Wiking Volkswagen T1 Microbus

[cfritschle]

I have not seen an official announcement for the initial release of the Wiking VW T1 microbus on Wiking's web page, but Hobby Search has opened pre-orders for them today!

https://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10539387

These are the 1964-67 vintage VW vans that were so popular with the hippies.   

[peteski]

I have not seen an official announcement for the initial release of the Wiking VW T1 microbus on Wiking's web page, but Hobby Search has opened pre-orders for them today!

https://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10539387

These are the 1964-67 vintage VW vans that were so popular with the hippies.   

I'm glad that Wiking, not Hobbytrain is doing these as I think that Wiking models (even though the are usually more basic) are better made models. But if that photo is the actual model, the tire thread seems a bit heavy (looks like an off-road truck tire).  Also, the prices of N scale models are becoming ridiculous. $18 for a single tiny model?!  Trainworx takes the cake for outrageous prices for N scale vehicles, but at least their models are absolutely exquisite while this model is nowhere near the Trainworx level of detail or fidelity.

[cfritschle]

Markus Schvaio posted a link to Wiking's website for the announcement of the new VW T1 on the N Scale Vehicle Association's Yahoo Group:  https://www.wiking.de/en/wikingmodelle/1/vw-t1-bus-wine-red-white-1753.html

And as Peter noted, it sure looks like the tires on the new VW T1 would be more appropriate for an off-road vehicle.  So, I looked at Wiking's Land Rover, and it sure looks like the VW's tires were inspired by the Land Rover's tires, or should I write tyres.    

https://www.wiking.de/en/wikingmodelle/1/land-rover-pale-turquoise-cream-beige-1367.html

It's too bad that Lemke doesn't offer their VW T2 wheel sets as an accessory item.  You can even see the VW logo on the hubcaps of the Lemke VW microbus!

[Mark5]

Seems like Wiking does some weird things on re-runs. I think they did some of the sixties cars in recent years but with super black window tint. 

https://www.wiking.de/en/wikingmodelle/1/caravan-1730.html

Mark

[bbussey]

The wheels appear to be oversized, and with it the fenders which should be partially covering the rear wheels.

[peteski]

The above model is from Hobbytrain.  Here is the Wiking one.



They both seem to have a lift kit installed, but there are some high-riding prototypes too.


And lower ones:

[Mark5]

We're mixing generations above (1st gen with split windshield up to 1967, 2nd gen (1968+) is larger with single windshield) 

The Lemke is 2nd Gen.

Ride height looks fine on these models (the HON700D appears to be lowered)

One of my uncles had one of these while my cousins were growing up.

Mark

[DKS]

Nothing is as awesome as this one:

[cfritschle]

The only reason I posted a photo of the Lemke VW T2 (2nd generation) was to show the difference in the wheels.  Wiking has been making a VW T2 (2nd generation)  microbus since 1969.  The photo below is of my original Wiking N1 set I purchased in the fall of 1969.



The wheels were smooth (a total lack of tread detail), but they really were not all that objectionable, just "basic" as Peter mentioned.

While the new Wiking VW T1 (1st generation with the 1964 facelift) will be a nice addition since up to now, the Marks VW T1 was the only option for a ready to use 1964-67 VW T1.  http://nscalevehicles.org/resources/era_1960-1969.php  (Scroll almost all the way to the bottom to see the Marks VW T1.)

And if you are in need of a VW T1 pre-facelift 1st generation version, the Rietze model is a good option.  http://nscalevehicles.org/resources/era_1950-1959.php  (Again, you will need to scroll nearly all the way to the bottom to see the Rietze VW T1.)

It's too bad we cannot get the same extensive coverage of "Detroit built" prototypes in N scale as we do the Volkswagen models.   

And, I agree with David that the RC Wiking T2 is really awesome!

[peteski]

We're mixing generations above (1st gen with split windshield up to 1967, 2nd gen (1968+) is larger with single windshield) 

The Lemke is 2nd Gen.

Yes, I was aware of that. But I thought that both generations shared the same underpinnings.

[Chris333]

The early and late Beetle pans are interchangeable, but buses don't have a pan.

[daniel_leavitt2000]

I think they changed the frames between the generations.

Pretty sure the photo of the second generation is of a Brazilian market model which had a beefier suspension (and later faux front grills).

I'm not much of a VW fan. I remember freezing my a$$ off in my mom's in winter because the heating core would break every thousand miles. There was so much rust that water would flood in and soak me every time it drove though a puddle. They could not go over 55 and would change lanes in any crosswind.

I honestly have no idea why anyone would have fond memories of these things. They were truly awful cars and I'm glad they are gone.

[DKS]

I'm not much of a VW fan. I remember freezing my a$$ off in my mom's in winter because the heating core would break every thousand miles. There was so much rust that water would flood in and soak me every time it drove though a puddle. They could not go over 55 and would change lanes in any crosswind.

I honestly have no idea why anyone would have fond memories of these things. They were truly awful cars and I'm glad they are gone.

I have very fond memories of my mother's VW beetle, and I'm certain I'm not in a minority. Sure, they weren't very powerful, but they got you from point A to point B reliably and economically, and they're perfectly adequate as long as you don't have unrealistic expectations. They're also quite easy to fix; I recall repairing a friend's bug with a bit of bailing wire--literally. Properly maintained, beetles could last quite a long time; I read a story of one that was driven over a million miles. Volkswagen wanted to give the owner a brand new one in exchange for his so they could examine it; he refused.

It's sad that you would condemn an entire line of vehicles all because of your one bad experience. It sounds as though the car was not well cared for. Karma?

[peteski]

I think they changed the frames between the generations.

Pretty sure the photo of the second generation is of a Brazilian market model which had a beefier suspension (and later faux front grills).

I'm not much of a VW fan. I remember freezing my a$$ off in my mom's in winter because the heating core would break every thousand miles. There was so much rust that water would flood in and soak me every time it drove though a puddle. They could not go over 55 and would change lanes in any crosswind.

I honestly have no idea why anyone would have fond memories of these things. They were truly awful cars and I'm glad they are gone.

Heating core?  These were air-cooled and the hot air from the engine cooling blower was piped into the passenger compartment.  There might have been a heat exchanger (sort of like what is inside home forced-hot-air furnaces).  Chris might be able to give more details.  We had a VW 1600TL (the fastback VW) and the heating ducts were close to the floor under back seats.  I remember mom left a plastic basket on the floor in the rear, and the heat form the duct partially melted the basket!

There might have been slight variations in suspension, but IIRC the basic design was the same throughout the lifespan of VW buses.

[peteski]

Karma?

Karmann-Ghia?