171 replies to this topic

[CAL]

 

Exactly. The first Pocher MB kit came out in 1975; Pocher didn't go bankrupt untill the mid "90s... plenty of time for the MB lawyers to have gotten on the case. I find it highly unlikely that MB allowed Pocher to produce and sell MB kits for 20 years if Pocher was doing it on the sly.

it was actually 1978.

 

Depends on the agreement. Tamiya got in trouble with ferrari and it took them a while to get straight with them after producing more kits than allowed per  their agreement, which started the whole serialization Ferrari kits.

 

They went bankrupt supposed because of a fire at the production facility chopped their staff from 120 down to 30. Seems like they were having troubles long bofore that. Even in the Mercedes line of kits after KT91 had plastic wheels significanly reduced parts, chassis and brake details.

 

Doesn't really matter what happened to them.... lets see what happens to them now.

[MrObsessive]

 

Evidently, MPC did a 280 SL in 1/32.

 

http://www.oldmodelk...19693&newlist=1

 

Yup! Got one of those...................... Very detailed for its size.......has both the hardtop and the softtop!

 

 

I also got this 1:24 diecast.............although I can't remember who made it. I picked it up off eBay a couple years ago. I'd love to see a mainstream 1:24-25th plastic kit of this car however. Revell of Germany-----are you listening??

 

 

I'm REALLY curious as to what Pocher will announce next month. I had one of the 1:8 Mercedes kits, but I sold that one to Harry a few years ago. I'd like to try my hand at one, although they had a reputation for being notoriously fiddly! Not to mention, it would probably take me five years to finish it!

[Harry P.]

it was actually 1978.

 

Depends on the agreement. Tamiya got in trouble with ferrari and it took them a while to get straight with them after producing more kits than allowed per  their agreement, which started the whole serialization Ferrari kits.

 

They went bankrupt supposed because of a fire at the production facility chopped their staff from 120 down to 30. Seems like they were having troubles long bofore that. Even in the Mercedes line of kits after KT91 had plastic wheels significanly reduced parts, chassis and brake details.

 

Doesn't really matter what happened to them.... lets see what happens to them now.

 

Your Pocher facts are different than those I've found researching Pocher.

 

The first Pocher MB kit (500 Cabriolet) came out in 1975, not 1978.

 

The fire occurred in 1972, but the factory was rebuilt. In 1981 Pocher became a wholly owned subsidiary of Rivarossi, and production moved from Turin to Como, Italy. Pocher went bankrupt in the mid '90s, twenty plus years after the fire in Turin. Obviously the fire wasn't the cause of the bankruptcy. 

[sjordan2]

Hornby's Pocher site shows the 540K kit as coming out in 1978, but that doesn't necessarily mean that (as a 3rd-generation takeover company that inherited things) they've got all their facts straight. The 1978 Mercedes 540K link just says that they released a bunch of classics between 1978 and 1985.

Edited by sjordan2, 28 December 2012 - 11:23 AM.

[Harry P.]

It's been hard for me to piece together an accurate timeline... there is a lot of incomplete and/or conflicting information out there.

 

I base my dates on this translated history of Pocher, written by Giovanni Ingrao. According to this, the first MB kit was released in 1975.

 

 

 

Attached Files

•  Pocher history (new translation).pdf   479.51K   5 downloads

[sjordan2]

History aside, I'm just fascinated to see what they've got for 2013. (And hoping they have reissues that drive down eBay used prices below new retail.)

[CAL]

It's been hard for me to piece together an accurate timeline... there is a lot of incomplete and/or conflicting information out there.

 

I base my dates on this translated history of Pocher, written by Giovanni Ingrao. According to this, the first MB kit was released in 1975.

 

 

 

Interestingly, he says the prototype for the KT62 was stolen, but it appears to have been a production rights issue with Mattel.

 

I read that none of the classic kits were produced after the fire, but agreed peicing it all together has been difficult

 

Nevertheless it will be interesting what turns up 2013

[Harry P.]

