Wiking Modellbau

Wiking-Modellbau GmbH & Co. KG
legal form	GmbH & Co. KG
founding	1936
Seat	Ludenscheid
Website	www.wiking.de

The Wiking-Modellbau GmbH & Co. KG is one of the oldest and best-known manufacturers of plastic - model vehicles - mainly in scale 1:87, the nominal size H0 of model trains . The company has been part of the Sieper Group since 1984 .

history

Until 1945

As early as 1932, Friedrich Karl Peltzer , who was the publisher of the magazine Das Tier at the time, began making small ship models based on real models as so-called waterline models made of metal. The special thing about it was that they were kept to the same scale, so that these models could be used in the real size ratio to each other. After this was successful, Peltzer had the company entered in the commercial register on December 3, 1936 as an open trading company Wiking Modellbau Peltzer & Peltzer . The date is dated October 1, 1936. The second "Peltzer" in the name stood for his wife Hedwig. The first catalog with ship models was published as early as 1934. This catalog was called Wiking-Modellbau / H.Peltzer; Berlin-Lichterfelde, Dahlemer Strasse 77 published. At the time, there was close cooperation with the Danish manufacturer Pilot , whose owner Henning Cortsen Peltzer, who had similar interests, was close friends.

The waterline ship models made of cast metal were in the scale 1: 1250 and 1: 1275. In addition, there were airplane models in 1: 200, which were first made of metal and from 1939 of plastic. At the same time, the Wehrmacht models, military vehicles and metal figures on a scale of 1: 200 were offered. At the Leipzig autumn fair in 1938, civilian vehicle models of the same scale were presented for the first time.

With the ship and airplane models, the military became the most important customer and client. The company, which was classified as "vital to the war effort" during the Second World War, produced almost exclusively for the military and also employed slave labor . In order to be able to satisfy the great demand, especially for models for ship and aircraft detection, the Peltzer & Vogel WIKING Scheepsmodelling branch was founded in Amsterdam in 1941   , where the final assembly of these models was carried out. The headquarters in Berlin-Lichterfelde was damaged in air raids , but production could be maintained during the war, also because of the classification as a war-important operation and the associated support from official bodies. In 1941, the former villa of the Fürstenberg brewery was bought in Berlin-Lichterfelde, Unter den Eichen 101 , which was the company's headquarters until 1986. Wiking had been renting here since 1935 and had gradually expanded until the entire villa was taken over. Due to the increasing Allied air raids on Berlin, from which the company building was not spared, molds and machines were gradually outsourced from Berlin from 1943 onwards. B. now produced in Potsdam , among other places . After the capitulation in 1945, production was temporarily stopped on the instructions of the Allied Control Council .

1945-1981

After the Second World War, Wiking had to reorient itself, the military was missing as its main customer, warships and military models were not for sale. Due to the uncertain situation in Berlin, part of the production was moved to Buer near Osnabrück , where Peltzer and his wife had fled to friends. Peltzer experimented with different products and materials, including a. Animals made of clay, while various articles were being produced in Berlin as early as the late summer of 1945, including combs and buttons made of plastic. In addition, the Berlin Airlift 1948/1949 was accompanied by a small series of five aircraft and two vehicle models on a 1: 400 scale. In Buer, Noah's Ark with figures and matching animals was created briefly on a 1: 100 scale , as well as ship models made of metal on a small scale, before this was postponed in favor of the new transport models on a 1: 100 scale from 1948. As at the beginning of the company's history, there was again a collaboration with the Danish company Pilot after the war . Among other things, injection molds from vehicles were passed on to pilots and models were jointly developed.

In 1952 a new branch was opened in Kiel and in 1953 production in Buer was discontinued. In Kiel mainly models on a scale of 1:40 were made.

From 1948, vehicle models and accessories such as cargo, garages, petrol stations, people, traffic signs and street lights were initially produced in plastic on a scale of 1: 100, later on an "approximate H0 scale" (truck in 1:90) and delivered to toy shops. The first car models were offered for export before that. There were also game boards on which the children could build their “city”. Today's 1:87 models go back to this series of “traffic models”.

The waterline ship models were produced again from 1947, and from 1959/1960 onwards, partly also modified as a veteran series. In 1975 this product line was discontinued.

