArt but still
pretty OK and considerably cheaper.

-Revell have released the second edition of their 1:18 Auto Union
Stromlinier. It has the open wheelarches and simulated 'windows' in the
wheelarches for the driver to inspect the tyres while on the move.

-Interested in older Audi scale models? Visit www.aam-boyer.de
Quality is excellent, I have their B1 and C2 Avant and they're superbly
detailed and well-made.

-Herpa's second-generation A8 in 1:87 is a nice showcase for the progress
made in this scale. Barely an inch long, the attention to detail is
stunning and it 'sits' just right.

Regards, Tom