Nevertheless it will be interesting what turns up 2013

 

We agree on that point!

[The Creative Explorer]

I didn't knew this news yet. I am quite excited to see what it is going to be and somewhat affordable.

[Chuck Kourouklis]

Well, comes to that, they're claiming the Fiat from '66 was the first 1/8 kit ever, when Monogram had them beaten to that punch by a few years.

 

Nevertheless, this is great to see!  Got visions of sub-$1900 Rolls Ambassadors and Bugatti Surprofiles dancing in my head, and I might like another swing at the F40 and TR...  

[Harry P.]

Well, comes to that, they're claiming the Fiat from '66 was the first 1/8 kit ever, when Monogram had them beaten to that punch by a few years.

 

Nevertheless, this is great to see!  Got visions of sub-$1900 Rolls Ambassadors and Bugatti Surprofiles dancing in my head, and I might like another swing at the F40 and TR...  

 

 

They say that it was their first 1/8 scale kit, not the first 1/8 scale kit.

[Chuck Kourouklis]

No sir.

 

You have a look at that video, it says of the 1966 - Fiat 130hp - and I quote - "... the first 1/8 car model-kit ever."

 

Now, I can't guarantee they didn't MEAN their first 1/8 car model-kit ever, but that ain't the caption.

[Harry P.]

Hmmm... you're right! But I assume that's a typo, they undoubtedly mean their first 1/8 scale kit, not the first. Surely they know about the old Monogram kits. But either way, a minor point... and in their defense, it's not Pocher that put up the website, but Hornby. But all that aside, let's hope their announcement isn't a big letdown.

[Chuck Kourouklis]

You bet! I'm jonesin' for some big kits now...

[The Creative Explorer]

It would be nice if it would be some Bugattish material, A Napoleon, surprofile, Atalante or type 64. But I am not going to hold my breath on that.

 

But for buying those older Pocher kits, I am glad to be on this side of the pond. A brand new RR Torpedo/ambassador goes for around 600-700 dollars over here.

[ZTony8]

I hope that the Testarossa isn't brought back.I got one as a Christmas gift years ago(boxed as a Testor/Pocher) from my now ex wife.It was the most disappointibg kit I've ever had.I knew I was trouble when I read the cover page of the instruction manual and it mentioned that there were "design economies" taken with the kit.Then it went downhill from there.The paint on the doors didn't match the rest of the body,most of the suspension attaching screws stripped out,and the opening panels didn't line up properly.No way was that kit worth the $200 price.

Edited by ZTony8, 04 January 2013 - 11:41 AM.

[sjordan2]

It would be nice if it would be some Bugattish material, A Napoleon, surprofile, Atalante or type 64. But I am not going to hold my breath on that.

 

But for buying those older Pocher kits, I am glad to be on this side of the pond. A brand new RR Torpedo/ambassador goes for around 600-700 dollars over here.

 They already did a Surprofilé. An Atalante would be very cool.

 

 POCHER_BUGATTI-K86.jpg   131.07K   4 downloads

 

There's a 1/8 Atlantic pre-built out there, at megabucks ($9,500 at Ralph Lauren's website).

 

http://www.ralphlaur...tm_campaign=CSE

Edited by sjordan2, 04 January 2013 - 12:03 PM.

[Harry P.]

There's a 1/8 Atlantic pre-built out there, at megabucks ($9,500 at Ralph Lauren's website).

 

http://www.ralphlaur...tm_campaign=CSE

 

Wow... I would love to have that. If only I could subtract a few zeros from the price.

[sjordan2]

If you dig deeper into the Lauren site, you'll see that he has a number of 1/8 cars from his collection at the same price. Of course, some large scale models from Wingrove and Fine Art Models can hit $30,000 or more.

Edited by sjordan2, 04 January 2013 - 12:59 PM.

[Harry P.]

If you dig deeper into the Lauren site, you'll see that he has a number of 1/8 cars from his collection at the same price.

 

Where? I can't find them.