In the 1960s, another attempt was made to sell aircraft models on a scale of 1: 200 (the so-called "silver series"), but without economic success.

In the 1950s and 1960s, the Wiking company produced plastic models of cars, delivery vans, trucks, tractors, excavators and forklifts, also in larger scales (1: 40–1: 50) for the manufacturers of the original vehicles (e.g. Volkswagen , Magirus- Deutz , Hanomag ). They were not sold through the toy trade, but served as promotional items for these companies. In the 1990s these models were partially reissued. In 1969, vehicle models in the scale 1: 160 / nominal size N were also presented for the first time - at that time still very simple .

The company founder and owner Peltzer died in November 1981 at the age of 78.

1982 until today

Since there was no will or corresponding regulations, the future of the company was initially unclear. Klaus-Dieter Hinkelmann took over the management until Wiking was finally sold to the Sieper Group in 1984 by the community of heirs following a bidding process. The branch in Kiel was closed in 1982. In 1986 the company moved from the old headquarters in Berlin-Lichterfelde, Unter den Eichen 101, to Industriestrasse 1–3 in Berlin-Tempelhof . Wiking started on Dahlemer Strasse. Models have been assembled in Zlotoryja ( Poland ) since 1995, and China was added as a production facility in 1999 . The Berlin production facility was closed at the turn of the year 2008/2009 and production (besides Poland) relocated to the Siku works in Lüdenscheid . The product range currently consists of classic and modern vehicle models in the 1:87 and 1: 160 scales. There are also individual remote-controlled models (WikingControl87) and metal models in 1:32 scale.

Memorial plaque on the house Unter den Eichen 101 in Berlin-Lichterfelde

From August 2010, a memorial plaque was attached to the parent company “Unter den Eichen 101”, which was donated by an initiative of well-known collectors. In addition to collectors and fans of the brand, some former employees who still had their workplaces in the old villa also took part in the ceremony for the unveiling of the tablet. In the meantime, however, the plaque has been removed.

On June 27, 2012 the new SIKU // WIKING model world was officially opened at Schlittenbacher Strasse 56a in Lüdenscheid . The day before, the unofficial opening took place with invited guests. Over 3500 exhibits are shown on approx. 500 m². Guided tours are also offered.

Products

Traffic models

Wireline models and accessories, around 1949

The type of models that have been produced since 1947 has undergone further development over time, both in terms of product range and implementation.

The first models mostly consisted of only one rather thick-walled molded part and were hollow from below. The windows were only engraved, but not perforated, from which the term "unglazed models" comes from, which characterizes this time today. The models were roughly 1: 100 in scale. The axles were made of wire with the ends pinched flat; they were hot squeezed into the plastic and cannot be moved, only the narrow plastic wheels rolled on the axles. These early versions are also called "Knips- / Draht- / Quetschachser" by collectors. In 1952, the models were given a base plate and axles that roll along with the wheels (scale approx. 1:90), called “roll axles”. Over time, the material thickness of the plastic was also reduced and the engravings finer.

In parallel to the model vehicles, Wiking offered suitable accessories. This included houses, figures, trees, traffic signs, street plans and various other accessories. This enabled a wide variety of street scenes to be recreated. Wiking offered a complete program to simulate road traffic with a focus on traffic education by the police and driving schools.

VW Beetle , model released around 1975

Tatra 87 , model appeared in 1977

There was a big change in 1957 when the models were first fitted with window inserts made from initially tinted, transparent plastic. Four years earlier, the windows of one model had already been shown broken. Clear glazing was only used after the models received interior fittings from 1966. As a result, the scale of the cars and delivery vans was changed to around 1:87, the trucks and buses stayed at 1:90. During this time, Wiking wrote of the "approximate H0 scale". The models became increasingly detailed, but were still intended as toys and for road traffic education. The range of accessories that was still extensive in the “unglazed” era was gradually reduced during this time.

The general conditions changed in the 1970s. Initially, the models of this time were characterized by simplifications. Printing was reduced to a minimum, the steering wheels used were replaced by integrated stylizations and the figures in almost all open vehicles were completely eliminated. In 1978, the previous quasi-monopolist got a strong and later even larger competitor through the Herpa company , who immediately relied on the exact 1:87 scale and made the models even more detailed, e.g. B. implemented with exterior mirrors.

A reaction at Wiking was slow, only after 1985 there were trucks and buses in the exact 1:87 scale, although older models were offered in parallel until well into the 1990s. Around 1990, the remnants of the closed company Roskopf, which last specialized in models from the pre-war period, are taken over. Some models from it were initially sold under the old brand name, later as Wiking models. Former Roskopf molds are still used in the current program.

The late 1990s were considered the golden age of the benchmark - a large number of suppliers brought numerous models of current models, some of which were developed in two and three ways, mostly at their own expense. A good example of this is the VW Polo III , of which there are three versions on the market, while there has never been a Polo model before. These conditions changed significantly in the period that followed; Current models were hardly possible without an express order from the prototype manufacturer, since only these allowed sufficient quantities and increasingly licenses were required; at General Motors , the implementation of new models has been completely prohibited in this scale even after a lawsuit in the United States.

As a result, Wiking mainly implemented Volkswagen models in the modern passenger car sector , for which the company was almost a purveyor to the court . In addition, Wiking - like the now numerous competitors, some of whom have similar contracts with almost exclusively German motor vehicle brands - on models whose role models are more than 30 years old, so that license payments are no longer required. The absence of exterior mirrors is typical at Wiking to this day. Since 1999, older models, especially from the 1970s and 1960s, have been reissued with elaborate printing, but classics from the range have also been completely redeveloped, such as the VW T1 or the VW Beetle  1303.

In addition, Wiking offers an extensive range of models in the field of agriculture , some of which were also created in cooperation with the prototype manufacturers and were previously only a marginal phenomenon in 1:87 scale.

The new "WIKING CONTROL 87" product series with radio-controlled models in H0 scale has been available since October 2008. The first model in this range was a fire engine model with working headlights, taillights, turn signals, flashing lights and siren. It is a fire engine (LF 10/6 CL) from Rosenbauer on a MAN  TGL. A remote-controlled model of the “ Panther ” airfield fire engine from Rosenbauer has also been on offer since 2009 .

Wiking glued the models with an extremely strong adhesive, which certainly entails the risk of a crack or break in a clearly visible place when opening the model. Sometimes models were not glued. New shapes have not been glued for some time, but the models from the “model maintenance” series, provided they date from the time when Wiking was still gluing the models. Every change to a model, whether new or old, is mentioned at Wiking under the heading "Model maintenance".

Models in 1: 160

Vehicle models on a scale of 1: 160 have been produced since 1969 and, in addition to the N-gauge model railroaders, have also found their own circle of enthusiasts. These models were initially greatly simplified reductions of the H0 models with fixed wheels. Since 1998 the newer models have movable wheels and are printed similar to the H0 models.

Great standards

VW Variant in 1:40 scale

As early as 1948, Wiking was also producing plastic models in larger scales (1:32, 1:40, 1:50, etc.). They were used as advertising material by the prototype manufacturers in the 1950s and 1960s. One of the main customers here was Volkswagen, for whom Wiking numerous models, e.g. B. of the Beetle or the VW Transporter in 1:40 produced in large quantities. These were mostly shown in great detail and could be taken apart to reveal further details. Even small changes to the prototype were mostly reproduced in the model. Some of the models from that time were reissued once in the 1990s.

Since the end of 2008, Wiking has also been offering 1:32 agricultural models. Similar to the Siku models, these are made of metal with plastic parts, but are primarily aimed at collectors due to their finer detailing. The “Panther” airfield fire-fighting vehicle from Rosenbauer was already available in 2007 in 1:43 scale, also made of metal.

Ship models

Wiking passenger steamer Monte Pasqual with lighthouse, around 1936

Even before the company was officially founded, Peltzer had manufactured ships and sold them under the name Wiking. In 1935 the scale was set at 1: 1250, until then the usual scale for ship models was 1: 650. A model at arm's length (or looking at a table while standing) corresponds roughly to the size of the original from 2000 meters away. These were mostly so-called waterline models (without underwater hull) made of a lead alloy that were painted by home workers and fitted with attachments. In order to increase the play value of the models, there were suitable "sea maps" and port facilities. The target group of the models were initially mainly children, only later did the military take an interest in the models.

The navy used the models as recognition models for training purposes and soon became the most important customer. The packs therefore bore the imprint "Under the Protectorate of the Reichsbund Deutscher Seegeltung" and its symbol, an anchor with a swastika . However, in addition to the (not only German) warships, the Wiking range also consisted of some civilian models, which u. a. were used by shipping companies as advertising media. From around 1943 a few ships were converted to plastic.

After the end of the war, some civilian models with a neutral designation continued to be produced, but demand had dropped significantly, so that the production of ship models was discontinued for the time being.

Around 1960 ship models were made again, now exclusively from plastic using the injection molding process. However, this product line was not economically successful and was soon discontinued. In 1968 the ship veteran series was started, in which pre-war and war models were reissued slightly improved. This series was discontinued as early as 1975, however, as there were meanwhile some competitors in this area and the traffic models had priority.

Airplane models

Around the same time as the ships, Wiking began manufacturing 1/200 scale aircraft. Like the ships, these were initially made of metal, from 1938/1939 made of plastic. The planes were soon also used by the military as recognition models. Wiking was therefore strongly oriented towards the needs of the military and manufactured various international military aircraft until 1945, but also some civilian models. In 1948/1949, some models were offered in a 1: 400 scale on the occasion of the Berlin Airlift , but these were too late on the market, so that economic success did not materialize. Around 1960, aircraft models were also produced again in parallel to the ship models (the so-called "silver series"), albeit with little economic success, so that this series was soon discontinued.

Army models

In 1937, Wiking began manufacturing the “Wiking Army Weapons Models” (later renamed “Wehrmachts Model”), which were Wehrmacht vehicles and corresponding soldiers. The models were also made of a lead alloy and matched the 1/200 scale aircraft. Wiking intended these models “for play as well as for serious exercise and instruction in the sandpit” (quotation from the brochure 1938).

At the Leipzig autumn fair in 1938, civil car models were presented for the first time under the name "Wiking traffic models". They were mostly repainted army models, but there were also new developments, including a tram and an omnibus. However, due to the Second World War, these models were no longer on sale.

Military models

Roskopf miniature models were listed in the Wiking catalog between 1994 and 1999. The models come from RMM (Roskopf miniature models). Its owner, Marcel Roskopf, began manufacturing military models on a 1: 100 scale in 1955. Under the direction of Wiking, the 1: 100 scale models were deleted from the range and new models in the HO scale 1:87 were launched.

Wiking models as a collection area

Advertising model Thyssen, the most expensive Wiking model to date

Older Wiking models have been sought-after collector's items since the 1970s. Wiking is mentioned as a collecting area in the same breath as Märklin metal toys, Steiff or Käthe Kruse dolls and is often mentioned as a collecting area in national television or newspaper reports.

From 1980 onwards there was an annually updated collector's catalog , initially as The Yellow Booklet , from 1985 as The Yellow Catalog , and finally revised as the New Yellow Catalog from 1995 . The last edition is from 2003, it includes the traffic models in H0 as well as the new editions of the 1:40 models. The Wiking-Handbuch has been available as a reference work and price guide for traffic models up to around 1970 since 2008 . There is a separate collector's catalog for N models in 1: 160, as well as one for ship models, which is, however, older and no longer available.

Opel Blitz fire engine

Most collectors specialize in a product area or an era, a frequent limitation being the death of the company's founder Peltzer in 1981 or the takeover of the company by the Sieper Group in 1984. Achieving a complete collection even from individual product areas seems practically impossible in view of the abundance of models and variants. This is not least due to the fact that it is not known exactly how many and which variants and models were actually manufactured or delivered. Wiking itself does not have its own complete archive, at least for the models of the Peltzer era, so that conclusions can only be drawn about the variants produced on the basis of received documents, catalogs, etc.

The most expensive Wiking model ever traded is a may-green Mercedes-Benz tank semitrailer, which was produced in 1962 as an advertising model for the Thyssen company. At the Wiking auction , which takes place regularly in Cologne , the vehicle achieved 10,100 euros each in June 2006 and December 2019. A decorative panel with eleven ship models had achieved 8,272 euros in 2000.

literature

• Ulrich Biene: The model myth WIKING - As it really was: history, background & documents . Delius-Klasing-Verlag, Bielefeld 2007, ISBN 978-3-7688-1943-5 .
• Ulrich Biene: WIKING - Small cars, big love: the history and fascination of the legendary Berlin miniatures . Delius-Klasing-Verlag, Bielefeld 2009, ISBN 978-3-7688-2595-5 .
• Ulrich Biene: Fascination with car models - WIKING: About puristic miniatures and passionate collecting. Delius-Klasing-Verlag, Bielefeld 2010, ISBN 978-3-00-020250-6 .
• Ulrich Biene: WIKING Worlds - About car models, the desire to collect and passion . Delius-Klasing-Verlag, Bielefeld 2012, ISBN 978-3-7688-3377-6 .
• Holger Wanner: New Yellow Catalog 2003, the yearbook of the Wiking collector . ISBN 978-3-932396-13-7 (various years).
• Rüdiger Walsdorff: WIKING - the Peltzer era. People and miniatures. The story of a model construction company in Berlin-Lichterfelde . Portus-Verlag, Berlin 2004, ISBN 3-00-014769-1 .
• Rüdiger Walsdorff: WIKING - the Peltzer legacy. Ships, planes and models of cars. From toys to antiques . Portus-Verlag, Berlin 2007, ISBN 978-3-00-022744-8 .
• Peter Schönfeldt: Wiking models. The ships and planes . Koehler, Hamburg 1998, ISBN 3-7822-0731-9 .
• Carsten Saure: WIKING manual of old models / expanded and improved edition 2016, with current market prices . Auctions house Saure Selbstverlag, ISBN 978-3-00-049721-6 .
• Knut Purwin: Model cars - collect & restore, with special consideration of old WIKING models up to around 1980 . Neckar-Verlag, Villingen-Schwenningen 2009, ISBN 978-3-7883-2162-8 .

Web links

Commons : Wiking Modellbau  - Collection of pictures, videos and audio files

• Manufacturer's website Wiking
• Online database of all models
• Online catalog with many previously unknown variants
• Online catalog of all 1: 1250 ship models and accessories
• "Glazed" Wiking fire brigade models complete, up to around 1974, with tips for collectors

Individual evidence

1. ↑ ^{a b} Rüdiger Walsdorff: Wiking - the Peltzer heritage , p. 349
2. ↑ ^{a b c d e f g h i j k l} Peter Schönfeldt: WIKING-Modelle , Hamburg 2007
3. ↑ Rüdiger Walsdorff: Wiking - the Peltzer era , p. 8.
4. ↑ Rüdiger Walsdorff: Wiking - the Peltzer heritage , p. 494.
5. ↑ ^{a b c d e f g h i} Ulrich Biene: The model myth - WIKING , pp. 9–17.
6. ↑ ^{a b c} Rüdiger Walsdorff: Wiking - the Peltzer era , p. 11.
7. ↑ Rüdiger Walsdorff: Wiking - the Peltzer era , p. 27
8. ↑ Ulrich Biene: Wiking · Small cars, great love . Delius-Klasing-Verlag, Bielefeld 2009, ISBN 978-3-7688-2595-5 ; P. 34
9. ↑ Rüdiger Walsdorff: Wiking - the Peltzer heritage , p. 437
10. ↑ Ulrich Biene: The model myth - WIKING , p. 37
11. ↑ http://www.morgenpost.de/printarchiv/berlin/article1370113/Steglitz-Zehlendorf-Wiking-Gedenktafel-erinnert-an-Industriegeschichte.html
12. ↑ SIKU // WIKING model world website
13. ↑ Flyer from SIKU // WIKING model world ( Memento from August 18, 2014 in the Internet Archive ) (PDF file; 2.4 MB)
14. ↑ Information about the opening of the SIKU // WIKING model world ( Memento from October 3, 2014 in the Internet Archive )
15. ↑ Photos from the opening of the SIKU // WIKING model world
16. ↑ Siku / Wiking model world now officially opened. In: Lüdenscheider News
17. ^ Rüdiger Walsdorff: Wiking - the Peltzer heritage p. 581
18. ↑ Rüdiger Walsdorff: Wiking - the Peltzer era , p. 42
19. ↑ ^{a b} Rüdiger Walsdorff: Wiking - the Peltzer heritage , p. 484
20. ↑ Rüdiger Walsdorff: Wiking - the Peltzer era , p. 210
21. ↑ Object detail - Thyssen - Mercedes 5000 tank trailer.Retrieved on December 8, 2019 . 
22. ↑ Record results at the Saure auction house ( Memento of the original from July 16, 2011 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.